Getting insurance should be about more than just price. So many people miss out on the other extremely important benefits of working with a good licensed agent. Here’s what you should be asking your potential new agent and why.
- Are you licensed? Why does this matter? Only licensed agents are legally allowed to discuss coverages and make recommendations.
- What do you do for me when the renewal time comes? Good agencies will connect with you when it’s time to renew for several reasons. They will ensure they are aware of all relevant life changes to ensure your current coverages make sense. They will review the pricing to make sure your current carrier makes sense for you. They will also shop for you and recommend other carriers who may be more competitive or a better fit for you.
- Do you help if I have a claim? If so, what do you do? Your agent should be able to help you with starting most claims. They should also be your advocate and resource for any questions/issues that may arise.
- Do you help me with any changes (additions, deletions, updates) or do I call a call center? When you have an agency that is responsible for your account they should have the ability to manage many of your needs including any changes you may have. The benefit to this is if you call a local agent they will know the insurance requirements in that state and will make sure you are correctly covered. Some carriers have call centers with reps who aren’t licensed which means you don’t have that expertise.
- Do you have any options for me to communicate with you after hours/on weekends? Good agencies will have robust websites with information and the ability to connect outside of business hours, the ability to email, text, etc. This means you can communicate with them when it is convenient for you, and they will have a chance to do whatever work you need right away when the agents return to the office.
- Will you text or email me if I prefer it? Ideally, the agent should be doing everything they can to make your life as easy as possible within their capabilities. If it makes your life a tad easier to send you a quick text rather than a phone call, or on the flip side make a quick phone call rather than sending an email, they should be more than able to accommodate that request.
- What hours are you open every week? You want to make sure they are going to be available for you if you need them. Most agencies do have regular business hours, but you want to make sure you aren’t getting set up with an agency that may only be open part-time.
- What is your reply time if I have a question or need you? This is a big one. If you have a question, especially if it is time sensitive, it is important that you get that question answered quickly. If the agency tells you they have a 24-hour (or sooner) response time; that’s awesome! If they tell you that they average 2-3 days, that is a long time to wait when your policy may be pending cancellation, or you have questions about an accident you were just in.
- How long does it take to get a quote from you? Ideally, you want to make sure you are going to receive a quote rather quickly. Good agencies are often able to quote within 1-2 business days for personal lines (sometimes the same day) and often just a bit longer for some commercial quotes. This not only can make sure your timeline meets your needs, but also can be a representation of their response time for future questions or changes that come across during the policy period.
- Do you use social media to engage? These days our world is surrounded by social media and the internet. If your potential agency is set up on these social sites, it shows that they take pride in keeping up with the times, and more importantly, it should have robust and relevant information to provide value to you and help you get more connected to the agency.
- How experienced is your staff? You want people on your side who know what they are talking about. Agents that have been around the block a time or two and have seen every weird, crazy situation that there may be. This means they will be ready to handle anything you throw at them!
- What are your reviews like? If you are trusting the reviews for a restaurant, or a product on Amazon, an insurance agent is no different! Trust the people that have already been their customers, or had experiences with them. Sometimes, this can save you a major headache from getting set up with the wrong agent for your needs.
- Do you only work with highly rated carriers? Good agencies ensure the carriers they represent will support you in a time of need. You want to make sure that when it comes time for you to file a claim, that process is going to be easy, smooth, and as quick and painless as possible.
- How important is technology in your agency? Technology has so many capabilities, and the agencies that take advantage of those capabilities truly have the world at their fingertips. It not only allows them to get in touch with you quickly if needed, but it allows them to keep in touch, keep track of your account, and keep up to date on the latest news in the insurance world.
We are happy to answer any of these questions for you, feel free to reach out to us by phone, or through our website. 603-273-0953, keslarinsurance.com.
