Building a relationship between property and casualty insurance carriers and customers can be difficult in the current day and age. Yet, these fleeting relationships are necessary for any customer retention strategy. In a time when many companies and service providers stay in touch with their consumer base via phone apps, relationships easily degrade without relevant contact. 

Advances in technology have brought many advantages to both the consumer and the insurance industry with regard to mitigating risk. Risk mitigation strategies currently, and in the foreseeable future, have the benefit of using these advances to provide superior service to the customer while reducing overall risk.

Given the growing popularity of eco-friendly homes and the demands for clean energy, it's no wonder that some property owners are considering adding solar panels to their roofs. While the installation of solar panels results in hefty up-front costs, many states are offering property owners financial incentives that will make solar energy the more cost-effective solution in the long run.

While the terms 'artificial intelligence' or 'AI' may sound intimidating to some, today's consumers are already using this technology in their everyday lives. Some common examples of AI include the option to make smart replies in Gmail, Google predictive searches, Amazon product recommendations, and Spotify music suggestions.

Considering the active storm season in 2018, insurance carriers are already looking ahead to the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1.

We've talked in great detail about the importance of making sure that property owners have adequate flood insurance coverage in place. With the arrival of spring and the 'unprecedented flooding' that is expected to occur this season due to the anticipated above-average precipitation, flood coverage is a conversation that insurance carriers need to be having with property owners.

While the economy seems to have recovered in recent years, there has been a considerable amount of chatter about a slowing housing market in the near future.

Tornado season has officially arrived, as evidenced by the eight tornadoes (including one that reached an EF-4 level) that ripped through Alabama and Georgia in early March and resulted in massive devastation and loss. While tornado season arrives in March, it typically peaks in April and runs through June. Insurance carriers can add a lot of value to property owners by making them aware of how to protect themselves and their properties during this turbulent time of year.

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Fire Administration, there were more than 1.3 million residential fires annually over the past three years. In addition, fire-related deaths are 10 percent higher than they were in 1980. There's no question that homes are burning faster than they used to, but why?

Thanks to the internet, today's consumers are more knowledgeable and informed than ever when it comes to making insurance decisions. Insurance carriers are facing an increasingly competitive marketplace, especially in the homeowner's insurance space. In fact, research shows that nearly half of homeowners will shop prices of different insurers at the renewal of their homeowner's insurance policy, indicating little loyalty to their current insurance carrier.