When clients move, coverage should too - Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc.

From rate shifts to coverage gaps, here’s how agents can support client through moves and strengthen relationships along the way.

Key Takeaways

Moving often triggers major changes in home and auto coverage, but agents can help clients avoid gaps by addressing insurance during a move.
From in-transit protection to state-by-state policy updates, every detail matters during relocation.
Guiding clients through the fine print turns a potential risk into a long-term retention opportunity.

People’s insurance needs can shift significantly when they move to a new home. As an insurance professional, understanding these transitions helps you guide clients during what is often a stressful time. Many may not realize that moving impacts nearly every aspect of home and auto coverage, and that securing the right insurance during a move is just as important as choosing the right home.

This lack of awareness creates both risks and opportunities. By offering proactive guidance, you can help protect your clients from unexpected coverage gaps and strengthen your role as a trusted advisor.

Related: Top homeowners risks (and tips on how to lower them)

Insurance rate variables during relocation

Location is one of the most significant factors affecting home and auto premiums. Whether clients are moving across town or several states away, a new ZIP code can mean an increase or decrease in insurance costs.

Homeowners insurance premiums are influenced by location-specific factors such as:

Local crime statistics
Proximity to fire stations and hydrants
Exposure to natural disasters (e.g. wildfires, floods, tornadoes)
Neighborhood claims history

Similar geographical considerations can also impact auto insurance. From accident rates to parking arrangements, small changes can have big implications. When clients are focused on moving logistics, they may not realize how these factors affect their insurance, until it’s too late.

Coverage gaps during a move

The transition between homes can introduce unexpected vulnerabilities. Planning for insurance during a move ensures your clients remain protected at every stage.

In-transit protection

Standard homeowners’ policies often provide limited coverage for belongings during transit. If your clients are using professional movers, it’s important to explain the limits of both their homeowners’ policy and the moving company’s liability coverage. Moving companies must provide, at minimum, basic valuation coverage, also known as released value protection. By law, that coverage only pays about 60 cents per pound per item, which is rarely enough to replace lost or damaged items.

Temporary housing scenarios

When there’s a gap between move-out and move-in dates, clients may need short-term housing. This can create unique insurance needs, including:

Vacant property coverage for the previous home
Renters insurance for temporary accommodations
Extended protection for belongings stored in multiple locations

These situations require thoughtful planning to avoid lapses in coverage or overlooked risks.

Related: Risk management tips for home renovation projects

Essential policy updates after a move

Relocation often means clients will need to revise or replace their existing policies to stay protected and compliant with local regulations.

Home insurance considerations

When purchasing a new home, your clients’ insurance needs are likely to require adjustments. Considerations include:

Square footage changes that affect dwelling limits
Replacement cost recalculations based on home age and structure
New building materials or features that alter risk profiles
Endorsements for added exposures like pools or detached structures

Clients moving from renter to homeowner status will likely need additional support to navigate these changes.

Auto insurance requirements

Auto policies must also be reviewed after a move. Different states maintain varying:

Minimum liability requirements
No-fault insurance laws
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage rules

A client moving to a different state without properly updating their coverage could find themselves inadequately protected or non-compliant with the new state’s regulations. Other factors like parking type (garage vs. street) and new commuting distances can also affect risk assessments and premiums. Discussing these factors before a move helps clients make informed decisions and prevent insurance gaps.

Retaining clients through proactive communication

Moves can prompt clients to shop for new providers. Staying in touch and offering support can help keep relationships strong. And when clients relocate outside your license territory, having a widespread referral network ensures you can direct them to trusted partners, which often pays off in reciprocal referrals from other agents.

However, proactive communication is vital for moves within your service area. Consider:

Scheduling policy reviews 60 to 90 days before the expected move
Sending reminders about required policy updates
Providing a moving checklist with insurance considerations
Suggesting relevant bundling opportunities

These small steps keep you top of mind while demonstrating value during a major life change.

Staying ahead of market trends

Relocation trends can also help you spot new opportunities and challenges. For example, migration from urban areas to suburban and rural regions has continued to grow in recent years, creating different risk profiles.

As clients move, they may face:

Increased natural disaster risk
Limited access to emergency services
Property crime rate fluctuations
Changes in construction types or replacement costs

Anticipating these variables lets you guide clients with confidence, and build your reputation as an informed, forward-thinking advisor.

Supporting clients through a big move

Moving introduces insurance complexities that give agents and brokers a valuable opportunity to showcase their expertise and strengthen client relationships. By helping clients navigate coverage changes and anticipate potential gaps, you position yourself as a trusted advisor during one of life’s bigger disruptions.

Clients don’t always anticipate how much insurance during a move matters, or how many details it affects, but your guidance ensures they receive appropriate protection and builds loyalty that extends well beyond the moving process. If you’re already quoting through Arrowhead Exchange, it’s a great time to explore additional personal lines offerings your clients may benefit from as they settle into their new homes.

In the end, a move signals change, and change creates opportunity.

This material has been prepared for general informational purposes only, is intended to apply generally rather than to any specific company and presumes appropriate discretion will be exercised regarding any particular situation.