FAQs
Q: Are any of your staff bilingual?
A: Yes, several of our staff are fluent in English and Spanish.
Q: Is there parking available at Forest Insurance?
A: Yes, there is metered parking along Madison Street directly in front of our office, and free two-hour parking along side streets.
Q: What insurance companies do you work with?
A: Forest Insurance works with many top-rated insurance companies—Chubb, Nationwide Private Client, Cincinnati, Hanover, Hartford, Liberty Mutual, MetLife, Safeco, Travelers, and many more.
Q: Do I need an appointment to see a Forest Insurance agent?
A: While we encourage you to call ahead to schedule an appointment, we will do our best to accommodate any walk-in customers.
Q: What types of insurance does Forest Insurance provide?
A: Forest Insurance provides many types of insurance—homeowners insurance, auto insurance, life insurance, business insurance, commercial insurance—even aviation insurance (yes, we insure airplanes). We also offer many types of specialty insurance like boat and marine insurance, RV & mobile home insurance, pet insurance, special event insurance, and many more.
Q: When does my coverage start?
A: Your coverage begins once you receive valid proof of insurance. Often you can access your proof of insurance online.
Q: Do I have to pay for a quote?
A: No. The quote is free. The quote provides an estimate based on the information you provide and contains descriptions of available coverages.
Q: What health safety precautions does your office employ?
A: All Forest Insurance staff are fully vaccinated and wear masks whenever interacting with clients in the office. We require all visitors (regardless of vaccination status) to wear masks while at our office. Staff members disinfect common surfaces between visits.
Q: How soon can I expect to receive a call back when I call your office?
A: We typically reply to customer requests by the end of the business day.
Q: What is the typical turnaround time for homeowners, auto, or business insurance quote?
A: Depending on the information provided by the customer and the size/scope of the account, an insurance proposal can take anywhere from one hour to three days. It takes time to shop from 10+ companies!
Q: Is your agency wheelchair accessible?
A: Yes, we can accommodate wheelchair users’ accessibility needs.
Q: Are you open on weekends?
A: No, we are not open on weekends (occasionally by appointment).
Q: How can I pay for my insurance?
A: Customers can pay by check or by major credit card or debit card.
Q: I’m shopping for a new home. How far in advance of closing should I start shopping for home insurance quotes?
A: Ideally, you should try to shop for new home insurance at least two weeks before closing.
Q: I’m shopping for a new car. How quickly can I secure insurance for my new vehicle?
A: The same day. For existing customers, the process is quite simple (as we have customer information already in our database). For new customers, the process can take a little longer to find you the best fit.
Q: How does Forest Insurance differ from big-name insurance companies?
A: Forest Insurance is an independent insurance agency (sometimes called an insurance brokerage). The distinction is an important one—independent agents work for the customer, while big-name insurance companies and their agents work for themselves. Franchisees are often referred to as “captive agents” because they’re bound to one company. Many big-name insurers and captive agents will try to convince you insurance is one size fits all when, in fact, that’s not true at all; they’re just limited in what they can offer. As an independent agency, Forest Insurance has access to a wide array of insurance companies and coverage options—enabling us to tailor coverage to the customer’s needs. Forest Insurance works with only “A” rated (top-rated) insurance companies—those with the greatest financial strength and reputation.
Q: Does Forest Insurance offer affordable insurance coverage?
A: Forest Insurance offers high-quality insurance coverages to fit most budgets. In many cases, we can find you better coverage at or near (if not less than) the same price you’re currently paying. To make their insurance “appear” more affordable, some competitors will discreetly remove coverages from their proposal or renewal quote without notifying the customer. We liken it to the potato chip bag. The chips didn’t get more expensive, but the bag got smaller. Many consumers don’t even realize this until they have a claim, and suddenly discover they 1) have a huge deductible, 2) are grossly underinsured or 3) completely lacking in coverages they thought they had. Forest Insurance offers such a broad array of companies and coverages we can create a package to fit most budgets—without sacrificing coverage. This is why, when shopping for quotes, it’s important to provide your full declarations (deck) page—to ensure you’re getting the same, or better, coverage.
Q: What’s NOT covered by my homeowners policy?
A: Typically, coverage does not apply to damage caused by flood, surface water, water that backs up through sewers or drains, earth movement. Personal liability and medical payments do not apply to the operation, ownership, or use of any aircraft, automobile, RV, watercraft powered by more than 50 horsepower motor; bodily injury or physical damage caused by an intentional act of the insured. Coverages vary by company and policy (so read your policy carefully), and can usually be added.
Q: If my sump pump fails due to water backing up through the sewers, am I covered under my homeowners policy?
A: No, but you can easily add a sewer and backup endorsement to your homeowners policy to cover the loss.
Q: Why are my premiums going up?
A: Insurance premiums are increasing across the board, exacerbated by lawsuits, natural disasters, and inflation. Covid-related inflation—driven by supply chain slowdowns and labor shortages—has caused alarming spikes in the cost of raw materials/construction materials (lumber, copper, etc.) which, in turn, have caused premiums to increase.
Q: If my phone is stolen from my car, is it covered under my auto—or my homeowners—insurance?
A: Your phone is considered personal property, and therefore is covered by your homeowners—not auto—policy. Any loss, of course, is subject to deductible and coverage.
Q: During a storm, my neighbor’s tree fell and destroyed my fence. Who pays for the loss?
A: Your own homeowners insurance policy should cover the loss. However, if the loss occurred as a result of your neighbor’s negligence, your insurance company may be able to recover the amount paid for the loss.
Q: For a total loss, can I collect the policy limit on my homeowner’s policy without the requirement to rebuild the home?
A: This is called “total loss replacement coverage” and while most insurance companies don’t offer this, Forest Insurance works with several companies who do. Note: This type of settlement feature is especially important when the destroyed items are irreplaceable—such as antiques or fine art. It’s also quite handy if you decide to simply relocate rather than rebuild.
