I’m a big fan of having a good conversation with your insurance agent. But what is a good conversation, really? Is it one where you end up paying less for insurance? Those are certainly nice.
Often, when people call to talk about their insurance, they’re hoping to find a way to lower the cost. And sometimes that happens. We review their situation, raise a deductible, adjust coverage, or even find a different insurance company that fits better. The result is lower cost. That feels like a good conversation.
But sometimes the conversation goes the other direction.
As we talk through changes in someone’s life, family, home, or business, it becomes clear their insurance needs to do more than it did before. That can mean better coverage, higher limits, or changes that increase the cost. Even so, that can still be a good conversation — because the insurance is doing a better job of matching real life.
An insurance agent’s job is really three things: helping you pay a competitive price, helping your insurance work the way you expect when you need it, and helping keep your coverage up to date as your life changes.
That last part is easy to overlook. The ongoing conversation matters more than many people realize.
We often tell people to contact us when something changes. But what kinds of changes? Sometimes it’s the seemingly small stuff:
- Someone moves out but still drives your car
- You finish your basement
- You replace your roof
- You inherit property
- You start a side business
- You deliver goods or people for a fee
- You add a heat source to your home
- You co-sign a loan
- You loan your car to someone
- You place your home in a trust
None of those may feel dramatic at the time, but each one can affect how your insurance might respond on a bad day. And, yes, what it costs.
For more ideas on when it’s time to have that conversation, you can go through the questions in our Rummel Review. You don’t have to be a Rummel client to use it. Complete our Rummel Review today and then call your insurance agent for a good conversation!