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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.