"A home is a major financial investment for most people and if something bad happens to it, inadequate insurance can ruin their financial lives," says independent agent Kelley Kimble. "As a homeowner myself, the adequacy of the policy is the greatest factor in my purchasing decision."
Kelley Kimble
Producer
Mesa, Arizona
How did you get started at your agency?
After having been employed in the insurance industry for 25 years, I started at this agency in 2002 when my mother decided to open an agency and asked me to come aboard. At that point, I had been a claims specialist at an independent agency for 10 years. Prior to that, my background was in personal lines.
We built the agency from the small book of business that my mother brought from her previous employer. In 2020, she sold the agency to A and H Insurance, an independent agency whose presence in Nevada is long-standing and successful.
Why homeowners insurance?
Homeowners insurance protects the most important asset that an individual or family owns. A home is a major financial investment for most people and if something bad happens to it, inadequate insurance can ruin their financial lives. As a homeowner myself, the adequacy of the policy is the greatest factor in my purchasing decision.
Challenges in the homeowners insurance market?
The homeowners insurance market in Arizona is very tight. Due to consecutive years of severe storms and wildfires, pricing is high and availability in some areas is shrinking. Many people have a second home in the mountains, where the pine forests are beautiful and the summer temperatures are cooler. However, because of the wildfire threat, many are scrambling to find insurance, particularly if those second homes are manufactured.
Future trends?
Unless all interested parties become actively involved in mitigation and loss prevention, I believe the current trends will only continue. Insurance companies cannot continue to risk billions of dollars if property owners and government authorities ignore these problems. Inflation has also increased claim costs by increasing prices of materials and labor. Some claim inflation, however, is from dishonesty because some contractors overcharge and homeowners try to make a little extra for their trouble.
Advice for a fellow agent?
Despite the current market, I would encourage any agent looking for a long-term career to pursue the homeowners insurance market, take advantage of every hour of education available, and become knowledgeable about the insurance marketplace and how it works. Knowledge is a tool that builds professionalism. The industry is always changing, and keeping up with it allows for personal and professional growth.
Olivia Overman is IA content editor.
