Shrek...
1.) Yes, I definitely made it clear that the furnace is outside and 50' from the house. I believe they requested pics of the furnace when I went online with my OWB (in March of 2014). Could you ask her if A/O has a minimum distance required for the OWB to be from the house? I went with 50' because that is the furthest I had ever heard anyone else say for their insurance distance requirement. I don't think the Agency ever asked but I probably told them how far it was from the house.
2.) Yes, my "broker" is an Independent Agent, I just used the wrong term. Any idea on the "agent's" profit? I would guess it to be in the 10%-15% range.
3.) I am wondering what kind of cost increases she, industry-wide (or anyone else, personally) has seen in their Home Owners Policies in the last 10 years or so. Mine has been increased every year, usually around 10%, or more, and that is with ZERO claims. A/O bumps up my dwelling policy limit (automatically...maybe due to "inflation"?) 1 or 2 percent a year, but the premium is increased a LOT more than that.
Appreciate the info, it's hard to find people that are really on the "inside" of the insurance racket...umm...shakedown..urr...industry that will talk about it.