5 Tips to Stress-Free Driving during the Holidays

With the holidays right around the corner, you may be planning a road trip to visit your parents or in-laws. Holiday travels can be extremely stressful, especially if you’re spending a lot of time on the road. Whether you’re driving around North Carolina or out of state, these tips from Cross Creek Insurance can help you have smoother, stress-free travels.

Plan Ahead

Plan ahead for your trip. Mark your routes and choose your travel dates carefully to try to avoid congested highways. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your holiday spot safely.

Check Your Vehicle

Have your vehicle inspected before your trip to reduce your risk of car problems on the road. Schedule an inspection at least a week before traveling to give your mechanic in Hope Hills, NC time to make any necessary repairs.

Stop and Rest When Necessary

Take pit stops as often as necessary to rest your eyes and stretch, especially if you’re getting tired. Driving drowsy is a recipe for disaster, particularly when traveling long distances. If you’re traveling with kids, they will appreciate pit stops to release some of their pent up energy.   

Reduce Distractions

Put away your cell phone, tablet, or any other distractions that can take your mind off the road while driving. Don’t answer calls or texts when you’re on the road. Wait for a pit stop or pull over (if you can do so safely) to return calls or texts. Texting while driving is illegal in many states to include North Carolina, putting you at risk of getting fined.

Review Auto Insurance

Review your auto insurance to insure you have the necessary coverage for your travels. You don’t want to be caught unprepared in the event of an accident.

For quality auto coverage in Hope Hills, NC, contact Cross Creek Insurance.

Why should I get a Hope Hills life insurance policy?

Anyone that lives in the Hope Hills, NC area will have a lot of different personal insurance needs. One form of insurance that should never be overlooked is life insurance, which will provide financial protection to your dependants. There are several reasons why you should get life insurance. 

Provides Financial Protection

One reason that you should get life insurance here is that it can provide financial protection to your dependants. If you have people that rely on you, it will continue to be important that you ensure they have the same financial resources if you were to pass away. With a life insurance policy, you can do this as you will be able to build and curtail a policy that meets the need of yourself and your dependents. Even if you do not have dependents, a policy could help to cover any end of life expenses you incur. 

Gives Additional Investment Option

You should also consider getting life insurance because it can provide you with an additional investment option. Anyone that has taken out a whole life insurance policy, as opposed to term life, will be able to start building an account that could be liquidated in the future. This account could also be used as a form of collateral that could be used to secure a loan or other obligation. 

Those that are looking for life insurance in the Hope Hills, NC area should speak with someone that they can trust. If you are looking for this type of insurance here, you should reach out to the team at Cross Creek Insurance. If you do call Cross Creek Insurance, you will receive the support you need to understand your options and needs. They can then help you get into a policy that provides the right coverage for your situation. 

Safety Tips for the Workplace

As an employer, it is your responsibility to make sure that the workplace is safe for your employees. It’s important because healthy conditions promote healthy workers. It also contributes to the overall health of your growing business. The Cross Creek Insurance agents in Hope Hills, NC want you to know a few things you can do to keep your workplace safe.

Keep Your Business Safe

  • Clear emergency exits. Every company has emergency exits just in case the primary doors are blocked. Keep those exits free of cabinets, boxes, or clutter to prevent an accident if there’s a fire.
  • Use safety equipment. If you handle biohazard, work with construction equipment, or deal with electrical wires, you should properly handle the items and the equipment as directed by your employer.
  • Report unsafe conditions. If you see something that could cause an accident, you should tell your supervisor. Such things could include curled carpet ends, spills, or unraveled wires.
  • Reduce stress. Stress can cause absenteeism and unhappy employees. Reduce worker stress by making the work efficient and listening to employee complaints. Hold meetings where everyone has a voice and employers can explain big changes collectively.
  • Limit physical fatigue and injuries. If you’re in an office environment, keep your back straight when sitting for long periods of time. If you need to lift heavy items, bend your knees, and not with your back.

What Else You Can Do

Accidents can be costly. To avoid paying large settlements, you should have a good commercial insurance policy. Insurance can protect you from paying out a fortune in medical bills and legal fees if an accident happens at your business. Get with the independent agents at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC where you can update the details of your commercial insurance policy.

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.

What does comprehensive insurance cover?

Most of us understand that auto insurance is designed to protect us, other drivers, and our vehicles. However, many of us don’t understand the different types of auto insurance and what each type covers. Cross Creek Insurance of Hope Hills, NC is committed to helping North Carolina residents understand auto insurance. We take pride in educating North Carolina residents on different types of coverage. Comprehensive coverage is a form of auto insurance designed to help insurance holders cover certain expenses that arise from non-accident situations. 

What Is Comprehensive Auto Insurance?
In short, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle that results from non-accident situations. This form of coverage will pay for damage to your car if the damage is equal to or less than the value of your car. comprehensive insurance can cover damage to your car from falling trees or objects. It also covers damage to your vehicle that is the result of fires, floods, hail, and wind: In other words, weather-related damage. If the damage exceeds the value of your car, the insurance company will total the car. When a car is totaled it is considered a loss. The cost to repair the damage exceeds the value of the car. Comprehensive insurance will pay for damage to the car minus the cost of your deductible. This insurance is different from collision coverage in that it covers damage to your car that results from situations beyond your control that aren’t accident based. In other words, they don’t involve a collision with another car or motor vehicle. We are committed to helping North Carolina drivers understand comprehensive insurance and choose the best coverage for their unique situation. Give us a call. We can’t wait to answer your questions. 

Who needs to get life insurance in North Carolina?

When looking to build a strong personal insurance plan, one important form of coverage to have in place is life insurance. This form of insurance can provide financial protection to your dependants or help loved ones with costs if you were to pass away unexpectedly. For those that are in the Hope Hills, NC area, there are several situations when someone should get a full life insurance policy. 

Those Looking to Provide Financial Protection

The first situation when someone will need to get life insurance is when they want to provide financial protection to others. If you have people that rely on your income, you will want to make sure that they are properly covered by insurance. When you get a life insurance policy, you are going to be able to create a plan that is designed to meet their financial needs if you were to pass away. This can also include providing expenses to cover the end of life costs that can occur. 

Those Looking for Investment Alternative

Another situation when you may need a life insurance policy is when you are looking for a conservative investment alternative. If you choose to get a whole life insurance policy, a portion of your monthly premium payments will build up in an account that can be liquidated in the future. This offers a low-risk investment option that can be a good addition to any investment plan. 

Ultimately, those that are in the Hope Hills, NC area will want to make sure that they have a proper life insurance policy in place. If you believe that getting this form of coverage is necessary, you should speak with the team at Cross Creek Insurance. The team at Cross Creek Insurance can ensure you have proper coverage to meet your needs. 

Important Commercial Insurance Facts Small Business Owners Should Be Aware Of

Based in Hope Hills, NC, Cross Creek Insurance assists residents in the community through helping them find the insurance coverage that they need. We offer our clients multiple insurance policies to ensure that they can find coverage regardless of the situation.

Commercial Insurance

Business owners have a lot of responsibilities. They have to serve their customers, hire good employees, and keep track of a large amount of paperwork. Operating a business on a daily basis can be an overwhelming experience at times, which is why commercial insurance is an asset. Commercial insurance helps business owners manage their investment. The policy covers the business’s physical property in the event that it is damaged due to a fire or another type of natural disaster. Worker’s compensation protects your business and your employees in the event of a workplace injury.

Important Facts To Remember

Your Business Vehicle Is Covered

Commercial insurance allows you to protect any vehicles that are a part of your business. You can add liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage to your vehicle. Don’t simply rely on your traditional auto insurance policy.

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage gives you protection as your brand starts to grow and attract more people. The more customers that you have visiting your business, the more likely there will be an accident that occurs on the property and one of your customers gets injured. Liability coverage protects you if one of your customers gets injured while visiting the property.

Business Owner Coverage

As a small business owner, you can merge multiple types of coverages in a single business owner package. A business owner package is an efficient way to ensure that you are protected.

Cross Creek Insurance Can Assist You

If you have any questions about commercial insurance, stop by our office in Hope Hills, NC today. We will discuss all of your options so that you can find the coverage to help maintain a successful business.

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!

When Is The Best Time to Shop for New Auto Insurance?

Auto insurance is a necessary expense in most states as it is required by law in order to operate a vehicle. Because it is such a necessary expense, it is important to make sure you are always getting the best deal. At Cross Creek Insurance, serving Hope Hills, NC, we love helping our clients learn more about these important insurance topics. Keep reading to learn about when you should shop around for new auto insurance. 

Annually

It is recommended to shop around annually to make sure you are getting the best deal. Shopping once a year gives you a chance to compare rates and to find out about new discounts you are now eligible for. 

When Adding a Teen Driver

When your kids start driving, you will want to shop around to make sure you are now getting the best possible deal. Adding a teen driver can increase your rates, so getting the best deal is more important. You can talk to an insurance representative to find out exactly when you should add your teen to your policy. 

After A Marriage

If you are getting married or recently got married, you will want to look into combining your and your spouse’s auto insurance policies. In most cases, a couple can get a discount just for being married. Take some time to shop around and see who is offering the best married discounts. 

After a Divorce

After a divorce, you will need to take your spouse off of your auto insurance. If you are the spouse being taken off, then you will want to shop around for a new policy for yourself. 

If you would like to learn more about auto insurance, please call our friendly staff today at Cross Creek Insurance, serving Hope Hills, NC today. We look forward to answering your questions. 

Do You Need Commercial Insurance When Working From Home?

Working from home brings with it a number of benefits. There are also a handful of questions. One such question you might wonder about is whether you need to have commercial insurance, or if your home owner’s insurance will suffice. Here at Cross Creek Insurance, we are here to help address these and all other commercial insurance concerns you might have, especially if you live in greater Hope Hills, NC. 

Home Business Insurance Needs

In general, yes, you absolutely need commercial insurance when working from home. Your home owner’s insurance protects your home, but if you’re building materials or saving stock within the property this will likely not be protected. Now, if you work off of just a computer you may be able to get away with insuring your computer, but if you produce anything in your home it is a good idea to insure it. 

Additionally, fires can start with some home manufacturing. If you sustain property damage due to your business your home insurance may not cover it. So commercial insurance can fill in this area and make sure that not only your business goods are protected, but that your property is protected in the event of any kind of business-related damage. 

Protect Your Home Business With Commercial Insurance

You have put in a considerable amount of time, money, and energy into building up your at-home business. You need to do whatever you can to protect it. One of these ways is with commercial insurance. Commercial insurance is designed to help protect your business, regardless of its physical location. So, if you live around Hope Hills, NC and run a business inside your home, our staff here at Cross Creek Insurance is ready to help address all your concerns.