Our own Carrie Babij has been named one of the countries “Top Producers 2020” by Insurance Business America. Continue reading “Carrie Babij named one of ‘Top Producers 2020’ by Insurance Business America”

Our own Carrie Babij has been named one of the countries “Top Producers 2020” by Insurance Business America. Continue reading “Carrie Babij named one of ‘Top Producers 2020’ by Insurance Business America” →
When I was a kid my nickname was “Care Bear” which is a twist on my name based on a brand of teddy bears first sold in the 1980’s. Now that I run an insurance business sometimes I feel more like a Mama Bear who tries to keep her client cubs safe.
Where did these client cubs come from? Mostly from you…referrals are my most important source of new business.
Regarding referrals, I’m often asked by business owners to tell my friends about their product or service. I tell them they don’t need to ask. Because if I know what they do and feel good about how they do it I will tell my friends anyway. And if I don’t like how they do it I’m not going to tell my friends no matter how much they ask.
My goal is for Desert Insurance Solutions to be referable in your minds. So I hope you’ll indulge me by reading the following recap of what we do and how we do it.
Desert Insurance Solutions is an independent multiline insurance broker that offers all types of insurance.
In personal lines (homeowners, auto, umbrella) we offer advice and products for across the range of values. We specialize in higher value homes and the issues their owners typically face such as multiple homes in different states, rental properties, higher liability exposures, etc. We have clients nationwide.
For businesses we offer advice and products to clients ranging from mom/pop stores to entities worth more than $100mm. We specialize in the industries typically found in the Greater Palm Springs and Scottsdale regions.
We also provide professional liability insurance and health insurance to groups and individuals.
Our goal is to be referable. If you have an insurance issue, or even a suggestion to make us more referable, I invite you to contact me. Whatever your issue is, let’s fix it now.
If you do find us referable, that’s awesome!
Here’s a list of reasons people are referred to Desert Insurance Solutions:
Whatever the reason, there’s always room for more cubs at Desert Insurance Solutions!
If you never have an auto or homeowner’s claim, you’re a lucky person. If you aren’t that lucky and have a claim, it’s likely to be stressful and might even be hard to think straight.
In this newsletter I share some thoughts on claims so you’ll be better prepared if you have one. Keep in mind that actual insurance coverage is always determined by the policy contract…this newsletter is for educational purposes only.
I think about the claims process as three steps: stabilize, decide and proceed.
Stabilize
Decide
Proceed
Stabilize
Decide
Proceed
Your insurance carrier is equipped to walk you through the claims process step by step.
If you have a large, legitimate claim, insurance carriers try to be helpful, pay the claim and move on…that’s their business. But if you file multiple claims, or frivolous claims, even if they are not paid, the carrier could asterisk you as a problem client and either cancel or non-renew your insurance.
Here are some ways to get that problem client asterisk nobody wants:
Now carriers can’t cancel your insurance for just anything. In California there’s a one year temporary reprieve from cancellation due to fire zone. Also in California carriers aren’t supposed to use credit rating for underwriting. And in any state it’s hard to be cancelled just for being rude. But you can get the asterisk for any of the things on the above list. Then later, when you make a payment one day past the grace period, they can and will cancel you for non-payment and will not reinstate you like they might a typical client.
All the carriers I choose to represent have good to excellent reputations for resolving claims. But disputes occasionally occur. The reality is in a claims dispute you have limited leverage because carriers aren’t sad to see disputing claimants leave. And captive agents have limited leverage to help because they take orders from the carrier. But an independent agent like myself has leverage to help you as claims advocate because carriers want me to continue supporting their products over their competition.
Now you might think if you’re non-renewed, you’ll just go with a different carrier. Not so simple. Insurance companies share information. And insurance applications include a question that reads “has your insurance ever been cancelled or non-renewed?” If that question is answered yes alarms go off and you will be paying higher rates, sometimes much higher. If that question is answered no when the real answer is yes that would be considered a “material misrepresentation” and future claims may be denied.
So remember that insurance is about sweating the big stuff. Insurance carriers pay big claims every day. But it doesn’t pay to push the envelope with questionable little claims then get into a fight with your insurance carrier. If you feel you’re not being treated fairly on a legitimate claim, call me and we’ll work together to get you what you deserve.
Desert Insurance Solutions is proud to announce that we have been named “Agency of the Year” by National Underwriter (NU) Property and Casualty Magazine. Continue reading “Desert Insurance Solutions named “Agency of the Year”” →
Yesterday Tesla introduced their own insurance product which, according to marketing spin, will save money because they “uniquely understand” their drivers and safety features. Continue reading “Tesla Introduces Their Own Insurance Product” →
I can’t watch TV without seeing another funny insurance commercial. The problem is, insurance is not that funny. And it’s way too complicated to explain in a 30 second spot.
Continue reading “Funny Insurance Ads…Just Aren’t That Funny” →
What’s the top cause of loss on Homeowner’s insurance? You probably didn’t guess interior water leaks but it’s true, and it’s getting worse every year. Why? Our housing stock is getting older making plumbing and water heaters more likely to crack. There are more water-connected appliances. And unoccupied vacation homes can spring small leaks that go undetected for days, weeks or months resulting in large claims. Continue reading “This Top Cause of Homeowner’s Loss Will Surprise You” →
In my professional experience, Chubb is a gold-standard carrier in homeowners insurance. They offer one of the most comprehensive coverage contracts in the industry and their claims performance is outstanding. Anybody with a fire loss would have been fortunate to have Chubb. Continue reading “A Message for My Chubb Clients” →
In my November, 2018, I predicted higher homeowner insurance rates were on the way in California. Unfortunately, they have arrived. Continue reading “Cost of Homeowner’s Insurance” →
Desert Insurance Solutions is proud to announce that our own Carrie Babij has been named one of the “Top Producers” in America in 2019 by Insurance Business Magazine. Continue reading “Carrie Babij named to prestigious ‘Top Producer’ list by Insurance Business America” →