Top real estate agents know secret hacks can make the difference between making a sale and losing one. Present a personal letter from the buyer to the seller with the offer. Quality staging and photography sell houses. An early conversation with sellers can help avoid cold feet later.
Knowing about home insurance can drive sales, too. That’s why the top-earning realtors learn these insurance secrets and use them to sell more homes.
“There’s a Lid for Every Pot”
Almost every home is insurable. There are different types of lenders, right? Same with insurance companies. No single insurer will cover every home. Some prefer to insure luxury homes. Others like mobile homes. Some don’t insure homes on the ocean. Others do. Your client who buys a “fixer-upper” may use the specialty market until their project’s done, but coverage IS available for almost any home you sell.
A Good Buyer Can Insure a Difficult Home
Knob & tube wiring. An old roof. Electrical fuses. An unfinished deck. These are a few of insurance companies’ unfavorite things. You’ve heard about that “blacklist”. Buyers can’t insure homes with these issues. There’s some truth in that. But insurance companies are more flexible than you think.
Insurers underwrite people AND properties. A solid buyer with a credible plan to quickly fix property issues can still find good coverage at a great price. Need 30 days to get the work done? Insurance companies may allow it if an insurance agent they trust represents the client.
Insurance is More than a Binder
A lot happens between contract and closing. It’s easy for realtors and buyers to see “proof of insurance” as something to check off the list. Find a good price. Get your binder. Move on.
Not so fast.
What happens AFTER the closing? Will the price go up? Will the company cancel the policy after inspection? Will there be enough insurance to rebuild after a fire? Does their insurance dovetail with their condo association master policy? Will they have the right coverage to repair storm damage? Recommend the wrong agent, and your referrals can dry up.
Speed is important. But insurance is more than a binder.
Your Insurance Referral Partner Makes a Difference
Which insurance agent do you refer your buyers to? Do they:
- Offer a choice from many insurance companies?
- Respond to you, your buyer and the lenders?
- Thoroughly review the property and recommend the right coverage?
- Advocate for your buyer to the insurance companies?
- Adapt to changes between contract and closing?
- Promise to be there for your buyer AFTER the closing?
Looking for a referral partner who knows the insurance market? One who works for your buyer as hard as you do, and owns and manages their own local independent business? One where your buyers can get quotes on their own from 5 insurance companies in 10 minutes? Contact Noyes Hall & Allen Insurance in South Portland. Since 1933, we’ve been independent and committed to you.