Answers, before the application
Most insurance confusion comes from four or five recurring questions. Here they are with the honest answers, including the ones that are not in our commercial interest.
Working with us
Do I have to switch carriers to work with you?
No. A fair number of reviews end with us recommending you keep the policy you have and add one or two endorsements.
What does a review cost?
Nothing. There is no agency fee for a review, a quote or claim help. If you place a policy through us you pay the carrier's premium, the same as anywhere else.
Are you licensed, and who do you represent?
Ask us for our agent license number, the states we are licensed in and the carriers we are appointed with. All three go in writing before any application is submitted.
What do you need from me beforehand?
The declarations page for each current policy, your renewal dates, and anything that changed lately: new drivers, a remodel, a home business, a new vehicle, a tenant.
Will you keep contacting me if I say no?
No. If you opt into coverage notes you will hear from us a few times a year, and you can unsubscribe from any of them.
Coverage and claims
When does coverage actually start?
Only when a carrier issues the policy and confirms the effective date. A quote, an application, or a conversation with us does not bind coverage.
What is the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?
Replacement cost pays what it takes to replace the item today. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation first, which on a ten year old roof can be most of the value.
Should I file a small claim?
Often not. A claim under or near your deductible can cost you more in future rating than it pays out. Call us before you file and we will run the arithmetic with you.
My claim was underpaid. What now?
Book a claim walkthrough and bring the adjuster letter and estimate. We read the letter against your policy language and help you assemble a documented response. We advocate; the carrier still makes the payment decision.
Does raising my deductible always save money?
It always lowers the premium. It only saves money if the extra cash would genuinely be available on the day something happens.
If your question is not here
Send it. Questions about specific wording are the ones we most like receiving, because the answer is usually a sentence from your own policy rather than an opinion from us.
Write to noticetma@gmail.com or use the contact form, and paste the clause that confused you. If the answer turns out to need your full declarations page, we will say so and suggest booking a review rather than guessing in an email.