Choosing an Insurance Agent

Choosing an Insurance Agent

Choosing the right insurance agent is one of the most critical steps in buying insurance. Whom you deal with for your insurance needs is very important. For many people, the agent is someone they will be working with for many years. This is also the first person you will usually contact in case of a claim. So it is very important that you feel comfortable with the agent and are confident they know what they are doing and are trustworthy.

Lots of Them:

A good agent will have no problem answering any questions you have and a good one should be able to sense were you may lack experience and offer information to make more informed decisions. If an agent side steps questions or becomes irritated with your questions, drop them immediately and look elsewhere - remember, insurance of any kind is about protecting you, your family and your assets, if an agent cannot take the time to make sure you are covered, understand your coverage and are happy with the deal, they should not be working for you - period.

Shop Around:

Just as with any other type of service, shop around. The best place to start is with friends, family and business associates, especially those that have had to deal with a claim on their policy. If they are happy with a particular agent and insurance company, chances are, you will be too. Take your time and find an agent and company that feels right and if possible, comes recommended. Remember, your relationship with a good agent is likely to last a long time and it pays to start this on the right foot.

Premium Costs Are Important:

But, not as important as the reputation of the company and how they handle customer claims. It is easy to deal with a few issues now when you have everything under control, but in the event of a serious insurance claim (like a house fire), you are going to be very upset and you want to make sure the insurance company is on your side and will not make the situation worse. Again, word of mouth, references are very important. Compare price against reputed service - if a company with an excellent track record is only 10% to 15% more per month, it might be worth every penny.

Read The Fine Print:

No matter how good you feel your agent is, remember, that in the end, they work for the insurance companies they represent. Sure they want to keep you happy and make sure your protected, you are repeat business and they earn commissions. But, it is not their future and well-being at stake should disaster strike or a death occur.

So, just as with any other legal contract, read the fine print (in fact read everything) and make sure you understand the proposed policies. Anything you are not sure of, ask and expect a friendly and courteous answer.

After all, you are entering into a deal that could last 30 or more years (in the case of home and life insurance) and the agent sitting across from you will enjoy the commissions - Don't feel bad about using up their time right now, you will be paying for it!

Share :