Homeowner’s Insurance. Renter’s insurance. Auto insurance. Life insurance. These are just a few of the different types of personal insurance policies you may need to seek out and purchase to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your property. And each type of insurance has its own terms and policy options to understand.
Finding the right personal insurance agent, like Smyrl Insurance is essential for making decisions that will give you the protection you need. A good insurance agent, like Smyrl Insurance, will present you with options that fit your needs and budget, and help you understand the difference between what’s absolutely required, what is not required but still important for you to have, and what areas you may be able to save on.
How do you find a good insurance agent like Smyrl Insurance? It’s important to do your research, and this checklist can help you narrow down your options. Here are a few questions to ask as you choose the agent who’s right for you:
1. Can I get all of my personal insurance policies through you?
Why go through the time and effort of finding an insurance agent who meets your needs and whose trustworthiness you vetted more than once? When you find an agent whose experience, reviews, reputation, and track record make you feel confident and secure, it makes sense to stick with that person for all of your personal insurance needs, from life insurance to vehicle insurance, to homeowner’s insurance. Not every agent or agency sells multiple types of policies, however, so it’s important to ask this question up front.
2. Can you offer me options, or do you only sell insurance from one company?
There are two different kinds of insurance agents. Captive agents represent one particular insurance carrier, and so are only able to present you with policy options from that one company. The better option is to work with an independent agent like Smyrl Insurance . Independent agents represent a range of insurance carriers, so they have a wider pool to pick from in finding options to present to you that meet your specific needs. More options mean more customized policies, less of a chance that you’ll have to accept something that doesn’t quite fit you, and more competitive pricing.
3. How can you help me save money?
When you work with an independent agent like Smyrl Insurance, they may be able to stack your policies and give you a discount. In other words, purchasing life insurance, automobile insurance, and homeowner’s insurance from the same agent may make you eligible for a multi-policy discount, or maybe even access to reduced fees or more economical payment installment arrangements.
4. What do your current and past clients have to say about you?
The true test of an agent’s quality of service is finding out what kind of experience other clients have had. They will be able to tell you from their own experience how helpful a particular agent was in saving them money or helping them when they needed to file a claim. Check out any agent or agency you are considering for their online reviews. You can even ask an agent if they have a reference you can contact and speak with to help you make up your mind.
5. What kind of support will you give me if I need to file a claim?
We don’t like to think about it, but the reason we have insurance is so it will be there if we need to file a claim. When that day comes, chances are you will be in a stressful situation from an event like an automobile accident or damage to your home. In challenging times, it matters that the insurance agent you are relying on to help you will be there with clear, effective, and compassionate support. Ask about what the process for filing a claim looks like, and be sure you feel comfortable with it before choosing an agent.
Contact Smyrl Insurance today!