Why should I have home insurance in North Carolina?

When you are in the Hope Hills, NC area, you will have various housing options to consider. One great option is to purchase your home. Those that are property owners here will enjoy long-term appreciation while also having a consistent place to call home. If you do purchase a property, you also need to get insurance for it. You need home insurance here for a few reasons. 

Coverage is a Lender Requirement

A reason to have home insurance in this area of the state is that it will be a requirement set by your mortgage lender. With historically interest rates, financing your home purchase is a good idea in many cases. If you do use a mortgage, there are lender rules that need to be followed. This often includes requiring you to get home insurance and maintain the plan the whole time.

Coverage Protects Your Assets

Even if you do not finance your purchase with a mortgage, you should still get insurance. Your home is a major asset and commitment that you will want to enjoy. To ensure you can continue to benefit from the purchase, you need insurance. With this coverage, you will have the support needed to repair your property if it incurs a variety of different types of damage in the future. 

Owning a home in the Hope Hills, NC area can be a great idea. If you would like to be a property owner here, it would be a good idea for you to call Cross Creek Insurance. If you would like to get a new policy in this area, it would be wise to call Cross Creek Insurance. The team here can offer any guidance that is needed to choose a new plan that will meet your needs. 

How Home Insurance Policies Can Vary

When you buy home insurance for your Hope Hills NC home, it’s likely to vary from your neighbor’s. Yes, home insurance isn’t standard across — many factors cause variations in home insurance. Keen to find out? Hang on, as Cross Creek Insurance explains. 

The factors below may cause your home insurance premiums to vary year on year. These include:

Sum insured

Sum insured refers to the amount you receive when filing a claim. Here, you need to understand the difference between replacement value and market value. The market value includes the value of your land. Simply put, it’s the amount of cash your home would fetch if it were to be sold today. On the other hand, replacement value is the amount it would cost if your house were to be rebuilt today from scratch. 

Depending on the value you use (although replacement value is ideal), your premiums are likely to differ since the two values aren’t the same. 

Deductibles

It’s most likely that your home insurance plan has deductibles, which the amount you pay first before your insurer compensates you. If you choose a high deductible, your premiums reduce — and vice versa is true.

Coverages

The more coverages you include, the more expensive your premiums become. For your home, you can choose the below coverages:

  • Liability coverage
  • Dwelling coverage
  • Additional living coverage
  • Personal contents coverage
  • Other structures
  • Medical payments

As you can see, home insurance is broad. As such, your policy is likely to vary depending on the number of coverages you include in your plan.

Riders / endorsements

These are optional coverages you consider when boosting your home insurance policy. Some examples include flood, umbrella, and sewer backup policies. Definitely, if you consider add-ons, your home insurance policy will vary. 

Other factors that cause home insurance policy to vary include:

  • Home security level
  • Your location
  • Age of your structure
  • People or pets residing in your home
  • Claim history

Would you like to learn more about home insurance? Contact Cross Creek Insurance, serving Hope Hills, NC, and its environs. 

Factors to Consider When Getting Home Insurance

Signing up for home insurance means leaving your home in the hands of a team that you have just met. It is an aspect that will likely leave you with two options; a costly mistake that means paying for inadequate coverage on your property or long-term investment that allows you to enjoy guaranteed security on your home. To help you achieve the latter, Cross Creek Insurance explains what to be on the lookout for when getting home insurance in Hope Hills, NC.

The Cost of Rebuilding Your Home

While some hazards around the home can be avoided, some will generally fall out of your control, with most weather phenomena falling in the second category. If your home suffers any property damage, you need to know that your insurance can take care of repair costs. With this in mind, first, evaluate the cost of home repairs around your area. This means taking into account labor costs as well as the costs of materials used to construct your house.

The Contents of Your Home

Apart from your home’s external components, your home belongings also play a prominent role in the type of home coverage that you get. Take into account the cost of your items, such as furniture, electronics, and valuables such as jewelry. An inventory can help with this and will go a long way in helping you estimate each item’s value and for evidence’s sake when you need to make a claim.

The Specifics of Your Cover

The majority of homeowners insurance will cater to your home’s possessions, the building structure, and liability claims. While this seems like a fair deal, make it a point to check for other specifics that can affect your compensation, such as fires, floods, mold, and sewage. Confirm with your insurance company if these items are covered and if not covered, get extra coverage for your home.

Getting value from your home insurance requires custom coverage based on your needs, an area that Cross Creek Insurance can help with. For more information on home insurance, contact our Hope Hills, NC agents today.

Will Home Insurance Cover Lightning Damage?

The exclusions and covered hazards on your insurance policy generally come down to the cause of damage, rather than what was damaged. So if your Hope Hills, NC home is hit by a car, that’s probably covered no matter where the car hit your home or what sort of damage it did. But flooding will have to be covered by flood insurance.

So what about lightning?

Good news: It’s probably covered.

Different home insurance policies have different exclusions, so you’ll have to check your policy and make sure, and call your agent and ask if you can’t find it listed anywhere. But by and large, you can expect that your home insurance policy does cover lightning damage.

If you’re wondering how much damage lightning can really do, well, lightning heats the surrounding air up to a temperature of about 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. So to say it can do a lot of damage is an understatement. It’s like launching a flaming cannonball into someone’s home.

50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, by the way, is hotter than the surface of the sun. The good news is that it’s usually raining, so a home struck by lightning might not burn down. But it only takes 50,000 degrees a fraction of a second to do a lot of damage.

If you have any questions or you’re looking to get covered in Hope Hills, NC, get in touch with Cross Creek Insurance. Cross Creek Insurance can get you a good deal on great coverage against everything from lightning and burglary to vandalism and falling trees. Just make sure to read your policy to guarantee your peace of mind.

When Should I Update My Home Insurance Policy?

By reviewing your home insurance policy annually, you can ensure your coverage is up to date in offering the protection you need. Changes to your home structure or possessions could require that you update your policy to continue receiving adequate protection for your valuable investments. If you’re planning to renovate your home, talk to your Cross Creek Insurance agent to see how your renovations will affect your coverage. Here are some examples of when it may be necessary to update your home insurance policy.

Home Remodeling

Major home renovations like a kitchen overhaul or adding a back patio to your home will increase its value. If you want your Hope Hills NC home to be covered at its new value, you’ll need to update your coverage. You’ll also need to update your policy to add these renovations to your coverage so they will be protected along with the rest of your home.

Upgrades to Home Systems

Upgrades to your plumbing, electrical or HVAC systems reduce your risk of fire or water damage. This could qualify you for a discount on your home insurance costs. You should discuss these upgrades with your insurer to see how they affect your coverage.

Purchase of Costly Items

If you’ve recently purchased or received costly items such as original artwork, high-end electronics, or pricey heirlooms into your Hope Hills, NC home, you’ll need to update your home insurance to include these goods in your coverage. As standard home insurance has limits on property coverage, you may need to purchase additional insurance to fully protect these items.

By becoming familiar with the protection that your home insurance provides, you’ll have a better idea of when to update your coverage. For more information on updating your home policy, contact your Cross Creek Insurance agent today.

Home Insurance Variables That North Carolina Homeowners Should Learn About

Based in Hope Hills, NC, Cross Creek Insurance helps the community find the insurance coverage that they need to protect what matters most. We strive to simplify the process for our clients so that can easily find policies that will benefit them.

Home Insurance Variables

As a Hope Hills, NC homeowner, it’s important that you protect your investment. The weather in North Carolina is often unpredictable. That’s why home insurance is an asset. Your home is protected if a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tropical storm causes damage. Your home is also covered if someone vandalizes it or if you are a victim of burglary. Liability coverage protects you in case someone visits your home and gets injured on the property. While you are researching different home insurance policies, pay attention to these variables.

As the region is prone to cases of severe weather, think about the distance of your home to the nearest fire hydrant. The time that it takes for the fire department to get to your home may impact your policy.

Also, consider the possibility of potential water damage. Make sure that your water lines are secure to prevent potential water damage throughout your home. If you are staying near the coast, you will also have to be mindful of potential flooding. Earthquakes are another potential disaster that you have to plan for. While the likelihood of an earthquake occurring is rare, it’s not impossible. If you have a trampoline in your backyard, make sure that you add liability coverage to protect you if someone gets injured. If you have any pets, your liability coverage is also an asset. You’ll be protected in case your pet accidentally bites someone.

Cross Creek Insurance Will Help You Find A Policy That You’re Comfortable With

For more information on home insurance, visit our website today! 

Tips for successful home insurance claim

We buy insurance to protect our homes, but we fail terribly at preparing or learning how a claim is made, and that’s why many of our claims end up getting rejected. If you live in Hope Hills, NC, maintaining a meticulous record of your property is one way of ensuring that you are a step ahead when it comes to filing a home insurance claim. While no one wishes to make a home insurance claim, Cross Creek insurance shared tips on filing it successfully.

Keep a record of your valuables.

Always take inventory of your possessions. If you have bought new items after updating your insurance, it is essential that you keep receipts, photos, or videos of the things. This will help prove that you owned the items in case you file a theft or fire claim. Normal wear and tear and preventable damage are not covered. Your insurance provider expects you to take care of your household items, such as unblocking the gutter, to avoid constant avoidable claims.

Check your coverages

Know what is covered in your home and what’s not. This will help you avoid filing claims for damages that are not covered. Remember, filing uncovered claims can result in penalties or higher premiums. Knowing what is covered also helps you understand what to expect at the end of the process.

Act quickly

When filing a claim in Hope Hills, NC, whether big or small, time is never on your side. The faster you call your insurance company, the faster you are likely to get sorted and get back to normalcy. For larger claims, an insurance agent will be sent to inspect the damage to determine what will be replaced and what should be repaired.

Remember, the more the claims, the higher the premiums. So, avoid filing claims for small damages to avoid raising your premiums. If you still have more questions, Cross Creek Insurance can help answer all of them. Contact us today.

Do You Have the Right Home Insurance for Your Hope Hills Area Home?

Owning a home is the great American Dream, and residents in the greater Hope Hills, NC community can rely on Cross Creek Insurance for all of their home insurance needs. We are here to help young families protect their first home as well as residents who just want to make sure their policy meets their needs. If it’s time for a policy review, or you are in the market for a new home, let us help you determine the level and type of policy that works for you and your family.

Choosing an Appropriate Home Insurance Policy

Sitting down to meet with your local insurance agent to review your home insurance policy options can save you a lot of stress in the long run. Think about the peace of mind that you will feel knowing that you and your family and your home are protected should a covered event occur. The right home policy can mean the difference between relieving stress during a catastrophe and feeling overwhelmed and like you have nowhere to turn.

There are many features available from a comprehensive policy that are worth a look. For example, if your home is rendered uninhabitable certain policies will provide compensation for alternative living arrangements. Think about what a relief that would be! It is stressful enough to have one’s home significantly damaged or destroyed without having to worry about where you’ll stay the night. Such policy features are worth adding to your home insurance today.

Do you want to make sure that your Hope Hills, NC area home has the protection it needs? Come in to talk with one of the Cross Creek Insurance agents today and make sure you have the right home insurance coverage!

Should I get home insurance in North Carolina?

Living in the Hope Hills, NC area is a great option for a lot of people. When you do live in this area of the state, it is very important that you consider all of your insurance needs. For those that own a home in this area, getting a home insurance policy should be considered a practical necessity. There are several reasons why you need to get home insurance for your property here.

Allows for Full Compliance

One of the reasons to get home insurance for your Hope Hills, NC home is that it will allow you to stay in full compliance. If you purchase your home using a mortgage, the lender will want you to carry home insurance at all times. Also, if you live in a community that has a home association, the documents will likely require that you carry insurance. By getting a home insurance policy, you can stay in compliance with all of these rules. 

Protects the Property

Even if you are not required to carry home insurance, you should still get this coverage. Your home is bound to be one of the most significant assets that you will ever purchase. To ensure that you are properly protected at all times, you should get a home insurance policy. This will give you coverage to repair or replace your home when it is necessary. 

If you do purchase a home in this area of North Carolina, it is important to properly protect it with insurance. To ensure your property is protected, you should call Cross Creek Insurance. The team at Cross Creek Insurance is aware of how important it is to choose an insurance policy. They can help you to pick a policy that is right for you and properly covers your valuable asset. 

Does my homeowner’s insurance protect my home if there is a flood or fire?

What is there not to love about owning a home in Hope Hills, NC? With the weather, the people, and all the other amenities, there is very little to complain about. However, sometimes unfortunate events happen even in places where it is least expected.

That is why at Cross Creek Insurance we work with every client to make sure they have the protection they really need based on their personal risks. It can be traumatic enough to go through a disaster without finding out that you were not covered under your current insurance policy for that particular scenario.

An insurance policy is really a contract between the insured person and the insurance company. The contract spells out the level of protection, what exactly is being protected, what kinds of perils are being protected against, and how much the protection costs. Anything that is not in the contract will not be enforceable.

A standard homeowner’s policy will protect the home, the property, and the belongings in the home and on the property, up to certain limits. It will also protect from certain named perils, such as theft, fire, and hail damage. In case of a serious incident, the homeowner may be able to expect the policy to cover property damage, temporary housing, and liability protection.

It is important to note that a homeowner’s policy in Hope Hills, NC will not cover flood damage. If a homeowner wants that kind of protection, it can be purchased separately.

Not everyone needs flood insurance, but you don’t want to find out that you need it when it is too late. If you want to find out how to check if your property is in a flood zone, or if you just want to discuss your policy, please call Cross Creek Insurance today.