If you've ever hired a contractor for a major project, you know the type:
The good ones show up to the site, walk it with you, ask questions about how you'll actually use the space, and surface problems you didn't know existed. They build for what's likely to happen in five years, not just what looks good on day one.
The bad ones quote the lowest number, skip the site visit, and disappear when something cracks six months later.
Insurance brokers work the same way.
The “lowest quote” trap
Just like with contractors, the cheapest insurance quote almost always means something got cut. In construction, that's usually materials or labor. In insurance, it's coverage limits, key endorsements, or carrier financial strength.
The problem is, you don't see what got cut until you have a claim. By then, it's too late to add what was missing.
What a good broker does that a bad one doesn't
The best insurance brokers operate more like good contractors than salespeople:
- They walk your site. Whether that's a cultivation facility, a dispensary buildout, a self-storage property, or a restaurant kitchen — they want to see how the business actually runs.
- They ask about what's likely to break. Where's the foot traffic? Who handles cash? What's the security setup? What's stored in the basement? These questions identify exposures that drive policy structure.
- They explain exclusions in plain language. A good broker will hand you a one-page summary of what your policy doesn't cover, not just what it does.
- They review your policies annually. A business that has grown, added employees, or changed its product line probably has gaps a year-old policy doesn't cover.
- They show up when there's a claim. The real test of a broker is what happens at claim time, not what happens at quote time.
What to ask before you sign with any broker
- Will you walk my site or facility?
- Can you put in writing the top three exclusions in my proposed policy?
- How often will we review my coverage going forward?
- Who handles the claim if something happens at 9pm on a Saturday?
- Do you specialize in my industry, or am I one of dozens of unrelated accounts on your book?
The last question matters most. Specialty industries — cannabis, pet care, self-storage, food and beverage — have specific risk patterns and policy forms. A broker who handles primarily home and auto isn't going to spot the gaps that matter.
The Spire approach
We built Spire to be the specialty broker we'd want on our own side: site visits, clear plain-language explanations, annual reviews, and direct contact when something goes sideways. If that's the kind of relationship you want with your insurance, contact a Spire agent.
All coverage is subject to underwriting. No coverage is bound or altered until confirmed by an authorized Spire representative.
