Real Estate: Relationship with insurance company a key part of homeowner’s financial security

By Jonathan Priest
MetLife

Most people in this day and age are overwhelmed with life in general.  Of course, 2020 has been one for the record books, but even before this year threw us all for a loop, it seemed like every day there were more things to worry about, more bills to pay, more things that needed our urgent, undivided attention!

Remember that you need to take care of yourself  and all facets of your well-being:  drink plenty of water, eat lots of vegetables, try to get the amount of sleep your body needs, take a (socially distanced) walk and get some fresh air every day.  See your doctor at least annually, and don’t stay quiet if you have questions about a new ache, a suspicious freckle, or other changes in your body!  And if you’re not getting the care you need, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion!

The same thing goes for your relationship with your insurance company… It might seem like a stretch to compare the two but think about it.  You are trusting a large piece of your financial security to your insurance company, so you need to make sure you and your agent are a good fit!  Your automobiles and home are likely your largest physical assets, so it’s important that you have someone you can reach out to.  That might be to ask questions, get clarification on language in your policies, or help you assess your needs so that you aren’t over OR underinsured!

Many people are initially reluctant to even consider shopping for insurance, as they think the process will be confusing, stressful, difficult and drawn out.  It may seem trivial but making that first call will be the hardest (and most important) part!  You will learn a few very important things which you should take note of, including the following:

How long did it take to get a live person?  Did they sound friendly, comfortable and relaxed?

Did they seem knowledgeable?  If you like to be able to meet with your agent in person, are they

local?

How long will it take them to provide a quote/proposal (And as a follow-up, did they get it to you when they said they would)?  Can they share some customer reviews?

When you are ready to make that call, make sure you have your current policy information in front of you.  Everything you should need will be on your Declarations Page(s), which is typically in the first couple of pages of your existing policy.  It will be labeled as such, and will have your name, your address, the dates that the policy runs to and from, your policy number and the coverages you have selected. 

Now is also a good time to make sure your policies are “bundled”… (I’m sure you’ve heard that word more times in the last two years than you have your whole life previously in the constant bombardment of insurance TV commercials, and for that, I apologize on behalf of my industry). 

Why do insurance companies push so hard for that?  Yes, it WILL save you a significant amount of money, usually 15 to 20 percent depending on the company, but why would a company offer you such a savings?  What’s in it for them?  The bottom line is, the more policies you have with your company, the less likely you are to leave, and insurance companies spend a LOT of money to obtain a new customer (again, it goes back to those constant commercials).

However, aside from the savings benefit, it truly does help your agent in building your personalized insurance portfolio if they are aware of the entire “package” you are looking to protect. 

I hope this has been helpful, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Jonathan Priest is a MetLife property and casualty specialist in Windham. Call him at 207-893-8184 for your home, auto, life or business insurance needs.