Set Your Submissions Up for Success: 5 Tips for Faster Underwriting

In the fast-paced specialty insurance market, we know one of your greatest assets is speed. We want to help you get your risks quoted and bound as quickly as possible. Sometimes, even the best risks can experience a little "underwriting limbo" due to small clerical details or missing data. 

To help you secure faster quotes and build even stronger trust with your carriers, here are five simple submission tips to streamline the process and keep the momentum going.

1. Completing the Full Application

A fully completed application is the best way to keep your submission moving. When details regarding livestock, fencing, or equipment values are included from the start, it helps avoid pausing the process to ask for more information.

• Solution: Ensure all supplemental forms are finished and attached. A complete package is often the difference between a quote today and a long email chain that lasts until next week.
  

2. Sending SOVs in Excel Format

Modern underwriting uses helpful tools for data ingestion and catastrophe modeling. While PDF or scanned copies of a Statement of Values (SOV) are common, they require manual entry that can slow the submission process down. An underwriter's goal is to get your results back to you as fast as possible.

• Solution: Providing your SOV in an Excel format allows us to immediately upload property data. This is especially helpful for high TIV commercial property submissions where modeling is a key step.
  

3. Sharing the Story of the Operation

A great description goes beyond a simple NAICS code. Underwriters love to understand the unique story behind each business, including how they manage their risks and the special operational controls they have in place.

• Solution: Feel free to provide a descriptive narrative. Instead of just "Farming," you might specify "Grape Vineyard with on-site bottling and seasonal u-pick operations." Highlighting unique safety programs up front helps us appreciate the risk immediately.
  

4. Including a Clear Loss History

Transparency regarding loss history helps underwriters build the best possible case for your insured. Whether the record is perfectly clean or has a few complexities, having that information ready helps teams evaluate the risk accurately and fairly.

• Solution: Include three-year loss runs or a formal confirmation of loss history. If there have been prior losses, a brief note on how the business responded is very helpful. ARU’s team is always interested in how a business learns and grows.
  

5. Defining Your Target Terms

Underwriting is a team effort. When teams know your target premium, desired terms, or the competition you are seeing, they can better align our efforts to help you win the business.

• Solution: Include your target premium and desired terms in your initial email. This context helps your underwriter quickly determine whether they can be competitive, saving you time and allowing them to focus their energy on the deals most likely to bind.
  

Summary of Submission Requirements

Requirement	Preferred Format	Why It Matters
Applications	Fully completed	Prevents legal and clerical delays.
SOV	Excel (.xlsx)	Enables instant data ingestion and modeling.
Risk Synopsis	Descriptive Narrative	Provides the context beyond the checkboxes.
Loss Runs	3-Year History	Establishes the risk profile and insurability.
Target Terms	Specific Premium/Forms	Aligns the underwriter with your sales goals.

Partner with ARU Today

We are truly committed to being a partner in your success by providing specialized expertise in Farm, Ranch, Rural Estates, and Commercial Property. By following these collaborative steps, you help us give your submissions the fast and thoughtful attention they deserve.

Are you ready to submit? We look forward to seeing your next risk at submissions@aru.solutions.