Home insurance broker is often confused with home insurance agent. The key difference is that a home insurance agent normally represents a single company .The professional who is hired by an insurance company to work for them exclusively is called, an insurance agent. It follows therefore that agent’s commitment and loyalty is with the insurance company they work for, then you as the policy holder are just a second priority.
Conversely, home insurance broker represents more than two insurance companies. Home insurance brokers are independent agents whose primary allegiance and commitment go to you as the policy holder. He/she offers policy holder insurance quotes independently and does not have any contractual agreement with insurance providers.
The next question is how to find a reliable home insurance broker? The most reliable source is word-of-mouth recommendation. Get recommendations from family, friends, co-workers or your financial manager. Getting information from people you trust is the best way to start with, not to mention most secure. Perhaps you can ask which insurance broker has given them the most affordable home insurance quotes.
Alternatively, ask organizations such as Alliance of Insurance Brokers for more referrals. It is also important to know if a certain home insurance broker is licensed. Lastly, compare! Don’t settle for just one home insurance broker. Gather all information—multiple home insurance brokers’ history, profile, referrals and other relevant information. Compare the pros and cons to come up with the best choice.
Now that you’ve learned where to find a qualified and reliable home insurance broker, perhaps you’re now wondering why you have to take all that extra time and effort to obtain one.
The primary reason is because a reliable home insurance broker can save you time, effort, money and worry in the long run. He or she will provide you professional advice and assistance. Just like a lawyer or accountant, he possesses years of experience and training.
A lot of people take shortcuts when arranging home insurance without seeking proper advice. They even missed out getting value for their money because of this mistake. When the time came that they need a home insurance to rescue them, they often end up disappointed.
Considering a home insurance broker is not necessarily expensive. Oftentimes, it costs less since brokers provide you knowledge of insurance market. He or she has ability to bargain competitive premiums on your behalf. He or she will able to explain policy and any other special situations to watch out for. He is also obliged to advise you beforehand the fees charged for services he provided.
You can count on his or her loyalty because he works for you unlike other professional insurance agents who have multiple concerns and interests.
Weigh the pros and cons. The final say will always come from you anyway. Once you’ve reached a decision, you might want to consider a review period. Discuss with your chosen home insurance broker some concerns and issues that bothers you. Hear him/her out if he or she has some concerns as well and see if professional relationship is working.