Friday, July 24, 2009

Working with an Insurance Pro


One of the main reasons that buyers and sellers choose to work with a REALTOR® is the peace of mind that comes with hiring a professional that knows the business and has experience in solving problems and helping people with their needs.

The same reasoning applies when looking for insurance. Working directly with a licensed agency is much more rewarding as a policy holder than other methods of obtaining insurance. When you work with an agent directly, they will identify your needs and offer you a product that meets you needs. When you order insurance off of a website, you don’t get the opportunity to ask questions about coverage, service or price. How do you know, with as complicated and different as policies are today, if this is the right policy that fits your needs? Are there gaps in coverage that exist because there wasn’t a live person to make sure that your exposures are covered? When you order insurance by calling an 800 number and sitting on hold for 20 minutes, you don’t know the person that will answer, they don’t know you or your account, and when you call back, you will most likely talk with a different person every time. Allowing an agency to look at your account offers more personalized service and avoids potential gaps in coverage.

Not only is it important to work with an agent to ensure you are properly covered, but it is also critical to make sure it is an independent agent. An independent agent is defined as one that represents multiple insurance carriers and can shop the market to find the policy that meets your specific needs at the best price available. When your independent insurance agent gives you a quote, you can have peace of mind in knowing that your coverage was shopped with multiple carriers and that you are being presented with the best solution and the best price. Also, when it comes time to renew your policy, your agent should be automatically shopping for you to make sure that the renewal is the best out there. Carriers change rates constantly, and just because one had the best rates last year does not necessarily mean their rates are the best this year.

Lastly, working with an independent agent allows for much more flexibility in what can be offered. Many insurance companies do not like homes over a certain age, or with a certain roof type, or if that owner has a certain kind of dog. However, working with many carriers allows independent agents to have other markets to go to for those hard to place risks, and they can successfully find a solution for your needs more effectively than a direct writer.

Make sure that when you are looking for insurance that you use an independent agent for the same reasons that a buyer or seller would want to use a professional REALTOR. The level of service, expertise and variety of products that is offered is far superior when you have an independent agent looking out for your needs. Thank you for your support of Judge Fite Insurance Agency. We are a member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas because we pride ourselves on being able to offer our clients insurance solutions that meet their needs at the best price in the market. Allow us to being working with you and your clients today!

For more information about insurance for you home, investments, vehicles, or business, contact Judge Fite Insurance today at insurance@judgefite.com or 214-446-2571.

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