If you’re running orchards, fields, packing lines, or cold storage and felt the squeeze on last year’s property renewal, you’re not alone. Higher wind deductibles, stricter terms, and rising valuations have hit growers, packers, and shippers hard, particularly near the coast. The good news: the property market is easing, and it’s creating real opportunities to bring premiums and terms back in line.
What’s changing
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More capacity in the market: More companies are willing to write property again.
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Better underwriting results: Recent discipline is paying off, so some price pressure is easing.
What this could mean for your premiums
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Many well‑protected facilities are seeing flat to lower property rates.
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Coastal locations are still challenging, but there’s more willingness to quote wind and flood and to negotiate deductibles.
Why 2026 is a good year to get fresh quotes
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New and returning carriers are looking at coastal schedules again.
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If you’ve improved roofs, wind protections, refrigeration safety, fire systems, or valuations, those upgrades are more likely to earn credits.
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You can often improve structure, not just price: think lower wind percentage deductibles, better spoilage/temperature‑change limits, and stronger equipment breakdown coverage.
Quick re‑marketing checklist
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Start 120–150 days before renewal.
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Share clear Property(COPE) details (construction, occupancy, protection, exposure), roof age/type, refrigeration safeguards, and recent valuations.
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Test multiple options: layered programs, deductible buy‑downs, and a mix of admitted and surplus lines.
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And Lastly: TELL A STORY
In Summary
Carriers have been hit hard the last several years by natural disasters, etc. and have lost money on insured property. So, what have they done? They taken the back seat and with less competition, prices begin to go up. Over time these carriers make their money back and get back in the driver’s seat. This is happening right now! Carriers are now eager to quote new business, which means there is more competition. And what happens when you have more competition/quotes? Premium goes down! So, if your 2024–2025 renewals felt one‑sided, 2026 is your chance to re‑shop. Even on the coast, you can often secure stronger coverage and a better total cost by marketing your risk well.
If you want to take advantage of this softening market and get back some of your premium dollars, now is the time to do it. Contact myself or your current broker and shop your program while carriers are back in the driver’s seat!
William Speigner
Three Arbor Insurance
334-648-3551
