4 minute read
The Coach Approach
by Carly Simpson
Bryant Wilson doesn’t want to sell you insurance; he wants to coach you, so you can make the right choices for your life.
Like so many others when Covid-19 hit, Bryant Wilson was thrown for a loop. Central Michigan University cut its men’s track and field program and Bryant, who was the 2019 Assistant Coach of the Year at CMU and was a four-time national champion pole vaulter at Grand Valley State University, was out of a job. So, with a baby on the way, he and his wife took the opportunity to reset and find the perfect place to raise a family. Their search brought them to the Traverse City area, where they could be a part of the community and Bryant could carry on his passion for coaching with Traverse City Central’s track team.
He brings his passion for coaching to home insurance, too, at his State Farm office in Williamsburg. “Our job is to inform and to ask the right questions,” Bryant says. “We love to have a conversation and coach you on insurance so you can make an informed decision. If you go with another company, that’s fine, no hard feelings, we sleep well at night knowing we did our job informing you.”
Bryant’s process involves three key questions you need to be aware of before committing to an insurance purchase or working with an agent:
3 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR INSURANCE AGENT 1) Am I overinsured or underinsured?
“Real estate is a big investment, especially in our area. When it comes to home insurance, a lot of people have an escrow account and so their insurance is tied up in their mortgage payment and they don’t really think about it. Let’s say they buy a million-dollar home on Old Mission Peninsula or Torch Lake and they insure it for that price, but it’s a 1,200-square-foot ranch that would ‘only’ cost $250,000 to rebuild. You had to pay for the view, though, and the land, which is what adds up to that million dollars. We’re not going to rebuild the view if your house burns down, we’re only going to rebuild a structure of like kind and quality. A lot of people don’t know they’re overpaying for home insurance because their bank loan is for $1 million so the bank says, ‘Hey, we need to insure this for $1 million,’ and that’s not the case. In reality, if the structure is only worth $200,000, that’s the amount you need to insure.”
2) Do I have enough liability insurance?
“Liability is what people should really be concerned about. Many people retire up here, and they over-insure their home because they think that’s the biggest risk exposure. On the flip side of that, a lot of people carry very low liability limits, and that’s the scary part. If something happens on your premises and you get sued, you may have to dip into your retirement accounts, or use up your nest egg—that’s a big risk. Also, liability exposures are much more significant on lakes. You might have a boat, or some kids are over who aren’t used to using a jet ski … It’s all your property; it’s your exposure. Having a conversation is worth it, to make sure you’re protected in the right way.”
3) I have a secondary home I want to rent out. Do I need to tell my agent?
“It’s common for people to rent out their second or third homes as vacation rentals, but some people don’t tell their insurance company the house is being used as a rental. In the event of a loss, if it’s not documented and somebody sues or somebody accidentally burns it down, and your insurance company finds out that it was a rental, they’re not going to pay your claim. It’s not that those houses aren’t insurable as rentals, you just have to note that you’re using the house in a different capacity.”
Why local? If you don’t have a personal relationship with your insurance agent, give Bryant a call or text at 231.668.6805 or stop by the office (5756 US-31 N., Williamsburg next to Chase Bank). His local team is happy to answer insurance questions, or recommend their favorite coffee shop, breweries and trails. “We don’t mind telling people, ‘We can’t beat that price,’” Bryant says. “But if price is all that matters, everyone would still have flip phones.”
11596 Bluff Road, Traverse City
Offered for sale at $3,800,000
Stunning Modern Design Meets Old Mission Tranquility
Situated on 191’ of private East Bay frontage yet just 8 miles from downtown Traverse City, this captivating West Coast style home designed by an award winning Seattle architect will welcome & wow. The intentional interplay of light, space & glass brings the outdoors in through each spectacular season. It is truly rare to find walk-out beach frontage that is this expansive, sandy, and private. One of the best locations on East Bay, with deep water access ideal for boating. Private showings available for qualified buyers.
Listed by Carly Smith Petrucci REALTOR®
