Insurance agents are responsible for fitting their clients into suitable auto, health, homeowners, renters and/or life insurance policies. There are many insurance providers, and they are not all the same. Therefore, it is important that the agent you choose be well-versed in policy differences from provider to provider, informed of the latest industry news and trends, concerned with your personal insurance needs and capable of explaining your options in a way you can understand.
Getting Recommendations
* Start with word of mouth - Put out the call on Facebook or other social media outlets that you are looking for some good referrals. A friend may recommend an agent they have dealt with. Be sure to ask your friend if the agent was responsive,whether or not they were licensed and if the agent address their needs quickly and seriously?
Ask if the person making the referral compared policy quotes from various agents, researched the type of insurance they were looking to get and whether they researched the company and agent.
This will give you a sense of whether the agent they are referring has already been screened.
You’ll still want to thoroughly vet any potential providers.
* Pay attention to complaints - Listen to friends who have dealt with an agent you are considering. If it didn’t go well for them, chances are your experience with the agent or company won’t either. Also, look for online testimonials and steer clear of the agents with numerous complaints.
Finding out that a company doesn’t process a claim in a timely fashion will help you avoid that company and save you a great deal of headaches.
The experience of others, when dealing with an agent or company you are considering, may also help you keep looking until you find a company that suits your needs.
* Consider the type of insurance you need and ask related professionals - For example, if you need homeowners insurance, you may ask a title company for recommendations. If you need health insurance, you may want to ask your trusted healthcare provider.
Keep in mind that recommendations from related professionals may be a way for the professional to get a kick-back, so be sure to check out the agent or company.
The agents they recommend may have higher premiums. It is best to compare companies and get multiple quotes.
* Try an independent insurance agent - An independent insurance agent is not tied to one specific insurance company. They likely have several companies for whom they can provide quotes. Therefore they can help you compare rates and coverage information.
If you feel comfortable that an agent will be forthright, then ask for multiple referrals.
You’ll need to be sure that the agent is making referrals to companies that offer policies with similar coverage and deductibles.
Ask questions like why they chose a particular agency and why they think that coverage is best for your situation.
With an Independent Agent, you’ll need to check the agent's credibility and on the credibility of the companies for which they provide quotes before enrolling in a new policy.
Do this through online research, word of mouth, and interviewing the agent.
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