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Choosing Insurance: Agent or Policy?
Insurance companies want you to believe that agents and claims adjusters are the people you should trust when filing a claim for damage to your home, property or business in the South Florida. They’re just your friendly, local insurance folks who have only your best interests at heart, right? Unfortunately, that’s not usually the case — and you should know that agents do not get paid to file claims.
At the end of the day, your insurance agent and claims adjuster work for a company, and that company’s goal is to pay out as little for your damage claim as possible. The extra monthly payment for a “better policy” won’t mean anything if you cannot file a successful claim in the first place.
So, for those of you shopping for homeowners’ insurance Palm Beach County, what should you really be looking for?
- A well-versed agent. Wait, didn’t we just tell you that your insurance agent wouldn’t be able to help you in your time of need? That might be true, but the agent should still be an expert on policy. Whatever your needs are, when you’re looking for a new home or business insurance provider in South Florida, you should speak with someone who can get you what you need in the long term.
- The best possible policy. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, even in the news media. A recent article in Fox Business, for example, goes as far as to state that your insurance policy doesn’t matter as much as your agent. That’s simply not true. If you’re searching for good homeowners’ insurance in the Miami or Broward County, be sure to shop around. The company and policy you choose should be reliable, transparent and easy to understand — even the portions of a policy that limit your coverage. Know everything that you can and cannot expect from your policy ahead of time.
- The council of a public adjuster. Unlike your agent, a public adjuster is there to navigate the complex system of insurance policies to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. If you’re not completely certain you can make the best choice of insurance for yourself, ask a public adjuster. Not only can these professionals help you determine the range of coverage you’ll need, but they also have experience in the industry and know how to work with insurance companies.
It may seem disconcerting to find that the hands-on help you thought you were paying for is not available when you need it most. But there are other resources there for you, as well. Insurance agents and claims adjusters are not the only industry experts out there, so don’t hesitate to turn to a public adjuster to get the guidance you need.
Advocate Claims serves home and building owners across South Florida, including West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding communities.
