Home Insurance

6 Parts of Home Insurance You Need to Know About

Posted on by AgentInsure

Home insurance in North Carolina is a special type of insurance called a multi-peril policy. What does a multi-peril policy do? It covers you for several types of scenarios at once, such as medical payments from accidents and property damage. Here at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC, we’ll show you the six parts that make up home insurance in North Carolina.

A. Dwelling – Often determined by the home’s market value, this part of your home insurance covers major damage to the house and the structural buildings that are attached to it. 

B. Other Structures – This part of the policy takes care of the structures on your property that aren’t attached to the house, such as sheds and separated garages. 

C. Personal Property – This section helps pay for the contents lost that you or family members who reside with you own. Take caution that it may not cover everything, so purchasing additional riders would be wise. 

D. Loss of Use – Loss of use helps pay for the meals and lodging expenses you could have if the home cannot be inhabited after a natural disaster.

E. Personal Liability – If an accident happens at your home, you will probably be responsible. This section helps pay for the costs from such accidents and protects your liability.

F. Medical Payments to Others – Similar to section E, this part helps pay for the medical expenses of the person who was hurt.

Many more details are included in a North Carolina insurance policy. To find out if a specific scenario will be covered or not by your home insurance, contact us today at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC. You can also email us anytime at your convenience.

Homeowners Insurance For First Time Buyers

Posted on by AgentInsure

If you’re buying a home for the first time, and you’re planning on getting a mortgage, your lender will require you to bring proof of homeowners insurance to your closing.  For purposes of protecting your lender’s interests in the property, you’ll need to include your lender’s name in the mortgagee’s clause.  It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to close on the home without your lender being protected.  You might even need to include six months of coverage for the next year as part of your closing costs.  At Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills NC, we’ll help you meet your homeowners insurance requirements.  At a minimum, you’ll want to insure:

  • Your dwelling and any other structures on the property
  • Your personal property inside of the home
  • Your liability for any injuries or property damage on the land
  • Medical payments coverage is somebody is injured on your property

On top standard coverage for your home, you might want additional coverage.  Think about flood coverage if you live in an area where flooding occurs.  You might even want special endorsements for certain personal property like artwork, jewelry, furs or electronics.  A standard policy will only pay for loss or damage to those items on a limited basis. 

You’ll also need to make a decision on whether you want your home and personal property insured for actual cash value or replacement cost.  Replacement cost is a bit more expensive, but as opposed to actual cash value, it doesn’t contemplate depreciation.  Replacement cost is the better choice for homeowners.

You’ll want to speak with one of our agents at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC in order to customize the best options for you.  Just give us a call or stop in for a cup of coffee.

Types of Home Insuranced You Might Need

Posted on by AgentInsure

There are a few different types of home insurance that you may need that are often attached to where you live. For those that live in Hope Hills, NC for instance, earthquake insurance is not something that you are likely ever to use, but for those in San Diego, CA, it may be a necessity.

Taking the time to learn about a few different types of home insurance can help you start to think about what coverage you need. General home policies cover things like fire, theft, break-ins, damage from storms, and injury of those that are on your property.

Most basic policies do not cover hurricane, earthquake, flood, or the cost of replacing very valuable collections that you may have. If you live in an area where floods are common, you may need a flood policy that can be tacked onto the cost of your basic policy. The same goes for hurricane and earthquake policies, they are not included in basic policies, but they can be added.

Similarly, if you have a large collection of jewelry, it may be safer to take out a policy that is just for those pieces than it would be to take out more home owners insurance that may or may not cover the replacement or retrieval of these pieces. On top of all that, you can take out more insurance on your home if you have made improvements to it.

The process of getting insurance for the value of your home is simple, the inspector will be sent from the agency, and they will valuate your home. This will allow them to set the coverage limits and determine pay outs if the home is a total loss or how to base their pay outs in the event of damage. Each location has different considerations and speaking with your agent if you live in the Hope Hills, NC area you can get the coverage you need.  Contact Cross Creek Insurance to learn more.

3 Ways to Improve the Exterior of Your Home

Posted on by AgentInsure

Whether you are selling your home or wanting to live in it for the rest of your life, it is imperative that you keep both its interior and exterior looking as good as possible. From washing the windows to pruning the rose bushes, taking care of your home will improve both its value as well as its looks. Here is a close look at a few tips you can follow to help improve the exterior of your home. 

Tip #1: Wash the windows regularly

When driving by your home, your eyes may not go directly to the windows, but when people are walking up your sidewalk, they will likely notice them if they haven’t been recently cleaned. Fortunately, cleaning the windows isn’t as difficult as you may have thought. If you don’t know how or don’t have the time to wash your windows, you can always turn to the services of a professional window cleaning company. Ideally, you will want the exterior of the windows to be cleaned once every three months and the interior cleaned at least once every two weeks. 

Tip #2: Take care of the landscaping

Mowing your lawn is a great way to keep the exterior of your home looking its best, but it is just as important to keep the bushes trimmed and the mulch fresh too. Taking care of the landscaping can be time-consuming, but working in it for just 20 minutes a day can go a long way. 

To learn more about improving the exterior of your home and home insurance, contact Cross Creek Insurance serving the Hope Hills, NC area. 

Could A Blizzard In North Carolina Cause Severe Home Damage?

Posted on by AgentInsure

If you’re new to North Carolina, you might think this great state has little problems with blizzards . You’d be wrong: snowfall of up to 41 inches have been recorded and temperatures have dropped as low as -34 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s why we at Cross Creek Insurance are offering this  advice, as blizzards can cause a variety of damage can seriously impact your home.

Damage That Can Occur

When a blizzard hits your home, wind will likely push trees and telephone poles around in your yard, potentially causing them to fall on your home. It might even blow windows out of your house. Obviously, snow is another major problem, as heavy amounts can damage your roof and windows.

However, blizzards in Hope Hills, NC often come accompanied with heavy amounts of ice that can stick to your home’s exterior and damage it or create ice dams in your gutters. Last, but not least, extremely cold temperatures may cause cracks in your home’s windows or siding.

Preparing Is Crucial

Before a winter storm hits, you need to make sure your home is prepared well in advance by performing these simple steps:

  • Shovel the snow off your roof before the storm – an average roof can support 20 pounds of snow per square foot
  • Break up ice dams in your gutter
  • Remove any dead trees from your yard and trim dead branches and limbs
  • Seal your doors and windows to keep in heat – particularly crucial if the electricity goes out
  • Wrap insulation around your pipes to keep them from bursting

Protect Your Home From Damage

While blizzards are rarely as severe as this in Hope Hills, NC, you never know when things will get more serious. That’s why home insurance is so necessary: it will help cover most, if not all, of your home repair costs after a blizzard. Please contact us at Cross Creek Insurance to learn more.

5 Essential Facts about Homeowner’s Insurance

Posted on by AgentInsure

Homeowner’s insurance can be a complicated topic, so here are five facts that are easily digestible and essential to know before you sign up for a policy.

1. Damage Coverage Varies by Source

Homeowner’s insurance policies carefully stipulate what types of damage are eligible for reimbursement. When signing up for a policy, be sure to examine which damage sources are covered and consider purchasing extra coverage if a likely danger – such as flooding for homes near water or in high rainfall areas like Hope Hills, NC – isn’t mentioned in the basic plan.

2. Your Home’s Neighborhood Will Impact Your Insurance Rates

The area surrounding your home already impacts the property value, and it will impact your insurance rates as well. Mention any nearby emergency services, especially a fire station, to your insurance provider.

3. Catalog and Categorize Everything

Keeping diligent records of the property within your home is the easiest way to ensure you are properly reimbursed in case of damage. If you expect that you’ll want to file a claim for an item, take dated photographs and store them with any relevant documents like titles and receipts.

4. Your Credit Score Impacts Insurance Rates

Because your homeowner’s insurance policy represents a financial agreement, you can expect most providers to perform a credit check to determine how well you will be able to pay your premiums and deductibles. 

5. You Are in Control of Your Homeowner’s Insurance Purchase

While you may feel like you’re at the mercy of whichever insurance company you stumble upon first. The truth is that you’ll have plenty of options that range from national companies to homegrown companies from Hope Hills, NC like Cross Creek Insurance. Take the time to shop around and find an insurance company that works for you.

5 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Fall

Posted on by AgentInsure

The kids are back to school and Fall is upon us.  You may be daydreaming about where you’d love to take a vacation this winter, but first thing’s first – you need to prepare your home for Fall before the weather turns unpredictable.  Here are five ways to help you get started.  

1.  Put in Storm Doors and Windows

Hope Hills, NC can be home to some nasty weather. Fall easily slides into Winter and before you know it, you’re turning on the heat.  Don’t wait for it to get too cold before you replace all the screens with storm windows.  

2. Clean the Gutters

Once all the leaves have fallen, it’s time to clean out the gutters.  Remove all debris and check for any place the gutters may be sagging or collecting water and repair or replace these areas.

3.  Get into the Attic

The attic is an area of the house that should be cleaned, organized and inspected twice a year – every Spring and Fall. Look for any areas where heat may be escaping and give the attic a good cleaning to get ready for Fall and Winter.  

4.  Remove Outdoor Hoses

If you leave a hose attached to an outdoor faucet over the winter season, you run the risk of having trapped water freeze, which could end up bursting your pipes.  To prevent this, be sure to store away outdoor hoses until Spring.

5.  Check for Cracks

Inspect the exterior of your home along the siding, doors and windows and look for any cracks that could be letting heat out and moisture in.  Seal up all cracks with caulk.  

At Cross Creek Insurance, we are committed to serving the people of Hope Hills, NC and we will work with you to get the best homeowner’s insurance to protect your Hope Hills, NC property.  Call us today to get started.  

 

 

 

3 Ways Home Insurance Improves Your Financial Future

Posted on by AgentInsure

Home insurance improves your future by saving you money in the event of unforeseen losses.  Many states have policy requirements which vary from one district to the next. You may already possess a good policy, but do you know what it actually does for you?  Cross Creek Insurance lists three ways below.

Security from Theft

One of the prime components of insuring your home comes in safeguarding your assets.  Before you select a policy take into consideration the value of the items in your home from electronics to jewelry.  Many items can be financially protected against theft up to a predetermined value.  This means that, should a burglary occur in your home, it can be mitigated by providing you with money to replace the items.

Damage caused by people

Damages to your home or property is a primary concern as well.  In events where human beings are to blame for damages, like a tractor swinging into a house wall or a car smashing into a fence, many policies will provide conditions that aid in paying for these damages or even allow you to relocate if necessary.

Liability

Most homeowners aren’t always aware of this component.  In many cases, the owner of a building can be sued for injuries sustained by persons who are on the premises at the time.  As with most policies,  the amount of protection you receive is dependent on the type of policy you select, even so, protection from liability should never be dismissed.  There are countless cases in the U.S. where homeowners were found liable for injuries even in cases of break-ins from burglars.

Purchasing a home is a big responsibility.  You don’t have to go it alone.  Call or go online to find out how you can benefit from a home insurance policy today.
 

 

5 Common Household Items You Can Recycle

Posted on by AgentInsure

Recycling may take a little extra effort, but it’s absolutely worth it for the planet and for yourself. Hope Hills cares about its town, so do the right thing and recycle these 5 common household items. 

1. Old Books 

Obviously these are made of paper, but it’s likely not something you think of when you start rounding up your old newspapers and junk mail. Maybe people think they have to take all the pages out of the cover, but you can generally recycle them whole at your local recycling facility. Or you could always donate them. 

2. Batteries 

Don’t let these into your trash bag, because eventually the acid within them will start to leak out into the earth below. There should be a designated place around you which will take your old electronics. 

3. Paper Plates 

After you have a party, don’t let people just throw these in the regular trash bin when they could be recycled. Recycling plants have come a long way with removing food and debris from paper, so you can likely recycle these plus the paper cups after a fiesta. 

4. Paper Towels

These can actually be composted, so give your garden a boost while you decrease your carbon footprint on the earth. You should also be throwing in any plant matter or food scraps into the composting heap. 

5. Clothes 

Clothes can be recycled if you’re not planning to take them to Goodwill. It may be more difficult to do so, but even the fabric of disgusting old clothes can still be reused. 

Cross Creek Insurance cares about the people in Hope Hills living greener lives, and we encourage everyone to be safe. Give us a call if you need a new homeowners policy and we can get you a quote. 

 

The Importance of Home Insurance in Hope Hills, North Carolina

Posted on by AgentInsure

If you’re considering purchasing a home in Hope Hills, North Carolina, then it’s important to also figure in the cost of homeowner’s insurance. Not only is this a financial issue, as it will be more expensive on a monthly basis to cover the bills to pay on your home in general, but homeowner’s insurance is also something required by law in North Carolina and serves a number of important benefits for keeping you financially solvent in the event of a catastrophe or unexpected event at your home, as well as keep you in a house in the event one of these unexpected events occurs. Below are some of the more important reasons to have home insurance in Hope Hills, North Carolina.

UNEXPECTED WEATHER 

North Carolina gets it’s fair share of weather, especially from hurricanes which blow into the state with a vengeance for a season each year. Homes are regularly destroyed or flooded when this occurs and if there is no homeowner’s insurance policy to speak of on the house itself, there will be no money set afforded to you to rebuild. This can be a catastrophic loss to a family and something that is incredibly difficult to recover from. Other things protected by homeowner’s insurance are figurative acts of God, like fires or a plane crashing out of the sky into the home and destroying it. A homeowner’s insurance policy will at least provide some financial assistance when something like this occurs to help the homeowner get back on their feet.

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

If someone breaks into your home and steals anything inside the home itself, most homeowner’s insurance policies also cover this. While this isn’t a real concern in Hope Hills, it’s just nice to have piece of mind.

A PLACE TO STAY ANYWAY

If any of these events do occur, some time will be needed to rebuild or repair your home. In this situation, home owner’s policies will usually pay for a place for you and your family to stay until your home can be lived in again.

So if you need a homeowner’s insurance policy contact a local company like Cross Creek Insurance, who serves the greater Hope Hills area.