I’m biased, but brokers and independent local agents are definitely the way to go. Going direct through one company means that everyone you talk to has no choice but to put that company’s priorities ahead of yours, even when they’re wrong. As an independent agent, if a company stops treating people fairly, we can just stop writing with them and offer our customers quotes with other companies. I also think there’s a lot of value in having an actual person with a local office that knows your situation and can help if things go sideways. I’ve physically been to every house I’ve ever written a policy on. You don’t get that online.