Insurance Agency in West Caldwell, NJInsurance that’s shopped for you, not sold to you.
Your insurance agent should work for you, not for an insurance company. Since 1978, we have compared home, auto, and business coverage across 25 carriers for families and businesses in Essex, Morris, Passaic, and Union counties, and walked them through the differences line by line.
Comparison sheet · Sample
Single-family house, West Caldwell
| Carrier A | Carrier B | Carrier C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwelling | $650,000 | $650,000 | $600,000 |
| Personal property | $325,000 | $455,000 (stronger) | $300,000 |
| Contents paid at | Replacement | Replacement | Depreciated (weaker) |
| Liability | $500,000 (stronger) | $300,000 | $500,000 (stronger) |
| Wind and hail | 2% | 5% (weaker) | $2,500 flat (stronger) |
| Water backup | $10,000 (stronger) | None (weaker) | $5,000 |
| Leaves out | Flood. Jewelry over $1,500 unless scheduled. | Flood. Water backup. | Flood. Full value of contents. |
stronger weaker
| Carrier A | Carrier B | Carrier C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury | 250/500 (stronger) | 100/300 | 250/500 (stronger) |
| Property damage | $100,000 | $100,000 | $50,000 (weaker) |
| PIP medical | $250,000 | $250,000 | $15,000 (weaker) |
| Collision deductible | $500 | $1,000 | $500 |
| Rental car | $40 a day | None (weaker) | $30 a day |
| Accident forgiveness | Included (stronger) | None (weaker) | After 3 years |
| Leaves out | Rideshare driving. | Rental car. Rideshare driving. | Medical bills over $15,000. |
stronger weaker
| Carrier A | Carrier B | Carrier C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability, each claim | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Equipment and stock | $150,000 (stronger) | $150,000 (stronger) | $100,000 |
| Lost income | 12 months (stronger) | $50,000 cap (weaker) | 12 months (stronger) |
| Equipment breakdown | Included | Optional (weaker) | Included |
| Hired and non-owned auto | $1,000,000 | None (weaker) | $1,000,000 |
| Cyber | $50,000 (stronger) | None (weaker) | $25,000 |
| Leaves out | Workers compensation. | Workers compensation. Cyber. | Workers compensation. |
stronger weaker
Sample figures for illustration. Your sheet names the carriers and the premiums.
- Independent since
- 1978
- Carriers we compare
- 25
- Counties served
- 4
- Office, the same people
- 1
What we insure
Personal, business, and employee benefits insurance in northern New Jersey
Every line has its own page. If you don’t see what you need, call. Most of what we place for clients started as a question.
(973) 237-1000Personal
01 · 11 lines- Auto
- Homeowners
- Condominium
- Renters
- Flood
- Umbrella
- Life
- Motorcycle
- Recreational vehicles
- Rental property
- Retirement planning
Business
02 · 13 lines- General liability
- Business owner's policy
- Commercial property
- Commercial auto
- Commercial flood
- Workers compensation
- Cyber liability
- Directors and officers
- Employment practices liability
- Professional liability
- Builder's risk
- Bonds
- Nonprofit organizations
Employee benefits
03 · 3 linesFor employers with 5 to 50 people who want benefits, payroll, and HR handled by the same office that handles their business insurance.
Talk to us about benefits →How an independent agency works
A captive agent sells one company’s policy. We put yours in front of 25 and set the answers side by side.
You see what each carrier covers and what it leaves out before you decide. The carrier pays us from the same premium you would pay buying direct.
How the comparison works →The 25 carriers we represent
- Travelers
- The Hartford
- Selective
- Nationwide
- Liberty Mutual
- Progressive
- Plymouth Rock
- CNA
- Zurich
- Hanover
- Penn National
- Utica National
- Philadelphia Insurance
- Cumberland
- Andover
- Merchants
- MetLife
- Hagerty
- Foremost
- Mercury
- National General
- AmTrust
- Farmers of Flemington
- FMI
- Philadelphia Contributionship
What happens when you call
One office in West Caldwell, the same people from the first call to the claim.
- 1
The first call
We review what you have now
Send your current policies. We read the declarations pages and tell you what they cover and what they leave out.
- 2
Next
We shop it across carriers
The same coverage goes to the carriers that write your kind of risk. We bring back the ones worth considering.
- 3
Side by side
We walk you through it
A sheet like the one at the top of this page, line by line, in person or on the phone.
- 4
Placing it
We bind the policy
We cancel the old one on the right date and send you the documents.
- ↻
Every renewal
We check it again
Before renewal, we look at whether the coverage still fits and whether another carrier would do better.
- ✓
Any day
Certificates and claims
You call the office, not a call center. The people who placed your policy issue the certificate or get the claim moving.
Business insurance for small businesses and franchise owners
Contractors, practices, restaurants, retail, and franchises across New Jersey.
Cyber liability, directors and officers, and employment practices liability alongside the basics. Opening a franchise? Send us the FDD and franchise agreement. We match the policy to the insurance section and send the franchisor the documents they ask for.
- Contractors
- Medical and dental practices
- Restaurants
- Retail
- Franchises
- Nonprofits
- Professional services
- Landlords
1 · You send
Franchise Disclosure DocumentFranchise agreement2 · We match the insurance section
- General liability at the franchisor’s limits
- Franchisor named as additional insured
- Property and business income
- Workers compensation
- Waiver of subrogation
3 · The franchisor receives
Certificate of insuranceWith the endorsements the agreement asks forSent
What clients say
It would be a better world if more companies emulated your business model.
“I’ve been doing business with Schumacher Insurance for over 20 years. My interactions with your agents have always been positive and upbeat each and every time. Maria was excellent…she addressed my latest issues in typical Schumacher fashion…courteously, timely and professionally. It would be a better world if more companies emulated your business model.”
“I spoke with agent Maria who was extremely thorough and attentive. She was able to get me new policies which allowed me to save a couple hundred a year. I highly recommend.”
“Truly an A+ team over at Schumacher. … They got us an excellent price, were always willing to make any adjustments, and always had a quick response. Thank you!!”
“We have been using Schumacher for years for personal and business. Always amazing service, fast response, and a dedicated team of people that are awesome. Would never go anywhere else!”
Insurance questions
Questions New Jersey homeowners and business owners ask us first
Don’t see yours? Call (973) 237-1000.
Does it cost more to buy insurance through an independent agent?
No. The carrier pays the agency out of the same premium you would pay buying direct. You pay for the policy, not for the comparison.
Why did my homeowners premium go up when nothing changed?
Rebuilding costs and carrier losses across New Jersey move rates every year. That is the moment to shop it, and we do that before renewal.
How fast can I get a certificate of insurance?
Most certificates go out the same business day. Use the request form or call the office.
Do I need an umbrella policy?
If you own a home, drive, and have savings or income to protect, usually yes. It sits on top of your home and auto liability limits.
Who do I call when I have a claim?
Call us first, or go straight to your carrier using the claims directory. Either way, we follow the claim with you.
Our office
Insurance agency on Passaic Avenue in West Caldwell
- Address
- 551 Passaic Avenue, West Caldwell, NJ 07006
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Phone and email
- (973) 237-1000 · info@schins.net
Towns we serve
Essex, Morris, Passaic, and Union counties
Essex County
Belleville, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, East Orange, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair, Newark, North Caldwell, Nutley, Orange, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell
Morris County
Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham, Chester, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Madison, Mendham, Montville, Morris Plains, Morristown, Parsippany, Randolph, Rockaway
Passaic County
Bloomingdale, Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Hewitt, Little Falls, Newfoundland, North Haledon, Oak Ridge, Passaic, Paterson, Pompton Lakes, Prospect Park, Ringwood, Riverdale, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne, West Milford, Woodland Park
Union County
Berkeley Heights, Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, New Providence, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Springfield, Summit, Union, Westfield
Start here
Get an insurance quote in West Caldwell
Call, or start with the form that fits. Each one goes straight to the office, and a person calls you back.
(973) 237-1000