A broker receives a quote request: "Can you quote for my business insurance?" Nothing else. The broker replies asking about the business, turnover, staff, premises and claims. The client replies two days later with half the answers. More questions follow. A week passes before a quote is possible, by which time the client has renewed with their existing insurer.
Incomplete quote requests are one of the main causes of slow quotes. A simple checklist fixes most of it.
Checklist: business insurance
1. Business type and activities. What the business does determines which insurers and covers apply.
2. Turnover. Many business policies are priced partly on turnover.
3. Number of employees. Needed for employers' liability and to understand the size of the business.
4. Premises. Owned or rented, type of building, location and security.
5. Cover required. Public liability, employers' liability, professional indemnity, property, stock or a combination.
6. Current insurer and renewal date. Tells the broker how much time there is.
7. Claims history. Previous claims affect pricing and insurer appetite.
Checklist: home insurance
1. Property type and size. House, flat, number of bedrooms.
2. Rebuild value or approximate size. Needed for buildings cover.
3. Contents value. Including high-value items.
4. Security. Locks, alarms and other features.
5. Occupancy. Owner-occupied, let or empty for periods.
6. Claims history.
Checklist: vehicle insurance
1. Vehicle details. Make, model, year and use.
2. Drivers. Who will drive and their experience.
3. Where the vehicle is kept.
4. Claims and convictions history.
Why the renewal date matters most
Knowing the renewal date lets the broker prioritise. A request with a renewal date next week needs a same-day response. Quotes that miss the renewal date are usually lost, because the client simply renews with their current insurer. The renewal conversation itself is covered in the renewal questions every insurance broker hears.
Replacing the abandoned form
Long quote forms are often abandoned. A conversation that asks one question at a time works better, as described in how insurance agencies replace abandoned quote forms. SpideyChat for insurance agencies can ask the core questions for each cover type and capture the answers for the broker. It does not quote or advise. The capture options are on the forms page.
Explaining why details are needed
Clients are more willing to share details when they understand why. A short note, such as "your turnover helps insurers price your cover accurately", reduces hesitation. Clinics explain insurance paperwork to patients in a similar way, as described in fees and insurance questions patients ask first.
Claims are a separate route
Quote requests and claims should be kept separate. Claims need a person quickly, as described in claims enquiries that need a person straight away.
Uploading documents
Some quotes need documents, such as a previous schedule, a claims history or a property survey. Explaining how to send them securely, and when they are needed, avoids delays at the final stage. Clients often have these documents to hand when they first enquire, so asking early can save days.
Commercial and specialist risks
Larger or unusual risks, such as construction firms, events or high-value properties, need more detail than a standard checklist. For these, capture the basics and flag the enquiry for a specialist broker to follow up personally.
Setting up the checklists
Write the core questions for your three most common cover types and set the assistant to ask them. The guides to installing the widget and training your bot explain the setup.