I'll try and make this as short as possible.

I've had an independent insurance agent for over 14 years now, since I bought my first house in 2010. They shop for me, annually, based on my coverage limits and preferences, and basically just tell me at every renewal who I'll be going with for that year. Things have been fine with them, I get great service and good coverage. I have never paid them a dime from my own pocket.

Last year, my home insurance rates went from $3600/yr to a proposed rate of $6000/yr. I protested, made coverage changes and got it down to $5000/yr. A few weeks ago I saw some posts on my HOA resident FB page about insurance rates and noticed most people paying under $3k and I got a cold call letter for Allstate with a similarly ridiculous rate so I emailed them and got an actual rate from them.

I'm astounded - I can get the same coverage I have now for $2600/yr. My auto is a different problem but it's affordable.

So I send the quote to my normal independent agent to review and to give them a chance to match or to let me know what coverage is missing. I got a laundry list of problems back.

So now I'm stuck - I have no idea what coverage I actually need, I fear my longtime agent is lying about what I need to keep my business and scare me into more coverage than I need.

Who can I talk to or how can I know what coverage limits I actually need and what's worth it? I'm struggling financially and dropping $5k every March is getting harder and harder.

EDIT: Here's the feedback on the difference between the 2 quotes from my old agent, the new quote is Allstate.

My main questions and likely driving the price higher with my current Safeco policy are: how much home coverage do I really need? Do I need liability that high? Why does water backup need to be so high? Do I need that laundry list of missing things? I get that coverage from other various things I already own like my credit card or from work.

• The Allstate quote only has the home covered for 655k, you need closer to 750k (we do not have the 2/15 renewal yet to see what it is going up to but you currently have 738k & it should increase at renewal)
• Liability needs to be 500k
• Water backup needs to be 15k
• Looks like they are missing the following:
  • Loss Assessment
  • Personal Injury
  • Cyber Coverage
  • ID Theft
  • Equipment Breakdown
• They are giving you a 5k wind/hail deductible which I like as Safeco has you at a 2% which is much higher.
• Ask what the home will go to if you do not move the auto also.