What Protection Does Home Insurance Provide?

Your home is a very important asset that needs to have proper insurance coverage. In situations in which you have a home loan or mortgage, you will have to have a home insurance policy in place. There are several types of protection that home insurance provides that can make buying home insurance a great idea, even if it is not required by a lender.  

Property Coverage

One type of coverage that your home insurance policy will provide is property coverage.  When you have a home insurance policy, you will have coverage if your home is damaged or destroyed by a storm, fire, or other calamity. The property coverage policy will also provide you with coverage for your personal property.  This will include coverage in the event a personal property item is stolen or vandalized. If you have valuable personal items, such as jewelry or expensive collectibles, you may need to purchase an insurance rider for your insurance policy.  

Liability Insurance

Another benefit of having a home insurance policy is that you will receive liability insurance coverage. Whenever you have someone come to your home you are taking on some liability for that person. If someone is injured on your property due to either an accident or negligence, you could be found liable. When you have a liability insurance policy in place, you will receive coverage in the event you are found to be liable for an accident that happened to another person. 

When you are looking for a new home insurance policy in the Hope Hills, NC area, reaching out to the Cross Creek Insurance company could be a very good option.  The Cross Creek Insurance company has experience in helping people better determine their home insurance needs and can help you get into the right policy for your personal situation.  

 

 

 

How to Choose the Right Auto Insurance Policy

Choosing the best auto insurance policy can sometimes be a tough mountain to climb. With so many options to consider, choosing the right policy can be stressful.

To ensure you’re making the right decisions when it comes to choosing an auto insurance policy, it’s important to understand what coverages are involved. If you’re in the market for a new policy, it’s very beneficial to understand the following coverages:

Liability

Liability involves the damage made to both the property and individuals involved in the accident. If you’re at fault for an accident and there are bodily or property damages, you’ll be covered by the amount you choose. 

Collision and Comprehensive

If you’re involved in an accident, collision coverage pays for the damage caused by the impact of another vehicle or object. Comprehensive coverage covers just about anything else that can happen to your vehicle, including falling objects, fire, theft, hail, flood damage, and more. 

Medical Payments

Medical payments coverage will pay for medical bills and funeral expenses caused by an accident. These costs can be extremely high so it’s beneficial to be protected with this important coverage option. 

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists

This coverage is important when dealing with motorists that don’t have auto insurance or who are underinsured. With so many of these types of drivers out there, this coverage option is a great one to have. 

If you live in the Hope Hills, NC area and have questions about auto insurance, then Cross Creek Insurance is the company to call. We’re the experts when it comes to choosing the right auto insurance policy in Hope Hills, NC, and customer satisfaction is our number one priority. Contact Cross Creek Insurance today to learn more! 

 

 

Commercial Insurance: Myths vs Facts

As an entrepreneur, you may be unfamiliar with commercial insurance and the protection it has to offer. It’s not unusual for new business owners to have misconceptions concerning commercial coverage and costs. At Cross Creek Insurance, we can help clarify insurance myths so you can make wise insurance decisions based on the facts. It’s important to have a clear understanding of commercial policies in order to get the coverage you need.

Myth #1 Personal auto insurance protects a personal vehicle used for work.

Fact: Personal auto insurance policies are designed for personal vehicle use. Commercial auto insurance protects vehicles used for work. If you use a personal vehicle with personal auto insurance for business purposes, you won’t be protected against accident claims.

Myth #2 General liability insurance protects employees against accidents on the job.

Fact:  General liability coverage protects your business against accidental injuries or damages to customers or visitors on your business property, not employees. For employee protection, you need workers’ compensation insurance.

Myth #3 General liability insurance covers commercial vehicle accidents.

Fact: General liability insurance offers no protection against injuries or damages due to accidents on the road. This coverage is provided by commercial auto insurance.

Myth #4 Full coverage means you’re protected against any eventuality.

Fact: The definition of “full coverage” may vary depending on your policy. It’s important to review a policy carefully before signing to be fully aware of the protection it has to offer. The details of your policy can greatly affect how your insurer handles a claim.

Myth #5 Commercial business insurance will protect your business in Hope Hills, NC against flood damage.

Fact: Only flood insurance can protect your business against flood damage. If your business lies in a flood zone and the risk of flood damage is high, you should invest in flood insurance.

For more information on commercial insurance coverage and costs, contact Cross Creek Insurance, Hope Hills, NC.

Adopting a Child and Life Insurance Concerns

So you have decided to do it. We could not be happier at Cross Creek Insurance agency in Hope Hills, NC. You have taken the leap of faith that ensures people without homes can find a peaceful place to call home. 

In terms of your life insurance vulnerabilities adopting a child into your family is a perfect time for reassessment. The thing is that many people are so consumed with the process of the adoption that they do not consider if they are properly protecting the new addition to their family. 

Fortunately many family attorneys who are involved in the legalities of the adoption process counsel their parents on such important matters. However, for the ones who do not receive such counsel there are a few things to ponder at this joyous event.

SOME POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN ADOPTING YOUR CHILD

  • Make certain your employment is aware of the addition to your family. While we are careful to add the child onto our health insurance policy, it is not always part and parcel to add them onto our employment sponsored benefit of life insurance policy.
  • Does your child have benefits on file for them with the agency that facilitated the adoption? Many state sponsored adoption agencies have state sponsored lifetime benefits for the child. Be certain that you are aware. 
  • Increase your life insurance for your larger family.  

Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC has a full staff of agents who would love to make your acquaintance while assisting with your life insurance needs. Contact us today so we can get to know you a lot better and how we can check off each and every one of your insurance needs so that you don’t have to worry about not having the coverage you need. 

At what age should you start thinking about a life insurance policy?

Residents who live in the Hope Hills, NC area can contact the agents of Cross Creek Insurance if they have any questions concerning life insurance. People are often curious about when they should purchase a life insurance policy and what type is best-suited for their individual needs. Age, financial security, number of dependents, and lifestyle are all factors that must be considered before purchasing any type of insurance, including life policies.

Financial Obligations

While there is no set age where a person should purchase a life insurance policy, most agents will agree that coverage is needed if you have dependents or financial obligations, such as car and home loans. Having dependents means that if something happens to you without a life insurance policy, they will not be properly cared for. The same is true for your financial obligations. If you’re gone, no one is set up to pay them and the debt may transfer to your family. Having a life insurance policy in place takes care of both situations.

The Type of Policy

Your age and the total amount of your financial obligations will determine the type of life insurance that will best suit your needs. Whole life and permanent policies will build equity and can eventually be borrowed against. Term life on the other hand, cannot be borrowed against and is only set up for a specific span of time.

Call the agents of Cross Creek Insurance if you live in or around Hope Hills, NC and have questions concerning what type of policy you should buy and how much coverage you need to fully protect your family. They can provide you with the answers you need and make sure you fully understand how each policy works.

3 Things to Do After Your Business Expands

An exploding business is exciting for a number of reasons. It means that your business is a success and that your company has a bright future. But it can also be difficult for businesses to make a lot of changes in such a short amount of time. Keep these tips in mind from Cross Creek Insurance for how you can better prepare for the times ahead. 

1. Hiring Will Be Crucial 

It’s probably tempting to just get employees into your business to keep up with the ever-expanding batch of work. But hiring the wrong employees can make it difficult to get ahead. You’ll need to choose people who can not only keep their wits about them during stressful times but also people that you trust to do the right thing. When businesses are expanding, it sets up companies to make mistakes they’ll regret later on so don’t make rash decisions.

2. Search for Space 

If you need more space in Hope Hills, NC for your business, you’re going to need to consider everything from office configurations to safety to square footage. Sometimes it makes more sense to expand in the building you’re currently doing business out of, but other times you should really opt for an entirely different location. Before you decide one way or the other, you’ll need to think carefully through the pros and cons of each decision. 

3. Upgrade Your Commercial Insurance 

You’re going to need more commercial insurance if you have extra clients, employees, space, and equipment. The more you consider your policy, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to safeguard your business in Hope Hills, NC. Call Cross Creek Insurance if you have questions about your current policy and how you can add additional coverage. 

What Umbrella Insurance Covers That a General Policy Won’t

Umbrella insurance is separate from a general insurance policy and helps to cover liability and damages- picking up the slack where a general insurance policy stops- or covering what that policy won’t. An umbrella policy is an important part of protecting yourself, home or business from unforeseen circumstances that can negatively and financially impact your life, including: lawsuits, injuries, theft, natural disasters and much more.

If you are interested in getting an umbrella policy, 1st American Insurance Agency in Longmont, CO is here to walk you through the process. So, let’s consider what exactly is covered in an umbrella policy and why it is important to have in addition to a basic policy.   

What Will an Umbrella Policy Cover?

Remember, an umbrella policy is separate, additional liability coverage and can be for your home, automobile, boat, business or other property. Coverage includes legal situations- including fees and damages if you are found liable-rental property coverage, injuries and other, unexpected situations that may arise.

How do I Know if my General Policy isn’t Enough?

As an umbrella policy provides additional coverage, it is a back up to your general policy to cover what it won’t. In example, if you have $200,000 worth of liability coverage on your general policy and you are sued and found liable to pay $300,000, your general policy won’t cover that.  General insurance policies will only cover your own property damage or physical injuries- not others’. This is where you can avoid going bankrupt having to come up with the money out-of-pocket. Umbrella insurance includes at-fault damages and will keep you protected.

Having an umbrella policy is that added reassurance that your property is safe and that you are protecting your family and business from future potential losses. Avoid the headache of working with the unknown and protect yourself in advance with an umbrella insurance policy. 

Do you Need Both Auto and RV Insurance?

When it comes to RV’s and other campers that you use to recreate, there are some specific insurance considerations that you need to keep in mind. Though it might seem simple enough, RV insurance is not something that everyone can understand clearly and it may cause some issue when finding the policy that is going to be right for you. For those that live in the Arvada, CO area, the agents with Alliance Insurance Services can help you determine what insurance coverage is going to be right for you no matter what sort of RV you have.

A great place to start is to look at whether or not your auto insurance is going to cover your RV should it become damaged or destroyed while on the road. There is a simple way to answer this question. For starters, those RVs that can be towed behind a vehicle are going to be covered on your auto policy as they are not vehicles that can be driven on their own. They are instead vehicles that are reliant on your car to be able to move. This means that they can be considered an extension of your car and can be covered on your simple auto policy.

If you have an RV however that can drive on its own, you may want to have a separate RV policy to cover the RV without having to tack it onto your auto policy. In many cases, your RV is going to be covered just find on your auto policy and you may not need to worry about having a separate policy. In any case, if you live in or around the Arvada, CO area, the agents with Alliance Insurance Services are going to be able to answer any questions you may have and create the perfect RV or auto policy.

Should I Call a Contractor Before or After Filing a Home Insurance Claim?

If your home was damaged, you may find yourself wondering whether you should file a homeowners insurance claim or contact a contractor first. This is a question that many people ask us at Cross Creek Insurance, serving the greater Hope Hills, NC area. Here is some information you will want to know if you are facing this scenario. 

Who Should You Call First? 

If you are unsure as to how much damage has been done or the costs of the damage, it is fine to call a contractor first. Many people obtain estimates before filing a claim because they are not sure if the total cost of repairs will exceed their deductible. However, if you contact a contractor for an estimate, always be sure to have it done in a timely manner. You will want to file a homeowners insurance claim as quickly as possible. If you know that you will be filing a home insurance claim, or you cannot get an estimate within a day or two, it is best to file a claim and wait for estimates from contractors. This helps to ensure that your claim is processed in a timely manner. 

Having the right home insurance policy in place is important just in case you ever need to file a claim. If it has been a few years since your home insurance policy was looked at and had changes made, it may be time to reevaluate your policy limits and your current policy. Bring your policy to Cross Creek Insurance, serving the Hope Hills, NC area today. We can look at and determine if your policy limits still meet your needs or if it is time for a new policy. 

Will car insurance pay for water damage?

When floods occur or simply leaks in your car from the rain, water damage can majorly damage the interior of your vehicle. If the flooding is severe enough, it can damage major components like the engine or battery. If you have a comprehensive car insurance plan, you may be covered for water damage. If you live in Hope Hills, NC, consult with Cross Creek Insurance to see if they have comprehensive plans to cover water damage.

Preventing Water Damage

Even though your comprehensive insurance plan may cover water damage to your car, you should still be diligent enough to take precautions to secure your vehicle. If you are too negligent, you may find yourself having your claim contested in some instances. Make sure that any sunroofs, windows, or doors are adequately sealed and it should be replaced periodically. Also get in the habit of rolling up your windows when you leave your car.

You should also keep in mind that many comprehensive plans don’t want to cover any external or unattached equipment in your vehicle. This may include things like sound equipment, GPS devices, or electronic equipment stored in the vehile. Plans may also require you to pay out of pocket before contributing to the cost of damages. There are also limits to comprehensive plans that cover water damage, so make sure that you take care of your vehicle to prevent grave damage.

Considering the natural disasters that may occur living near the ocean, it is a good idea to have an insurance plan that includes water damage. Consult with an agent at Cross Creek Insurance if you live in the Hope Hills, NC area. Coverage may vary depending on your type of vehicle, its age, and your current auto insurance plan.