After a storm, an insurance agent can hand a policyholder a way to get a written scope of work for the repair sent to multiple contractors, who can submit bids. Otter Quotes creates the scope of work and sends it to multiple contractors, so the policyholder can compare bids online. An agent can share a personal referral link.
Why does a policyholder need more than one bid?
A single bid gives a policyholder nothing to compare it to. Contractors price a repair or replacement from a scope of work, a written list of the work to be done, and a comparison is only fair when every bid prices that same scope. A policyholder with more than one written bid can see how the prices differ.
Bids written for different work do not compare, because each contractor may be pricing something different. When bids are written for the same scope, the differences between them are easier to see. Our side-by-side worksheet for roofing bids is a table a policyholder can fill in, one column per bid.
Materials and warranties belong in that comparison. Roofing and siding manufacturers make higher grade products with better resistance to wind, hail, and algae. When contractors know they are competing for a policyholder's business, they are more likely to include better materials and warranties.
How does Otter Quotes work for a policyholder?
Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for the project and sends it to multiple contractors. Every bid prices that same scope of work. The policyholder compares the bids online, next to reviews and licensing information, with no salesperson in the home, and chooses which bid to accept.
Here is the path for a policyholder who comes from an agent's referral link:
- The policyholder opens the agent's referral link and creates an account.
- The policyholder provides a copy of their insurance estimate if they have one, or purchases professional measurements of the property.
- The policyholder selects what needs to be quoted, such as roofing, siding, gutters or windows.
- Otter Quotes sends the scope of work to contractors, who can submit bids.
- The policyholder compares the bids, chooses one, and signs the contract online.
Otter Quotes does not inspect roofs or assess damage, does not work with the policyholder's insurance company, does not negotiate claims, and does not sell upgrades. Contractors pay Otter Quotes a fee on the accepted bid.
What does it cost a policyholder, and what does it cost an agent?
There is no obligation to work with Otter Quotes contractors, and no cost for a policyholder who provides a copy of their insurance estimate. An agent pays nothing to sign up as a partner or to share a referral link.
A policyholder without an estimate pays an upfront charge of as little as $15 to purchase professional measurements that every contractor uses. If the policyholder completes a job on the platform, that money is refunded to them.
What can a policyholder ask a contractor before choosing?
A policyholder can ask every contractor the same short list of questions, whether the contractor arrived at the door, came from a search, or bid through Otter Quotes. The same questions make the answers easier to compare. These questions are for contractors. Questions about a claim or a policy are for the policyholder's insurer.
- Does this bid cover the same written scope as the other bids?
- Which materials are included, by manufacturer and product line?
- What does the warranty cover, for how long, and who stands behind it?
- What license information can you show me, and where can I look it up?
- Will your own crew do the work, or a subcontractor?
- What are the payment terms, and what is the proposed start date?
How does an agent send a policyholder the link?
An agent signs up as an insurance agent partner to get a personal referral link, then sends the link to a policyholder. The partner dashboard tracks each referral. Signing up costs nothing, and the insurance agent partner page has the sign-up form and the partner terms.
Details on how and when partners are paid are on the Referral Fee Details page.
Check your employment agreement and your governing licensing agency to make sure it is lawful for you to accept referral fees.
Frequently asked questions
Does Otter Quotes work with the policyholder's insurance company?
No. Otter Quotes does not work with the policyholder's insurance company, does not negotiate claims, and does not inspect or assess damage. Questions about a claim or a policy are for the policyholder's insurer. Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for the project and sends it to multiple contractors.
Does Otter Quotes recommend a contractor?
No. Contractors compete for the policyholder's business on the platform, and the policyholder decides which bid to accept. Contractors pay Otter Quotes a fee on the accepted bid. Otter Quotes is not a contractor and does not sell upgrades. Its role is to send the scope of work to contractors and put their bids side by side.
What does it cost a policyholder?
There is no obligation to work with Otter Quotes contractors, and no cost for a policyholder who provides a copy of their insurance estimate. A policyholder without one pays an upfront charge of as little as $15 for professional measurements that every contractor uses. If the policyholder completes a job on the platform, that money is refunded.
Does it cost an agent anything to join the program?
No. Signing up as a referral partner costs nothing, and there is no monthly cost or quota. Partners accept the partner agreement, receive a personal referral link, and track each referral in a partner dashboard. The partner terms are linked from the sign-up form.
Where can an agent read how referral partners are paid?
The Referral Fee Details page for insurance agent partners explains how and when partners are paid, and the partner terms are linked from the sign-up form. This guide does not repeat the fee terms, so the details come from those pages. Read both before signing up.