I knew my SF agent in Cincy personally, which helped a lot.  I could call him up with questions and get straight answers.  I had some claims, one major one when my basement flooded.  So, when I moved in with my wife, I called him to get a quote on home/car insurance and it was through the roof, BECAUSE I had had a large claim.
On a different house.  He said it didn't matter, so I went with my wife's insurance.