Paying your bill on time and in full is the best way to avoid any interruptions to your policy. All payments need to be made directly with your carrier and not to Hershfield Insurance.  Though we don’t accept payments in our office, we have provided a convenient way to pay your bill through the Hershfield GloveBox app or online with your carrier.

As your insurance broker, we don’t have access to your payment info with your mortgage lender. However, we can provide you with the confirmation of your insurance coverage and a copy of your bill for you to submit to them.  Simply use your Hershfield GloveBox app to request service or email our office at [email protected]. 

Honestly, it’s tough, but even in California, we pay some of the lowest insurance premiums in the country. Our state is in insurance crisis mode right now, and experts are predicting rate increases across the board for the next few months. To lower your premium, you can try increasing your deductible, but we don’t recommend reducing your coverage. Bundling your home insurance with an auto and umbrella policy can also help reduce the rate.

Right now, with the insurance crisis still going on, two words keep coming up: affordability and availability. Currently, availability of new policies is extremely limited. Many top insurers have stopped taking new business, and some areas in California can only get coverage through the California Fair Plan, which is an insurer of last resort.

If your coverage does get renewed, you’ll probably see a rate increase compared to last year. But again, there are very few carriers who are accepting new business in California so now isn’t the best time to shop for a lower rate. If your renewal is approved, it’s best to stay put for now and make sure to pay your bill on time. The faster insurers can adjust their rates, the sooner the market will become more competitive and consumer-friendly.

Don’t be fooled by just looking at the bottom line premium – the devil is in the details. Compare the quote line by line with your current coverage. If the quoted premium is lower, it usually means they’re reducing your coverage. This is rarely a good idea and generally means the agent isn’t truly focused on making sure you’re properly protected!

Keep in mind that insurance companies are for-profit businesses like any other. They need to make more money than they pay out. Recent wildfire exposures from 2017 to 2021 have made it tough for them to charge enough to cover rebuilding costs, which is a big part of California’s crisis. Plus, due to Prop 103, decisions being made by the Insurance Commissioner, COVID-19 and supply chain issues, the insurance industry is in a situation which just isn’t sustainable for carrier to remain solvent without making sure they can cover all of the risks that they insure.

The quickest way to service your account is through our Hershfield GloveBox app. Once you download it to your phone, you’ll have 24/7 access to request service, to email our office with your request or to book an appointment with your agent.  You can also go to our website to make your request for changes here.

To add your mortgage lender to your policy, just send us a written request. The easiest way to do this is to use your Hershfield GloveBox app and Request Service or click this link and select “Make a Change to Your Homeowners Insurance.”  We will then email you with insurance coverage verification for you to send to your lender. When making the request be sure to include the exact wording from your lender and your loan number.

Insurance companies are dropping policies for all sorts of reasons these days and typically let us know several months in advance. Once we are notified, we will send you an email notification. We’re constantly staying updated our carriers and diligently working to find new policies for you about 30 days before your current one ends. If we can’t replace your policy, we’ll let you know so you can start working with another agent as soon as possible.

First off, it’s very important to handle this request right away. If your carrier doesn’t get what they need, they may non-renew your policy with zero chance to reinstate it. Your letter will detail what needs to be done, like trimming back trees, removing trash or debris, etc. Once you’ve completed the tasks, you can submit proof of completion to us, such as a paid invoice on letterhead stating the services rendered, or photo evidence. Email the proof to [email protected].

To get a rough idea of how much coverage you need to rebuild your home after a fire or other loss, multiply the square footage of your home by $450. This gives you an approximate amount of dwelling coverage for your homeowners policy.

Right now, it costs about $400 per square foot to rebuild an average home in California, and in Los Angeles County, that number is even higher. Using this calculation can help you decide if you’re comfortable with your policy coverage. At Hershfield, we use an industry-specific coverage calculator to determine your coverage.