Putting Up Holiday Decorations? Tips to Help You Avoid Home Damage When Decorating for the Holidays

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The holidays are here, and many homeowners decorate to celebrate. Unfortunately, during the process, many homeowners also make mistakes that can damage their homes. Here at Cross Creek Insurance, providing Hope Hills, NC residents with home insurance, we want to help you celebrate without damaging your home.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid home damage as you decorate for the holidays. 

Never Use Nails to Secure Outdoor Lights

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is using nails to nail their holiday lights on their roofs or gutters. This can lead to water leaks and siding damage. Always use light clips instead of things like staples or nails. 

Keep Your Inflatables Away From Your Home’s Siding

Another common mistake homeowners make when decorating for the holidays is placing their inflatables against the siding of their homes. The inflatables can trap water or moisture against the siding of your home, leading to rot. Always leave enough space between the siding on your home and your lawn inflatables. 

Do Not Overload Your Electric System

Lastly, ensure you never overload your electric system as you decorate for the holidays. If your lights start to flicker or you pop circuits, you are overloading your system. This can lead to electric fires or major electric system issues. 

While you can work to prevent damage to your home caused by decorations, not every type of home damage can be prevented. This is why home insurance is so important. If you are in the market for a new insurance policy or are unsure if your current policy best meets your needs in the greater Hope Hills, NC area, the team at Cross Creek Insurance can help. Call us today to get started. 

Understanding Commercial Flood Insurance in North Carolina

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If you’re reading the news, you’re seeing stories of catastrophic flooding across the U.S. From Kentucky to Florida, significant flooding events have caused untold damage to homes and businesses, and it’s clear that protection against these risks is essential. Cross Creek Insurance wants you to be protected when it comes to flood risk near Hope Hills, NC. Here are some tips you need to know.

North Carolina Insurance Coverage

According to the North Carolina Department of Insurance, flood and earthquake coverage is not part of most typical insurance policies. While earthquake policies can be private add-ons, flood insurance is legally required to go through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP sets flood insurance rates and designates which locations are eligible for flood insurance by county and zip code.

Additional Business Insurance

While you cannot get direct flood insurance outside of the NFIP, many business insurance policies may support you if you fear flood risk in a non-traditional flood area. Business insurance policies can often be expanded to insure against loss of product and revenue. Property insurance can help support risks to your building or store inventory. Loss of Use style policies can help support your business if you are forced to close for any reason. Liability policies can help protect against risk or injury to a person and your damaged property.

Many businesses bundle policies with a qualified insurance agent, often called a comprehensive policy. These bundled policies can help protect against damage in all areas of your business, from flood to fire. Cross Creek Insurance experts can help ensure you aren’t missing any critical areas of coverage for business in Hope Hills, NC. Contact us today.

How to Decide on Life Insurance in Hope Hills, NC

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Life can throw many curve balls our way, and sometimes it’s hard to know what kind of life insurance policy is right for us.

Here are a few things to think about when you’re trying to decide on life insurance in Hope Hills, NC:

What is Your Current Financial Situation?

This includes things like your income, your debts, and your overall financial goals. You’ll want to ensure you have enough life insurance to cover your debts and final expenses, but you don’t want to over-insure yourself and miss out on other financial opportunities. Your Cross Creek Insurance agent can help you determine how much life insurance you need based on your current financial situation.

What is Your Family Situation?

Do you have a spouse or partner? Children? Other dependents? Your life insurance policy should protect your loved ones in the event of your death. If you have a stay-at-home spouse, you’ll want to make sure they have enough money to pay certain expenses, such as the mortgage or child care, in the event of your death. If you have adult children, you may not need as much life insurance, but you’ll still want to ensure they’re taken care of financially in case of your death.

What is Your Lifestyle?

Your lifestyle choices can impact your life insurance needs. If you have risky hobbies, such as rock climbing or bungee jumping, you may need to purchase a more expensive policy with higher coverage. If you smoke cigarettes, you’ll also pay more for life insurance.

Our lives are constantly changing, and so are our life insurance needs. It’s important to review your life insurance policy every few years to ensure it still meets your needs. If you have any questions about life insurance in Hope Hills, NC, or if you need to review your policy, contact Cross Creek Insurance today. We’re here to help you make the best decisions for your family.

Is having auto insurance important in Hope Hills?

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Anyone living in the Hope Hills, NC area will find owning a car is a smart idea. When you choose to purchase a vehicle, you also need to make sure you get the right insurance for it. There are various reasons why you must select an auto insurance policy in this part of the state. 

Meet Legal Standards

A reason that you will want to have auto insurance in this part of North Carolina is so you can meet the standards and requirements set by the law. Similar to other states, you must carry auto insurance when driving on a public road. At a minimum, you will want auto liability insurance, which is required to ensure you can cover damages if you cause an accident while behind the wheel. 

Cover Your Car

While you must have insurance to be in good standing with the law, you also need support to cover your car. Investing in a full insurance plan with comprehensive coverage will include support if your vehicle is stolen or damaged in an accident. This coverage may also be required if you take out a loan when purchasing your car. 

Being a vehicle owner in the Hope Hills, NC area will always come with responsibilities. If you want to buy a car when you are here, it would be a good idea to call the team with Cross Creek Insurance. These professionals offer a lot of support to help you select an ideal policy. Ultimately, Cross Creek Insurance can protect your car and will provide you with peace of mind. 

Understanding What Home Insurance Doesn’t Cover

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Home insurance protects your home and belongings in case of a covered loss. However, it’s essential to understand what your policy does and does not cover. This blog post will look at a few examples of what most home insurance policies in Hope Hills, NC don’t cover.

High-End Jewelry

Many home insurance policies limit how much they will pay for high-end items such as jewelry. You will need to purchase additional coverage if you have any jewelry worth more than your policy’s limit. Schedule a home inventory with your insurance agent to determine how much coverage you need. They will help you assess your belongings’ value and ensure you have enough coverage.

Flooding

Another common exclusion in home insurance policies is flooding. Flooding is not included in home insurance because it’s a familiar and costly type of damage. To cover flooding, you must purchase a separate flood insurance policy. If you live in an area prone to flooding, ask your agent about buying flood insurance. At Cross Creek Insurance, we can help determine if you need flood insurance and how much coverage you need.

Personal Property limits

Many home insurance policies limit how much they will pay for certain types of personal property. For example, there may be a limit on how much the policy will pay for electronics or clothing. We recommend doing a home inventory with your agent to ensure you have enough coverage for all your belongings.

It’s essential to understand what your home insurance policy covers and doesn’t cover. Be sure to talk to your Cross Creek Insurance agent about any concerns you have about your coverage. We’re here to help you get the protection you need.

Do You Need Whole or Term Life Insurance in Hope Hills, NC?

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When deciding whether whole or term life insurance is right for you, there’s a lot to think about. Whole life insurance offers a death benefit and cash value that you can access while you’re alive, while term life insurance only offers a death benefit.

Whole or Term Life Insurance?

So which one is right for you? It depends on your needs and goals. If you’re looking for coverage to protect your family in case of death, then term life insurance is a good option. If you’re looking for a way to save for retirement or other long-term goals, then whole life insurance may be a better choice.

Contact Cross Creek Insurance Agency in Hope Hills, NC today to discuss your life insurance options. We can help you decide if whole or term life insurance is right for you.

Pros and Cons of Whole and Term Life Insurance

There are pros and cons to both whole and term life insurance. Whole life insurance can be more expensive than term life insurance but offers more flexibility and benefits. Term life insurance is less costly but only provides a death benefit.

Choosing the Right Life Insurance Coverage

When deciding which type of life insurance is right for you, you must talk to an experienced agent who can help you understand your options and make the best decision for your needs.

Cross Creek Insurance Agency has been helping Hope Hills, NC families with their life insurance needs for years. Contact us today to learn more about whole and term life insurance and to get a quote.

Do I need to get commercial insurance for my Hope Hills business?

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Those that live in the Hope Hills, NC area will find that being a business owner can be a great career path. As you are looking to build a business here, getting proper insurance needs to be a priority. There are various reasons why a business owner in this part of North Carolina must have a proper commercial insurance policy at all times. 

Protect Your Company

The most important reason you should have commercial insurance for your North Carolina business is so you can protect your company. Commercial insurance offers various coverage forms, including protection for your business assets and commercial liability risk mitigation. Both of these types of coverage can help to protect your business during some otherwise challenging situations.

Meet Requirements Set for Business

You also will want to get a commercial insurance plan to ensure you meet the standards set for your company. A variety of common contracts and transactions will result in a business’s insurance requirements. Most lenders, investors, vendors, and large clients will require that you have this coverage before entering into a transaction. This commercial insurance will ensure you remain in good standing with this obligation.

Being a business owner can be a good option if you are in the Hope Hills, NC area. As you are looking to build your business here, it would be helpful for you to call Cross Creek Insurance. Many choices come with selecting any insurance for your business, but Cross Creek Insurance can make it easier for you. These professionals understand the value of this coverage and can help you build a policy that will meet your needs. 

Do I need to tell my auto insurance company if I move?

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Many car owners in Hope Hills, NC are unaware or fail to take a keen interest in their auto insurance policy terms. Many car owners in this region have contacted us at Cross Creek Insurance to determine whether they need to inform their insurers when they move. Here’s what to know.

It will help if you inform your auto insurer when you move.

As the policyholder, you must inform your auto insurer when you move to another house in the same neighborhood, another neighborhood or city, or state. Failure to inform your auto insurer about your moving violates the terms of your auto insurance policy. The consequences of this violation could include:

  • Termination of your policy, which will leave your uninsured
  • Claim rejection of the insurer finds out that your claim is based on an incident that occurred after you moved without informing them.
  • The tarnishing of your insurance record by terminating your policy or rejecting your claim leads to higher premiums on your next auto insurance policy. The higher premiums will be because insurers view you as an untrustworthy policyholder and a greater risk to insure. 

Why should you inform your auto insurer when you move?

Your insurance company calculates your auto insurance premiums based on the risk level of your location. If you move from a house with a garage to one without in the same neighborhood, your risk level increases; thus, the auto insurer needs to charge you higher auto policy premiums for the increased risk. This is also the case when moving from one neighborhood or city to another. If you move to a safer house, neighborhood, or city, your risk level will be lower; thus, informing your auto insurer will enable you to enjoy lower premiums.

Contact Cross Creek Insurance for unrivaled auto insurance info and deals in Hope Hills, NC.

How Often Should I Review My Home Insurance Policy?

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One blunder most homeowners make after purchasing a home insurance policy is failing to regularly review it and assume that they are sufficiently covered in perpetuity. They are usually shocked when a peril covered under their home policy occurs and aren’t compensated as expected. As a Hope Hills, NC homeowner, you can avoid such shocks by reviewing your home policy habitually. At Cross Creek Insurance, we suggest that you create a habit of checking your home policy every:

1. Year Before Renewing It

Most home policies offer coverage for a year; however, the insurance provider will renew it automatically if you keep paying your premiums. You should always take the time to reassess your home policy every year before renewing it. Check for any changes the insurer might have made to the terms of the home policy and adjust the deductible to reflect your current financial state.

2. Time the Property Prices in Your Area Rise or Fall

While many homeowners remember to reevaluate their home insurance policy when the prices of their homes rise, very few remember to do the same when the value of their home fall. Reviewing your home insurance when the value of your home goes up means you will get appropriately compensated by the insurer. On the other hand, failing to reassess your home policy when the property value falls means you will lose money paying unnecessarily high premiums. 

3. Time you remodel or renovate your home

Every time you remodel or renovate your home, you should reevaluate your home policy. Thus, the renovations and remodeling that you have done to your property will be covered by your policy.

Hope Hills is one of the best residential areas in North Carolina, which is why you should have home insurance as a homeowner in this area. Contact Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC for your home insurance needs.

Required Commercial Insurance in North Carolina

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When you have a business in North Carolina, there are certain types of commercial insurance that you may need. Two types of commercial insurance are mandated for many North Carolina businesses, but these aren’t the only types your business could use to stay safer. Call us at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC to talk to an agent about the types of your business needs. 

Workers’ Compensation

This type of insurance is a policy that you have for your employees. Suppose one of them were to be injured while on the job. This policy would pay for the resulting medical bills. This insurance coverage is required if your business has at least three employees. The employees can be either full or part-time. This policy also provides several employee expenses, including their lost wages after an accident. It also includes employee disability payments. This can protect your business against liability and keep employees from suing for medical bills. 

Commercial Auto Coverage

If your business owns any type of vehicle, state law requires you to have it insured with a commercial auto policy. When a work vehicle gets into an accident that is your driver’s fault, this insurance will pay for the resulting medical bills for the third parties and the damage to their vehicle. It must have a specific amount of coverage for one person’s bodily injury liability and another amount for everyone’s bodily injury liability in the accident. It also requires a specific amount for property damage liability. These are the required coverages by law, but you can also add additional coverage to your policy to protect your work vehicle. 

Get Your Business Covered

If your business doesn’t have the coverage it needs, it’s time to call us at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC.