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. 

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.

 

Am I responsible if a burglar is hurt committing a crime on my property?

When you invite someone onto your property or into your home, you legally owe them a duty of care. If you don’t maintain your property so visitors can be safe, they may be able to sue you for their injuries.

You should understand premises liability laws when deciding how much coverage to get from Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC.  But what if the person who was injured was not there at your invitation, but came to commit a crime?

As a General Rule, No

The law does not protect trespassers from injury, so someone who comes to commit a crime, such as burglary, cannot normally recover for any injuries. However, this is not a punishment.

The reason the law does not protect trespassers is because property owners will normally have no way of predicting when trespassers will be there. Also, they will have no way to warn trespassers of specific hazards like loose floorboards or water.

Willful and Wanton Conduct

A normal trespasser may be able to sue you and win if he can prove that you should have been able to predict the trespass, such as when your place is commonly used as a shortcut. On the opposite end of the scale, you may be able to shoot a burglar if you felt the person was a danger to you or your family.

On the other hand, if you have something valuable and want to protect it, you cannot set a trap for the burglar. You will be responsible for the injuries of the burglar. You can also never use deadly force to protect property. You can consider all these issues when choosing a policy from Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC.

Commercial Property Insurance for Your Home Based Business

Working from home comes with many unique challenges. One of them is finding the right combination of insurance policies to cover your residential and commercial interests. What policies should a small business owner have for their home-based operation?

The Limits of Your Homeowner’s Policy

Your homeowner’s policy covers everything under your roof, right? Not exactly. Your personal property is covered. If you lose equipment that legally belonged to an incorporated business entity, your insurance company might refuse to pay.

Also, your insurance payout may not be enough to cover any costly equipment or inventory. Repairs or replacements would have to come out of your pockets. Insufficient cash flow is the number one killer of small businesses.

Renter’s insurance policies may not cover property that is stored outside of the building. If you use your yard as a work or storage space, you will need additional coverage.

Home-based business owners need separate policies to protect their business and personal assets. If you’re in the Hope Hills, NC area, the insurance experts at Cross Creek Insurance can help you find the right combination of policies to cover all your important property.

Coverage for Your Business Interests

Some common policies that home-based business owners may need include:

  • Business property coverage to protect your computers, machinery, and inventory.
  • General liability coverage covers your legal costs if your business is found liable for an injury, accident, or other loss.
  • Business interruption coverage pays you when you can’t work your business due to catastrophic loss.
  • Commercial auto coverage ensures your work vehicles.

Depending on the nature of your business, you may need additional policies or endorsements. Cross Creek Insurance serves the insurance needs of Hope Hills, NC area. Our agents can help you customize a combination of policies to protect your life, business, and property.

The Differences Between Whole and Term Life Insurance

When it comes to life insurance, there are many different types of policies available for you to choose from. At the very basic level, there are two different categories that life insurance can fall under: whole and term life. Before you purchase a life insurance policy in Hope Hills, NC it is important to know the difference between the two from Cross Creek Insurance so you can make the right decision. 

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance is designed to last for your entire life. You can sign up for a policy that you will pay for over a set number of years and then you will cease payments. However, this life insurance is designed to stay with you until you die and is better suited for people who are looking at more of a long term goal. Some policies even have a cash value associated with them and you can earn money on the policy over time. This policy tends to be more expensive.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is designed to only last until a certain age. However, one of the benefits of this type of insurance policy is that it is less expensive. Since it does not last for life though, it is more of a short term policy that will expire when you stop making payments or until you reach a certain age. These policies also do not have a cash value associated with them in the majority of cases. 

Now that you know the difference between whole and term life insurance, you can better decide which is the better option for your current situation. If you are interested in learning more about your options and getting a quote to fit within your budget, be sure to contact Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC today. 

Does A Farm Qualify For Commercial Insurance?

At Cross Creek Insurance, we provide great commercial insurance that is designed to suit a wide variety of needs. For example, we can provide those in Hope Hills, NC with insurance for their farm. Does a farm qualify for commercial insurance or does it require a different type?

Does It Qualify As A Farm?

The most important thing you need to do when insuring your farm is to ensure that it qualifies for commercial farm insurance. For example, it needs buildings that are used in farming operations, crops and livestock, equipment used to manage a farm, boarding houses for workers, people who work on the property, and the capacity to sell products for profit.

As a result, a farm, even if you live on the property, will then qualify for commercial insurance. However, the farm home will need to be covered with a home policy, rather than a commercial policy. A commercial policy for a farm will only cover the property that you use to do your farm work, though some policies may cover certain aspects if your home is damaged.

Policy Types Will Vary

A commercial insurance policy for a farm will cover a wide range of farm aspects. It will cover your property and protect it from the weather, fire, and other serious disasters. However, it also includes liability policies in case that somebody gets injured, medical coverage if somebody gets hurt, living expenses if your living area is damaged, and more. Typically, you are going to need to get specific coverage for livestock, such as cows, chickens, and pigs.

Cover Your Farm Successfully

If you need to get your Hope Hills, NC farm covered by high-quality commercial insurance, contact us at Cross Creek Insurance. We can pinpoint a great policy that works for you and fully cover your business.

Strange Items That home Insurance Covers

Home insurance is something that all homeowners should have and it covers a wide range of things. For the most part, home insurance covers the typical issues that might pop up here and there, but there are also some pretty strange things that it covers. For those that live in the Hope Hills, NC area, the agents with Cross Creek Insurance can tell you just what your policy covers.

Aside from your typical fire and burst pipes coverage, most policies have what is called an open peril policy that covers the cost of things that fall from the sky. This means things like plane parts, meteors, and any other object that might fall from the sky to land on your home. Another clause that most policies have is to cover volcano eruptions. This only covers damage from the volcano, however, not from any associated earthquakes.

Your homeowner’s policy may also help cover reward money if your home is broken into and you want to offer a reward. On top of all that, your policy may also cover the cost of clean up for any unattended death, murder, suicide, or another major injury in the home. This is not something that every single policy has but rather something that many have. If you are curious, you should contact your agent to see if your policy covers it. Lastly, your policy may cover tombstones if they are damaged, cracked, or otherwise damaged by people playing pranks.

For those in the Hope Hills, NC area, the agents with Cross Creek Insurance can tell you just what strange things your policy covers and what you may want to add additional coverage for in order to be fully protected.

Why get life insurance coverage with Hope Hills, NC, Cross Creek Insurance

While many people are adopting the idea of buying life insurance policy to secure the future of their dependents, it is recommended to buy the cover from a good company. You should find a company that will handle your dependents’ money with care as well as one that treats people with dignity and respect.
Hope Hills, NC, Cross Creek Insurance is one such firm that serves. North Carolina. Some of the reasons many people are turning to this place to look for life insurance include:

Good reviews and customer care
The first thing a person does before buying any product is research about that product and learn what people think about it to See how well it solves a problem or meets a specific need. Same applies to life insurance; it is barely enough to just settle for a company just because their premium rates are friendly. Doing research will help you understand how such a firm handles its customers. Hope Hills has won the hearts of many people through their good reputation and exceptional customer care. The staff is highly professional and attentive, solving the problems of every client perfectly well.

They offer living benefits
Even if life insurance is mainly for dependents, as a policyholder, you can enjoy certain advantages too. When one falls seriously sick and is rendered immobile or unable to do basic things like bathing, you are allowed to benefit from your savings to get medical attention and all that pertains to your health.

Good premium rates and reliability
Some may think that finding a place to purchase affordable term life insurance or universal cover in North Carolina is hard, well it is not that hard. At Hope Hills, they provide a range of affordable policies that every person can purchase depending on your income. They are also very reliable as they have been serving the people of Carolina for a while.

Visiting our offices or website will give you a clearer picture of the fantastic terms that Hope Hills offers. Feel free to give Cross Creek Insurance a call in case of any questions.

 

 

 

 

Insurance options to consider based on your commercial property

With dozens of different commercial insurance add-ons, you as a business owner can tailor from your insurance protection in order to make sure you have the right coverage for your unique needs. At Cross Creek Insurance, we want to make sure your Hope Hills NC business has the right protection not only for your needs but for your budget. That is why you need to take into consideration these different insurance options based on your commercial property needs. 

Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance protects what is inside of your property. While you may have coverage for the building itself, property insurance covers the equipment, stock, and other goods within your properly in the event of a storm, fire or theft. Just make sure to consult your insurance provider to see if the property insurance covers flooding. If not, you may need to invest in a secondary form of coverage regarding flooding. 

Business Owner’s Policy

Also known as a BOP, this is an umbrella coverage that provides added protection for vehicle coverage, liability insurance, and crime insurance. Different BOP insurance policies have different forms of protection and cover different elements of the business. 

Data Breach Insurance

Whether you store your company files on a hard drive, server or you maintain paper records, if the information is stolen you may be liable for any of your customer’s information used. Data Breach Insurance protection ensures you are covered in this event. 

At Cross Creek Insurance, we understand your business is unique. As no two businesses have the exact same needs you will need insurance coverage specific to your needs. Whether you are located in Hope Hill NC or somewhere in the surrounding area, we are here to assist you every step of the way.