Gunter & Gunter Insurance — Committed To The Community & To Rotary

Insurance is peace of mind. While you may not like to have to pay for it, when you need to use it, it is helpful that you have the right policy from the right agency.

For many Wesley Chapel and New Tampa residents, that means visiting Gunter & Gunter Insurance, run by familiar local faces Gary and Joyce Gunter.

While still located in the Westbrook Professional Park (across from Saddlebrook Resort), near I-75 and SR 54, Gunter & Gunter now has a new office in the same professional park facing S.R. 54 at the front of the office park.

“The presence right on the street is the best feature (about the new building),” Gary Gunter says. “And, the layout of this office is nice. It’s visible and convenient.”

Gary and his wife Joyce moved into the office park in 2010, when the Gunters purchased three insurance agencies and combined them into their Wesley Chapel location.

“With more people in the office, it’s easier to take care of all of our customers,” Gary says. ‘We’re one of the few places that will actually answer the phone.”

There is always someone on staff during business hours at Gunter & Gunter.

Furthermore, all of the office’s staffers are fully licensed property and casualty agents. Florida law requires that an insurance office have at least one licensed agent; Gunter & Gunter has five property and casualty and one customer service agent.

“We want them all to have the highest level of education and provide the best level of service,” Gary says.

Top Policies & Saving a Bundle

Gunter & Gunter specializes in home and auto insurance, although they sell all types of insurance, from business to life insurance, and the office boasts nearly a century of combined insurance experience.

It also is an exclusive Allstate agency. While Gunter & Gunter can still write policies with other companies, Allstate requires that those companies be A-Rated insurance companies. A-Rated insurance companies have to prove their financial stability in the face of a catastrophic incidents, such as a hurricane. They must prove they are able to pay out all of their policies.

Bundling is another element of Gunter & Gunter’s multi-tiered service. With the ability to write auto, home, condo, renters, motorcycle, business, life, ATV and other policies, savings are there for customers who want to bundle.

A lot of it depends on which types of insurance a customer wants to bundle together. Typically, Joyce says, savings from 8 percent-20 percent can be had. For instance, bundling renters, umbrella and life insurance could save a customer up to 25 percent.

Many homes in the Wesley Chapel area are new construction and new homes can get homeowners insurance at great rates.

“The insurance rates on new homes are fabulous,” Joyce says. “You could pay half the premium on a new home versus an older one.”

Call and ask for a quote — each time someone does, Gunter & Gunter make a donation to one of several charities.

Sinkhole & Flood Specialists

Some disasters have insurance companies running the other way. Not the Gunters.

“There aren’t as many companies writing sinkhole policies,” Gary says. “There are fewer choices now and, with the rise in premiums, a lot of people are dropping it. It’s one of our main challenges because if you have a mortgage on your home, companies require an A-rated insurance company.”

Flood insurance is another area of specialization at Gunter & Gunter Insurance.

“There has been an increase in flooding the last few years,” Gary says. “We want people to know that flood insurance is not that expensive.”

The cheapest policy is just $171 per year. The insurance agency can write flood insurance policies for homes in low-risk areas ranging from $171 to about $550 annually. Joyce says that half of the polices run about $450, and that about 40 percent of claims happen in low-risk areas. And, the average claim is about $43,000.

“If you are wondering if you need flood insurance,” Gary says, “look outside your house, and if you see water, we recommend flood insurance.”

Gunter & Gunter’s website is a testament to great service, with a number of sterling reviews. Customers like Angela B. praise Gunter & Gunter for quickly processing her claim, Shirley R. said she is “overjoyed” with the umbrella policy purchased from the Gunters and Alissa J. wrote that she felt like “part of the family” when she called to purchase insurance.

The Rotary Connection

Gary and Joyce have a vested interest in the community, both local and global. As long-time members of The Rotary Club of New Tampa, they have worked with Feeding Tampa Bay — creating mobile food pantries across the city  — and been involved in many local and international service projects.

Most recently, they traveled to Honduras working on service projects with 15 other Rotarians. The trip was organized by the Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club, which goes twice a year and helps with infrastructure projects on dilapidated or geographically isolated schools.

Construction projects like building a soccer field and securing fences around the school were some of the undertakings. They’ve helped found an orphanage for girls, provide clean water for small villages, meals for the poor and educational materials.

“Rotary helps us be close to all parts of our community and learn much more about the people and their needs,” Joyce said. “Much more so that we would sitting behind a desk.”

Joyce is the current District Governor for Rotary International’s District 6890, comprised of Hillsborough, Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties. Gary, who also was president of the New Tampa Rotary in 2010-11, served as the District 6890 Governor in 2014-15.

The Gunters participate in weekly food distributions and help with Thanksgiving meals in collaboration with Atonement Lutheran Church on S.R. 54. They have and say they will continue to participate in the Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot at the Shops at Wiregrass. They helped with the Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel on March 18, which was hosted at Florida Hospital Center Ice by their New Tampa Rotary Club that helped raise funds for Feeding America, the national arm of Feeding Tampa Bay.

In January, they traveled to India for National Immunization Day and the project immunized 173 million children. The Gunters also are actively involved in Rotary’s campaign called End Polio Now. Thanks to the 100-year effort by Rotary International to inoculate everyone in every country in the world, so far this year, there have been just four reported new cases of Polio worldwide.

“We are very proud to be a part of this group of wonderful people helping right here in our communities,’’ Gary says, “and around the world.”

Call (813) 994-3900 or stop by Gunter & Gunter Insurance at 28969 S.R. 54 to discuss all of your insurance needs. The office is open Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday. Saturday appointments are available upon request. Visit GunterandGunterInsurance.com or search “GunterandGunterInsurance.AllstateAgency” on Facebook.