Some safe driving tips for Hope Hills, NC

There are some beautiful sights in and around Hope Hills, NC, and you may find yourself distracted even if you’ve seen everything before.  At Cross Creek Insurance, we understand the challenges drivers face when it comes to paying attention to the road and practicing safe driving habits. Here are some easy tips to remember that will help you avoid dangers while driving:

  1. Always wear your seatbelt, and make sure all passengers are safely buckled in. If you are transporting small children, keep them in the right kind of restraints or child safety seats and ensure they are fastened securely in. Even if you are secure, your unsecured passengers could turn into fast-moving projectiles if you are in an accident. 
  2. Do all the recommended maintenance on your vehicle, including regular oil changes and tire rotations.  Some accidents can’t be avoided, but keeping your car in good condition will help prevent some incidents like tire blowouts. 
  3. Observe the posted speed limits. Keep an eye out especially for work zones and school zones, where you might have to adjust your speed quickly. Slowing down won’t just potentially save your life; you’ll also save gas by driving slower. 
  4. Watch where you’re going. Don’t just focus on the car directly in front of you; take in other traffic ahead of you and look for stoplights and road signs. Distracted driving is the most common cause of accidents. 
  5. Also make sure you have your mirrors set so you can see around your vehicle, and check your blind spot regularly. 
  6. Use your turn signals. Other drivers will more easily be able to adjust to your turns and lane changes if you let them know first. 

If you are in Hope Hills, NC and would like to find out whether you may qualify for better insurance rates because of your good driving history,  or if you have any questions at all,  don’t hesitate to call Cross Creek Insurance.

Business Owners: Insurance Planning For Your Business

Successful business owners are often looking for the best ways to plan their marketing, staffing, and administrative duties. The owners of companies of different sizes also have similar duties with hiring and successful growth achievements. The best planning may often include the smartest ways to keep track of important contacts.  Business networking and marketing efforts often lead to successful contacts that are ready to help simplify the process of running a company.  Effective planning for business owners also includes administrative successes, such as consideration of commercial insurance. Cross Creek Insurance has a trained staff ready to assist with your commercial insurance needs.  Serving the Hope Hills NC area, the agency has proven success in helping businesses with their focus on comfortable company growth. 

The experienced contacts are important as a company is growing an important customer market or product line. A good insurance company can also help with planning for expansion sites and business assets. New hiring and worker’s compensation are other reasons to have a good insurance agency ready to help you grow. Property coverages and insurance for service-oriented firms are also reasons to consider commercial insurance. Smart growth is noticed with companies that are ready for incredible success.

Cross Creek Insurance is an experienced company that helps business owners with commercial insurance through their process of successful growth.  With experience helping businesses in the Hope Hills, NC region, the agency is also able to work with business start-ups as the leaders are planning their best strategies. Knowing the right contacts can be the smartest way to prepare for the most comfortable planning for success. For more information, call Cross Creek Insurance or visit them online. The best contacts are ready to help you and available to assist with planning for your business.

Do I need life insurance after I retire?

Most workers look forward to the day when they retire. You will be faced with many decisions when you are formulating your retirement plans. In most instances, there will be a change in income and some hard decisions may have to be made. Can you afford to live in your current home, will you have enough money to maintain the lifestyle you currently enjoy and are there some cuts you need to make. You may be asking yourself do I need life insurance after I retire? In Hope Hills, NC, Cross Creek Insurance is there for you to offer their expert advice. 

Before you decide whether or not you need life insurance after you retire you need to ask yourself a few questions. 

  • Who is counting on me to provide for them?
  • Do I have outstanding debts including a mortgage?
  • Have I provided for my final expenses?
  • Do I want to leave a legacy to anyone?

If you have a spouse, partner or dependent of any sort, you probably want to make sure that they are provided for and not left in financial need in the event of your passing. Life insurance is a way to help them to get through not only your loss but the financial burden that can follow. It should be able to take care of any debt that you have as well as paying for your final expenses. Ideally, there will be enough left to allow them to continue to live the same life that they are accustomed to. 

Many people want to leave a monetary legacy to their children or grandchildren even though they are not dependent. It can help to pay for a college education or the downpayment on a home or business. 

The team at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC can help you to decide if life insurance after you retire is something that is important to you. Why not give our office a call or stop by today to discuss your insurance needs.  

 

Home Insurance: What it Really Covers

When you purchase a new home, you’re making a financial investment.  It’s an investment that you need to protect with the right insurance.  Of course, homeowners’ insurance protects if there is a fire or damage from severe weather but it does so much more.  The team at Cross Creek Insurance works with homeowners in the Hope Hills, NC area so they understand the challenges they face. 

Consumers often don’t realize how much protection their homeowners’ policy provides.  Yes, it provides coverage for storm and fire damage allowing you to recover more quickly but the protection goes even further.  A policy will also cover all personal items and furniture in the home.  This can even include some items that are damaged or stolen when you are not at home.  If a laptop, for example, is stolen, it will still be covered.  Additionally, policies include liability coverage so that the homeowner is protected if someone is injured on the property.  For instance, if someone slips by the pool and the homeowner is deemed negligent, the policy will cover the injured person’s medical bills.  It will also cover legal fees if they decide to sue. 

Home insurance policies also protect any structures on the property such as outbuildings, sheds or pergolas.  Any structures, such as fencing or gazebos, can also be covered.  This level of protection for homeowners is extensive but it’s also important to understand the things that are not covered.  Homeowner’s policies do not cover flooding events in most cases.  For instance, if a water heater fails and floods a hallway, that will be covered.  If there are heavy rains and the home floods, that won’t be covered.  A separate flood insurance policy is needed if the home is at risk. 

At Cross Creek Insurance, our team works with homeowners throughout the Hope Hills, NC area to get the right coverage for their property.  Come in today to visit with the agents and get a quote.  Now is the time to protect your investment!

Winter Storms And Snow Are On The Way: Winterize Your Car

There are plenty of ways for you to winterize your car in Hope Hills, NC. The last thing you want to deal with is winter hitting without you being prepared. With a few tips on winterizing your vehicle as well as help with auto insurance from Cross Creek Insurance, you can be ready as soon as the winter storms start rolling in.

Winterize Your Vehicle

It’s important to prep your car for the colder months. Otherwise, you run the risk of it not starting or it not able to stay on the road. Consider a few tips:

  • Check the health of the battery
  • Change the windshield wiper blades
  • Check your tire pressure
  • Change the oil

Additionally, you should stock your car with a few emergency supplies. This includes a flashlight, a jacket, gloves, and a shovel. If you get stuck on the side of the road, these supplies can help you get out of various situations.

Review Your Auto Insurance

You should take the time to review your auto insurance policy in Hills, NC. This way, if you’re involved in an accident, you know that you can file a claim with the insurance company. Particularly with winter storms, you may experience snow and ice on the roads. It’s easy to lose your way and run off of the road or even hit something in the road. To avoid paying out of pocket for an expense, you can rely on your insurance.

One of our agents can review your policy to ensure it offers comprehensive and collision coverage that can protect you further in the winter months.

Stop in or call us at Cross Creek Insurance today to learn more about prepping your vehicle for the snow. We can also provide you with no-obligation insurance quotes to provide you with the coverage that you need.

 

 

How to Choose the Right Life Insurance in Hope Hills

There are many important forms of insurance that the average consumer needs to have. While most people in the Hope Hills, NC area will spend a lot of time shopping for a home or auto policy, not as many consider their life insurance needs. For those that are looking for life insurance, finding the right policy will require you to understand and consider a few different factors.

Know Your Options

When you are shopping for a life insurance policy in the Hope Hills, NC area it is important that you consider all of your options. The most common options include whole and term life insurance. Whole life is a great option for those that would like to also use their policy as an investment. Term life is ideal for those that want the most coverage possible for an affordable rate. It is important that you consider the benefits of both options when shopping for a new policy.

Consider Coverage Needs

You also need to spend time considering your own coverage needs. The amount of life insurance that you need will depend on your situation. You should carefully consider all future costs of your dependents, which can include housing, education, and even retirement. This should help to guide you into picking a policy limit that will give you the right type and level of coverage for your situation.

If you are trying to figure out your life insurance options, it is easy to get confused and concerned. Because of this, you should contact the team at Cross Creek Insurance whenever you are looking for a new policy. Cross Creek Insurance can help a consumer better understand their life insurance options and get into a policy that provides the best protection possible. 

What Commercial Insurance Do You Need for Your Transportation Business?

Coverage requirements vary depending on the type of transportation business you have. If you have a large fleet of taxi cabs, buses or semi-trucks, you may also need an umbrella policy to protect your business assets against a catastrophic loss. Your Cross Creek Insurance agent can answer specific questions about your coverage needs in Hope HIlls, NC. In the meantime, here is some information on commercial auto policies that may benefit your business. 

Types of Commercial Auto Coverage

Liability insurance pays for bodily injury and property damage if you are at fault for an accident. Collision insurance covers the replacement or repair costs to your vehicle following an accident. If you need coverage for theft, vandalism and weather damage, comprehensive insurance has you covered, while medical payments coverage pays the medical bills of passengers and drivers injured while in a company vehicle. Your agent can help you meet the minimum standard for these policies and can also hook you up with uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage in case you’re hit by a driver lacking the required coverage.

What Is an Umbrella Policy?

An umbrella insurance policy for your commercial fleet kicks in if the damage or loss of a covered event exceeds the maximum payout of the underlying policy. Talk to your agent about the specific policies that would help you ensure you’re covered adequately.

What Other Policies Should I Consider?

There are dozens of industry-specific coverage types that might benefit your business. For example, gap insurance covers the balance of the loan for a vehicle you are financing. Roadside assistance is probably a good choice if you have any kind of transportation business, but rental coverage may not be advantageous to pay for rental car coverage if you only operate locally. If you have delivery personnel that uses their own cars, you may decide to purchase non-owned auto liability coverage to protect your drivers.

Contact the knowledgeable professionals at Cross Creek Insurance to make an appointment or get a quote on commercial auto insurance today. Speak to an agent about all of your insurance needs in Hope Hills, NC.

 

What Hope Hills, NC Homeowners Need to Know about Personal Property

Preparing to pack all of your belongings for a move can be more enjoyable as you are getting ready to purchase a home.  As one of the largest purchases, a home can also be a smart real estate investment and owners are usually excited to close on the loan for this acquisition.  As a requirement for most home loans, people need to make arrangements for homeowners insurance and the items considered as personal property would be part of smart planning with this process.  The area of Hope Hills, NC has some incredible opportunities for homeownership and a purchase can be one of the most exciting plans for people to enjoy.

With home insurance, the owners might consider personal property coverage to protect the items they own.  This could include personal belongings, appliances, and furniture.  As another consideration, there are often options to cover high-value items, such as electronics and jewelry.  The cost to insure personal property can be included in the rate for home insurance.  You may want to have more discussions with a qualified insurance company if you have any items stored off-premises.  Cross Creek Insurance is experienced working with homeowners for insurance.  The staff can simplify the purchase process and make it more comfortable when preparing to move. 

A home purchase should be an exciting achievement so feel comfortable asking questions about the process.  Serving Hope Hills, NC, Cross Creek Insurance is ready to help you through it and our experienced staff is available to give you a quote for homeowners insurance.  You can visit the website for more information or contact the company by phone.  Feel confident your personal items are taken care of and plan to enjoy a simpler process while purchasing your home.

 

Does the Make and Model of My Vehicle Affect My Insurance Rates?

There are a variety of factors that come into play when determining the insurance rates for your vehicle, from your driving history to your zip code. However, the make and model of your car can also impact your auto insurance premiums. Here’s what you need to know from Cross Creek Insurance about how your vehicle’s make and model can affect your insurance rates. 

Liability VS Comprehensive Insurance 

Liability insurance covers any damage or loss you may inflict on other people or property in the event you are deemed at-fault in a covered event. It is the bare minimum of insurance required by law in Hope Hills, NC, and your make and model of the car will not affect the premium. Liability insurance covers other people’s vehicles and property, not yours. If you are involved in an accident, it doesn’t matter whether you drive an older car or a newer one, because the policy won’t pay for damage to your vehicle. 

If you have comprehensive insurance coverage, when you are involved in a collision, your Cross Creek Insurance collision insurance policy will cover the value of your vehicle. So, driving an older, less expensive vehicle will cost more to cover than a newer, more expensive model. 

Other Factors Involving Make and Model

The make and model of your vehicle typically doesn’t have as much impact on liability premiums compared to other factors such as your driving history, however, the exception is that driving a big, boxy vehicle in Hope Hills, NC can, simply due to the fact that their size and weight can cause more damage to other cars and property.  

Here are some other reasons your vehicles make and model can affect your premiums: 

  • More valuable vehicles are more costly to insure 
  • Luxury, high-end makes are more expensive to find parts for repairs 
  • Certain manufacturers and models offer more personal protection such as anti-lock brakes 
  • Certain makes and models are involved in more accidents 
  • Makes and models without certain theft-protection features have higher theft rates 

For more information about other factors that may have a significant impact on your auto insurance premiums, call Cross Creek Insurance today! 

Why You Need Extra Commercial Insurance if Your Business Is Growing

If your business is growing, you’re probably feeling exceptionally good about the future. While dealing with the changes is no doubt stressful, it’s also exciting to think about where things can go. A business owner who is getting to the next level is someone who’s doing something right. However, in the middle of all the chaos, you may not realize that it makes sense to increase your commercial insurance. Learn more about why your risks are going up alongside your revenue.

More People

You probably have more customers and more employees to handle as your business grows in Hope Hills, NC, which essentially increases your odds of a liability claim being brought against you. Whether it’s a new employee filing discrimination charges or a new customer claiming you sold them a defective product, you need to think about how you’ll handle these problems should they arise. Your business insurance policy may only help you up to a certain amount — which may or may not be enough. 

More Responsibility 

Cross Creek Insurance knows that scaling a business can be its downfall. You may have been able to handle 5 employees, but it’s very different to manage 50. You may need to move to an older building house everyone, one that may not be as stable as the one you’re currently in. It may be located in an area that’s prone to criminal activity. With the increase in duties, there are a lot of ways for things to fall through the cracks.

If you’re in Hope Hills, NC and you’re starting to see your business take off, call Cross Creek Insurance today. Our staff is ready to help you find a policy that will actually protect you in the wake of common and uncommon events alike.