Shopping for insurance has changed dramatically over the last ten years thanks to the internet and online shopping. Local independent agents just aren’t as popular as they once were and do-it-yourself online policies have become the new normal. Even though quoting a policy online and buying it yourself on the spot may be easy, it’s not necessarily the best option. There are several benefits to having a local independent insurance agent that you just can’t get when you quote and buy an insurance policy online through a faceless website.
They know you and your neighborhood
Local independent agents get to know you and your family. They tend to recognize you when you call and remember details that a random customer service representative in a call center wouldn’t know. Your local independent agent is also going to know your neighborhood because they live in your neighborhood.
They know the insurance industry and policy coverages
No matter how easy it is to request a quote online when you’re sitting at home at 1 am on a Friday night and binge watching Netflix, that doesn’t makeup for the knowledge your local independent agent will hold about the insurance industry and policy coverages. When your local independent agent provides you with a quote, they should also be looking over your current policies for any gaps in coverages. They should also discuss your assets and needs to recommend coverages to protect you and your family. They can help guide you through things such as what to do when you buy a new car, what to do if you have a potential claim, or what to do when your teenager is ready to get their drivers license. Most of the commercials you see on TV aim to make insurance funny and don’t discuss the serious and important aspects of insurance. When you have a claim or concern about your coverage, you don’t want a comical response. You want someone who can address your concerns and help you through the process.
They work for YOU
Your local independent agent isn’t a customer service representative for an insurance company. They are a representative for you. Their job is to help you with any questions you may have. Advise you when you have concerns and help make sure you understand your policies and coverages. If you need to make changes to your policies or are unsure if you should file a claim or not, those are things your agent can and will help you with.
You can talk to them face-to-face
Along with shopping online for almost everything, expecting to talk to a computer and go through an automated phone system is the new normal when you call a business. A major benefit of having a local independent agent is you can stop by and have a face-to-face conversation with them. Almost everything is done via phone or email these days, but we still have a number of customers who like having the ability to drop by our office in person anytime they have a questions, concern, or just need to drop off some paperwork instead of emailing it over. When you have a policy you bought via a random quote online, you can’t stop by in person to address your concerns. You are restricted to calling a 1-800 number and speaking to a random person in a random call center somewhere.
They have access to multiple carriers and they do the shopping for you
Local independent agents have the flexibility to write your policy with one of several carriers. I can’t speak for every independent agent out there, but I can speak for the ones in our office. We first discuss your coverage needs with you and then we do the quotes for you. We compare the rates and coverages available with each of the different carriers we write with. We evaluate the pros and cons of each one. And then we present you with your options. You don’t have to sit and quote over and over and try to sift through different numbers and coverages. We make the different options as easy to understand as possible and can answer your questions. Our goal is to make sure you are properly covered, make sure you understand your policies, and make the process as easy as possible for you.