Don’t Be Spooked by Your Insurance!

 

 

Insurance is contract law at its core, but that doesn’t mean we have to shy away from it. Here’s some tips from your favorite insurance nerds! 

 

 Mindset – Insurance is a Continuing Partnership

Your insurance is specific to you and your personal experience and no two are the same! But life happens and changes, usually without our permission! That means when you get your new insurance, it isn’t a one and done deal. Your agent exists to continue guiding you as life expands to help make sure your insurance shows up best, when it’s your worst day. So, when you’ve remodeled a kitchen, added a lift on your vehicle or made a business update – shoot your agent an email! They’ll let you know if they need any additional information and update your policy for you. Easy!

Ask Questions!

Since insurance policies are legal contracts, unique training and licensing is required to get even a basic understanding. As a customer, you’re not expected to expertly navigate your insurance policy by yourself! That’s where you agent comes in to educate and give you as much guidance as you could possibly want. There are no stupid questions, so if you ever want more details on something, just ask!

When Shopping Your Insurance: Be Prepared

You don’t need the Carfax on your vehicles or the last 5 years of county records for you home, just some basics. 

Your Insurance Footprint: Consider your insurance needs and goals prior to shopping your insurance. This allows you and the agent to be intentional with your time. Perhaps you JUST want to look at new auto insurance, but if it goes well, maybe you’d like to see renters’ insurance options. Or maybe you’ve just bought a pontoon boat and want to see quotes for the boat and you’re already excited for the big get-togethers you’re going to host. Being open with your agent allows them to better understand what needs to be insured and make better recommendations. You never have to take an enhanced recommendation, but you’ll at least get more insight and the option to add more coverage.

Essential Information: 

• Name, address, date of birth, driver’s license and basic contact information
• Year, make, model and VIN # for Vehicles (auto quote)
• Basic details of your home: age of the roof, type of heating and cooling, garage size, types of flooring, etc. (Home Quote)
• The date your current policy ends and when you’d like the new one to start.
• If you’ve had an accident, claim or violation in the last (5) years – do your best to have the dates and a brief summary of what happened.

Know What Coverage You Want: You don’t need to be well-versed with every insurance company’s coverages, that’s the agent’s job. But doing a little research on the most common coverages can go a long way in partnering with your agent. If you have no idea where to start, let you agent know and they can walk you through them! Just be prepared to spend a little more time on the phone, but that’s better than blindly choosing what your insurance does. Investopedia has a great resource to get to know the basics!

Seeking Professional Guidance

Whether you’re shopping for a new insurance policy, considering a new big purchase or really curious about a “what if” question, life gets easier with a professional in your corner! In is informational age, there’s a surprising amount of bad, incorrect or partial information that can show up in a google search. A quick call, email or text to a trusted insurance agent can give answers and peace of mind, much faster than the internet! It never hurts to get more insight on a topic, but when it comes to protecting your assets, livelihood and future, nothing can compete with a professional insurance agent in your corner!

Conclusion:

The topic of Insurance can induce eyerolls and can add extra stress in our minds. But there are a handful of tricks we can use to make the experience 10x better. The mindset of insurance being an evolving safety net and partnering with a trusted agent is huge! Being open and intentional with your needs or questions is the fastest way to achieve a great peace of mind. Preparing your information and consulting with an insurance professional can be a transformative experience in protecting what matters most!

 

It’s important to have an insurance advocate be able to answer these types of questions. If you’re looking for a fresh and engaging insurance experience, visit the group at Northtown Insurance for all your insurance questions and needs!

Fine Print: This is a general overview with the intention of bringing awareness to coverage options and general industry standards. Coverage varies between carriers and states. Check your policy for specifics.