When you’re buying or selling commercial property, there are multiple factors that can contribute to the price and overall value of the property in question. One of these factors is insurance, which can make up anywhere from 20-80% of your monthly expenses (depending on your coverage). Before you decide to hire an insurance valuator to assess the cost of your coverage, there are several factors you should consider first, including 1) how much you can afford, 2) how reliable the valuator will be in determining your needs, and 3) what other services they will provide for you as an added bonus.Request a quote for commercial property insurance valuations
When you’re looking to get insured, one of the key factors in deciding which company to go with is the cost of the insurance premiums – or at least, it should be. Another important factor to consider, however, is the overall quality of service that you can expect from your insurance provider.
Are you looking to hire a commercial property insurance valuator, but don’t know where to start? This guide will walk you through the process of finding and vetting the best candidate, so that you can feel confident in your choice and rest easy knowing your business has the proper coverage in place.
1) The Expertise and Experience of the Company
Experience is crucial in the valuation of commercial property insurance. There are a variety of ways you can determine the experience and expertise of an organization; one way is by checking their client list, which should be prominently displayed on their website or on request. The best professionals have completed extensive education in the field, with degrees and licenses from organizations such as The American Society of Appraisers (ASA), Certified General Appraiser (CGA), Society of Actuaries (SOA) or American Institute for Economic Research (AIER). In addition, you should research what credentials or designations they hold; this will help you get an idea of how knowledgeable they are about your specific type of property.
2) The Services Offered by the Company
Insurance companies will often charge different premiums for businesses, according to the type of risk involved. For example, if you need coverage for computers that may be damaged by weather or fire, a company will typically offer rates higher than average. To ensure you have the most competitive rates available in your area and are paying an appropriate premium, it is important that you know what types of risks your business may be exposed to and how those risks will affect your insurance costs. In some cases where you have complex needs requiring more coverage, you may want an independent commercial property insurance valuator who specializes in these types of coverages.
3) The Certification of the Company
When you’re looking for an insurance valuator, make sure they are fully qualified. Requirements vary from state to state, but usually involve taking courses on property and casualty underwriting, liability underwriting and loss control management. It may also be required that the company’s professional liability insurer carry at least $1 million in coverage. There are also industry trade associations in some states which offer education programs for companies doing commercial insurance valuations. Lastly, some states require that the prospective valuators be licensed real estate appraisers or that they have completed no less than ten years of experience in commercial valuation services. These requirements vary widely between states, so do your research beforehand to see what is necessary where you live!
