Property Information

[msnorstar]

Hello,

I've been an insurance broker since June, mostly selling commercial auto policies. I have many prospective business insurance customers, but I am having a problem getting information from them. Quick Quote forms require building information such as the year built, square footage, value, remodel date, protection class, and other building questions. Many of the customers do not know this information and I'm stuck. Does anyone suggest any website or program where I can obtain this information? Also if there is something similar for homes? Please let me know, I would really appreciate the help. Thanks

 

[Josh]

Many states/counties will let you access most of that information online, especially for residential properties. Have you tried looking at the county/city department of property taxation website?

 

[robb01]

I always like to google the address of properties, sometimes that information is on the realtors website

 

[msnorstar]

Thanks. I tried to google the address. I could not find any information, except the business information. I am working on a liquor store quote right now, I have all the information, except the year built, exact square footage, etc. It is kind of inconvenient for the client to find those sorts of things out because I want to provide quicker service.
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Many states/counties will let you access most of that information online, especially for residential properties. Have you tried looking at the county/city department of property taxation website?

I just tried this. It is great to find out the value of the home. Thanks.

 

[Josh]

Glad it worked for you! Another fun site is zillow.com, but it's less accurate. That being said, it is a great way to find out what your friends paid for their houses!

 

[iiinycboi]

yeah i use property shark and public records

 

[Sales71]

"It is kind of inconvenient for the client to find those sorts of things out because I want to provide quicker service."

The client should know that information that is his building. You need to ask them for that information and not guess what it is. Seem they are not giving you the information since they are not that interested in your quote.

 

[Josh]

"It is kind of inconvenient for the client to find those sorts of things out because I want to provide quicker service."

The client should know that information that is his building. You need to ask them for that information and not guess what it is. Seem they are not giving you the information since they are not that interested in your quote.

Seriously? There are plenty of folks interested in a quote that don't know that stuff.

 

[iiinycboi]

"It is kind of inconvenient for the client to find those sorts of things out because I want to provide quicker service."

The client should know that information that is his building. You need to ask them for that information and not guess what it is. Seem they are not giving you the information since they are not that interested in your quote.

over here in ny, no one knows their own info. they go to brokers because they handle it all for them.

 

[djs]

My office is in a building that I have no idea when it was built. Okay, I have an idea, but its simply a guess. Personally, I don't care since I don't insure the building itself.

I had checked with the landlord, but he doesn't know when it was built either.

I could check with the tax assessor, but there are multiple buildings on this property and its unclear which is what.

To be honest, at some point, a reasonable guess works okay. If you walk around the building, you might find a date on a cornerstone somewhere (more common in older buildings).

Here's the thing, if the building is old enough you don't have a good sense for when it was built, the underwriters will want the renovation date anyway, and that is more important than the original build date. If it hasn't been renovated in 50 years, you probably aren't going to insure it as a viable business building.

Dan