How Far Are You Willing to Drive for Client?

[Mark]

How far are you willing to drive to meet with a client/prospect, to try and sell them some insurance?

Distance and/or time ?

I know we all have our limits.

 

[moonlightandmargaritas]

Hell, I don't even back the car out of the garage to meet with clients!

Of course a big part of my success is that I NEVER "try to sell 'em some insurance".

 

[Delta76]

About an hour, but I'm in a metro area with lots of opportunities. I know a producer who will fly across the country to make a sale, of course, he's doing large estate planning cases to justify the travel and it must work, he's MDRT Top of the Table.

 

[Norwayguy]

In years past I would drive 2 - 2 1/2 hours for a sale...now i don't want to leave the office.

 

[moonlightandmargaritas]

I know a producer who will fly across the country to make a sale, of course, he's doing large estate planning cases to justify the travel and it must work, he's MDRT Top of the Table.

Now that's a different story.

 

[DJM]

I learned the ropes in captivity, so I will drive for a sale. One time I drove 4 hours away from my house, ran 6 appointments, got a motel room for the night, and then ran 4 more appointments the next day. Was it alot of work, yes. Was it fun, no. But I did write 4 policys, so the ends justified the means. Do you guys know what the difference is on what a mans willing to eat? 24 hours.
Same thing with traveling to help a client. Well 24 days is probably more accurate in that regard.

 

[Swift685]

No more then 30 minutes max and thats only if they are a really good prospect. Otherwise you should make it more worth your time and ask your prospect if they have any referrals they can give you ahead of time and set them up back to back.

 

[somarco]

I can't recall the last time I drove to see a client. It isn't cost effective for most agents to meet clients F2F and most clients don't have the time or want to see you (or any other agent).

I have bought auto & HO policies for years and it has probably been 30 years since I saw my last auto guy. The only reason I saw him is he invited me to lunch to talk about cross referrals.

Some transactions require F2F but very few insurance sales do unless the carrier requires a wet signature. Even then, most of those can be handled by mail.

 

[wfs]

Zero miles. All of my sales are over the phone. I used to drive and do the traditional appointment thing. No more. It is far more efficient for me and the client to transact over the phone.

If I were selling more complex products, then this may not be feasible, but fixed insurance products are relatively simple, and therefore can be sold over the phone.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

A while ago I'd drive an hour. Now I won't put my car in reverse. If they won't sign up online I won't meet them, period. My days of pushing a pen across the table are over.