It’s a non-negotiable that insurance is an absolute necessity for everyone. You may be one of many that have found themselves asking “Does my choice of agency really matter? Should I just go with the first insurance provider that catches my eye?” Finding an insurance agency that fits your specific needs is easily the most integral part of getting insured- and actually enjoying the experience. Here are five steps on how to choose the right agency for you.
- The first thing to consider when buying insurance is whether the agent, you’re buying from is an independent agent or a captive agent. Captive agents can only provide quotes from one insurance company- meaning they won’t write you a policy unless it is solely with the company they sell. Independent agents deal with a variety of insurance companies to cater more to an individual’s needs. If you step into an independent agent’s office, they’ll be able to shop different providers for you based on factors like YOUR lifestyle, YOUR driving record, what kind of vehicles YOU have- and find you the right policy at the best price available. All that to say- we recommend going to an independent agent because they have more options and better pricing opportunity, sounds pretty nice right?
- The second factor to consider when thinking about what insurance agent you should use is the age-old real estate adage- that it’s all about ‘location, location, location.’ Having an insurance agent that is close to where you live helps for a variety of reasons. If you want the assurance that you can trust your agent, a face-to-face conversation is typically a surefire way to get that. When staying local to your agency, you have the ability to stop in to review your policy, make a payment, and receive assistance with complex questions and claims- things you would have to handle over the phone otherwise. Another thing to keep in mind is that local agents have a better understanding of your area. If you live in a close proximity to your agency, they’ll understand firsthand the different risks that you might face.
- The third step to choosing an agent is to check out their website. You will be able to see their mission statement, their vision, and their values. You can learn a lot about an insurance agency and the companies they insure with based solely off of one or two quick internet searches and a visit to their website. You may even be able to find information on the agents, and learn about the friendly faces you’ll get to work with. Getting an idea of your agency’s standards, ethics, and customer service will pay off in terms of your satisfaction with the service in the long term.
- The fourth step in choosing an insurance agent is to check out their reviews. Online reviews found on Facebook, Google, and Yelp are unfiltered and can be a great tool when choosing an agency. The company can’t choose which ones are shown, or which ones aren’t. They’re real, actual reviews from people that interact with the business on an everyday basis. You’ll find out what their current customers like, or don’t like, dealing with them.
- Lastly, give your prospective agency a call and interview them. A great indicator of whether or not you even want to work with an agency may just be how quickly your call is answered and forwarded to a real person! Does it go to voicemail? How quickly can you get an answer from an agent? Overall, what is the ease of doing business with that specific agent? Call them after hours, is it just a voicemail? Do they have an answering service? All of these are things that you want to know for down the road. If/when accidents, claims, and insurance questions arise, you want to trust that your problem will be remedied promptly.
Why Susquehanna Insurance?
These are just five easy steps on how to navigate the question of “Where should I get my insurance?” But we at Susquehanna Insurance want to ensure that none of your questions go unanswered. We are an independent agency, and represent some of the top-rated insurance carriers in the area. We have a team of 11 that are experienced in the insurance industry and ready to help! Check out our website to learn more about each agent and what makes them unique. We currently (at the time of this article’s posting) have 118 Google reviews. Our Lancaster office has a 5-star rating and Lititz has 4.9. We also don’t rely on voicemail but promise a live person answering your call 24 hours a day!
Give us a call and let us help you find Smarter insurance!