Insurance

Myths about Life Insurance

Posted on by AgentInsure

There are a lot of common myths about life insurance in Hope Hills, NC that can stand in the way of you getting proper coverage.

Employer-Provided Life Insurance Is All You Need: An employer may provide life insurance, and you may be able to purchase more worth up to six times your salary, but to provide for dependents you typically need more. You may also lose the insurance when you leave the job, and while you may convert, it’s typically more expensive than just purchasing a policy today on your own.

Only a Breadwinner Needs It: If something happens to a stay-at-home spouse, then the breadwinner will need to hire someone to care for the children and clean, which can be expensive. It’s a good idea to have insurance on both spouses. This way, the working spouse can also take some time off to help the family adjust.

You Are Too Young to Worry about It: It actually makes more sense to get life insurance when you are young, since it’s usually less expensive and you don’t have medical conditions that could disqualify you. By the time you need life insurance, it could be too late, which makes it a good idea to purchase it as soon as you are able to.

You Can’t Get It If You Have Health Issues: You can generally buy term life insurance, even with some health issues. It may mean higher premiums, but you should still be able to find insurance. Speak with an agent at Cross Creek Insurance if you have some health issues.

You Don’t Need It If You Are Single: You may still have family that relies on you, such as aging parents. Benefits can also be used to pay for burial costs, so your family doesn’t have to go into debt.

Contact an agent at Cross Creek Insurance, serving Hope Hills, NC, to get a quote on life insurance.

Where to Get Quality Business Insurance in Hope Hills, NC

Posted on by AgentInsure

With so many choices at your fingertips, you may be wondering how to select your business insurance policy.

The protection of your enterprise is nearly as important as your business model. Running an unprotected company may be the single riskiest method of operation. As the owner of a company, you need to protect your employees, customers, and your assets. Business insurance is the perfect layer of protection for your company.

Our expert agents in Hope Hills, NC will help you understand the various types of commercial insurance to choose the best form and amount for your company. Business insurance provides coverage for your physical equipment, inventory, and company vehicles. You can also choose a policy that protects your company if an employee steals from you or you incur some other type of theft. Business insurance is vital if your company encounters a lawsuit. If you have an employee that requires an extended absence leave due to injury, commercial insurance provides coverage. 

There are typically four ways to categorize business insurance:

  • Business liability insurance
  • Business umbrella insurance
  • Business property insurance
  • Business automobile insurance

Business automobile insurance gives protection to all cars used only for business purposes. Umbrella insurance gives you extensive coverage for any losses that wouldn’t otherwise be covered. Business property insurance provides reimbursement for an individual suffering from financial loss due to destroyed property, buildings, land, etc. Business liability insurance pays for property damage and bodily injury when the insured party is responsible.

Even if you need insurance for business-related activity outside the realm of these categories, Cross Creek Insurance can help. We have been serving the Hope Hills, NC area for many years, helping business owners acquire insurance for their specific needs. Contact Cross Creek Insurance today for a custom policy. Rest easier knowing your employees, customers, assets, and financed are protected.

At What Age Should I Get Life Insurance?

Posted on by AgentInsure

If you are thinking about getting a life insurance plan, it’s essential to know that there isn’t a set magic age for buying this coverage. Whole life insurance plans are best bought at the youngest age possible while term coverages are often purchased to offer protection for a specific time-constrained obligation. This may include providing a child’s college tuition fees in case you pass on before they get to college.

Some people choose to get both policies so that one portion can offer protection for the unknown future while the other covers different financial obligations that happen as the policy holder’s family grows. You can always get a life insurance plan from Cross Creek Insurance. We serve the entire Hope Hills, NC area and its environs.

What’s the best time to get a whole life coverage?

The perfect time to start a whole life coverage is when your kid is born. A whole life policy accrues value over time, so buying one for your child will give the protection they need during their later years. By the time your child is ready to leave home, the plan will have accumulated adequate funds that can be borrowed against the coverage to buy a house or overcome an unexpected hardship.

Basically, the younger you are when buying a life insurance coverage, the lower the premium costs will be. Since the average people’s lifespan has increased, the standard length of life insurance plans increased as well. This means that the risks of paying out a claim prematurely are lower today than before.

What’s more, there will be more time for a young one to pay premiums compared to a 60-year old person, meaning that the premium costs will vary significantly. But this doesn’t mean that old people shouldn’t get life insurance plans even if it’s for nothing more than paying for their funeral expenses when they pass on.

At Cross Creek Insurance, we can offer life insurance plans regardless of your age. Contact our Hope Hills, NC office today.

How many kinds of insurance does a small business need?

Posted on by AgentInsure

Business owners in Hope Hills, NC recognize the value of the community, which is thriving and supportive of small businesses.  Cross Creek Insurance works hard to make sure our small business customers have what they need when it comes to protection. 

Operating a business has so many kinds of risks, and different kinds of insurance policies address the different and distinct areas. Businesses are especially vulnerable because they have so many contacts with the rest of the world, and a simple slip and fall on the property could cause enough damage to pit some small businesses deep in the red.

Various Kinds of Insurance 

You will need insurance for the property, whether you rent or own it. Even if you work from home, you may need special insurance because homeowners insurance usually doesn’t cover business-related damages or injuries. General liability insurance helps protect against incidents like slip and fall injuries on your property. 

If your business uses automobiles, there is commercial auto insurance available. Product liability will protect you if someone is injured by one of your products. If you are a professional, we offer special insurance for damages that occur as a result of your professional advice. 

Save Money With a Business Owners Policy

You can save money by bundling some of your insurance needs into a BOP. Business owners in Hope Hills, NC may be eligible to combine the property and liability portions into one policy, which is also more convenient. 

There are also other kinds of insurance you may want to take advantage of, depending on your circumstances. Call Cross Creek Insurance where we can address your questions and give you a free quote that will address all your business liability needs.

 

When Should You Get Life Insurance?

Posted on by AgentInsure

Life insurance can help protect family members left behind after death in Hope Hills, NC. Many young people do not think about life insurance because they are more concerned with the present time instead of the future, and no one wants to think about his or her premature death. The best time to purchase life insurance is at birth because, as each year passes, a policy becomes more expensive. When a parent purchases life insurance for a child, the policy is prepaid and then transferred once the child turns 18.

The cash from life insurance grows tax-deferred. When a policy is purchased at a young age, the money can be used as a down payment on a home or, if held onto long enough, it could be used to supplement retirement income instead of being used for death benefits. Since many people struggle with finances in today’s economy, many choose to skip life insurance. It is important to know that there are options available depending on needs. An agent at Cross Creek Insurance can help you with the right options for your situation.

If life insurance is not purchased when the child is young, it’s best to purchase it under the age of 35. However, many people in this category are more concerned with paying immediate bills than worrying about the future.

It can be costly to forgo life insurance at a young age. It’s usually much cheaper to purchase earlier in life. Not only can be it be more expensive, it can also be more difficult to acquire life insurance. As an individual gets older medical conditions can arise, which lead to higher premiums and the possibility that coverage could be denied.

Contact an agent at Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC to get a quote for life insurance.

Does Your Auto Insurance Coverage Damage Caused By Drunk Driving?

Posted on by AgentInsure

If you live in Hope Hills, NC and caused an accident while drunk driving, you may be worried about your insurance coverage. We at Cross Creek Insurance can assure you that some types of policies will help even if you are drunk driving.

If you have liability insurance on your car, then your policy will cover the accident you cause while driving drunk. That is the purpose of liability insurance: to cover problems that you cause in an accident. However, it will only cover the damage that you cause to others.

For example, if you seriously devastate somebody’s car in an accident and cause them any kind of injury, your insurance will pay for their repair and health bills. However, your liability coverage will have a limit and, if courts decide you must pay these expenses, you will pay the rest once your insurance is done.

And if you are convicted of a DUI offense or any other crime after the accident, your insurance rates will skyrocket. At that point, you are now considered a high-risk driver. While that label won’t stay on your record forever, it will be hard to shake. Thankfully, your policy will not be canceled by your provider because of an accident.

If you are not only drunk but driving recklessly (such as driving at extreme speeds), your legal problems are going to be huge if you are caught. However, your insurance company will still pay for any accidents you cause, as long as you have liability insurance.

The reasons they pay for both drunken driving and reckless driving accidents is simple. While these actions are against the law, you did not engage in them to cause an accident. Therefore, people injured by your actions will still get help from your policy.

Obviously, it is best if Hope Hills, NC residents simply avoid drunk driving completely. And if you live in the area and want great liability insurance, please contact us at Cross Creek Insurance today.

Top Tips for Marketing Your Commercial Property

Posted on by AgentInsure

Do you have commercial property in Hope Hills, NC that you would like to sell? If so, it is pertinent that you market your properties to your fullest potential. The better you market the properties, the more likely you will create a bidding war between potential buyers, which is an excellent way to drive up the selling price. For now, here is a quick look at two of the top tips for marketing your commercial properties.

Market Yourself Along With your Listings

The Internet has made it possible to make everyone’s voice heard. This may seem like an old trick but the latest ways to self-promote, like content marketing, is a big part of brand-building strategies. Even though today’s consumers on the Internet are being blasted by advertising languages on every page, there are ways to build your brand and increase notoriety through content marketing. To do this, you should start your very own web publication that focuses on commercial properties and why they make a good investment. In doing this, you can establish yourself as a leader in the commercial property real estate industry. Clients will then be more likely to view your commercial properties that are up for sale.

Video for Visual

Humans are visual creatures. You work hard on your listing, so why not vamp it up using video? There are two valuable advantages you’ll gain with video marketing. The first is that video adds a new dimension when it comes to exploring the property. It adds a better feel and depth, helping to inspire the viewer and giving them a feeling that they are actually in person looking at the commercial building structure and land you are selling. YouTube is a great place to publish and market your video listings and has proven itself time and time again as a solid form of commercial property advertising.

Contact Us Today

During the process of selling your commercial properties, you will need to maintain the appropriate type of insurance. To learn more about commercial insurance policies, contact the Cross Creek Insurance today serving the Hope Hills, NC area.

Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Home Based Business Claims?

Posted on by AgentInsure

As more people develop side-hustles to supplement their incomes from their day jobs, home-based businesses are popping up in many neighborhoods. It never occurs to many homeowners that, as the business grows, their insurance needs may change. These tips from Cross Creek Insurance will help Hope Hills, NC home and business owners make wise insurance decisions.

Don’t Make Assumptions

Don’t assume that your homeowner’s insurance will cover your business too.  In some cases, your business property won’t be covered in case of a claim, so a break-in, fire, or storm could leave you on the line for replacing expensive business items. Additionally, in some cases, using your home as a place of business may even invalidate your home insurance. Check with your insurance agent to develop an insurance plan that won’t leave you at risk.

Consider Limits of Liability

Look around your home office and tally up the full cost of your business related items. Computers, printers, inventory, and tools for your trade may add up to thousands of dollars invested in your business. Adding the costs these business items onto the costs of your personal property means that a total loss may exceed the maximum of liability coverage on your homeowner’s policy. A business policy or a business rider on your homeowner’s policy can help you avoid losing the hard-earned money you’ve invested in your business.

If Clients Come to Your Home Office, You Need Protection

If clients, salespeople, or co-workers come to your home office, you definitely need business liability insurance. If your visiting nephew slips on the stairs and sprains his ankle, your homeowner’s insurance will pay for medical treatment. But, if your client slips on the same stairs, it’s likely that your homeowner’s insurance will not cover his medical treatment. Protect yourself, your business and your clients by adding business liability insurance to your policy.

If you have more questions about the insurance needs of your home-based business in Hope Hills, NC, contact Cross Creek Insurance.

Three Reasons Why You May Want to Insure an Inoperable Vehicle

Posted on by AgentInsure

One of the biggest myths out there is that you only need to ensure a car when it is operable or being driven on the roads. Here at Cross Creek Insurance, serving the greater Hope Hills, NC area, we want to educate everyone on the importance of ensuring inoperable vehicles as well. Here are three key reasons you may wish to keep an inoperable vehicle insured.

Covers Vandalism

If you have an inoperable vehicle, you may not be able to get into a car accident in the car, but it can still be vandalized. If someone throws a rock at it or breaks the window, comprehensive car insurance can help cover the loss caused by these things.

Covers Theft

An inoperable vehicle may be more of a challenge to steal, but that does not mean that it cannot happen. Someone may tow or haul away your inoperable vehicle and your neighbors may not say anything, thinking that you sold the unused car or are having it repaired. Comprehensive auto insurance helps to protect you against the financial loss that a stolen car may cause you.

Helps You Register Your Vehicle

The last reason why you may wish to keep an inoperable vehicle insured is that it helps you to register your vehicle. In many states, if you don’t have insurance, you can’t insure the car. And even inoperable cars need to be registered or you can be ticketed for having an unregistered car on your property.

If you have an inoperable vehicle that is not currently insured, now is the perfect time to insure it. Contact Cross Creek Insurance, serving the greater Hope Hills, NC area, for a free estimate today.

Avoiding Life Insurance Loopholes

Posted on by AgentInsure

Hope Hills, NC residents need high-quality life insurance to protect their families. However, there are many loopholes that are easy to fall into when getting this type of coverage. We’ve seen them all at Cross Creek Insurance and can help you avoid them.

Lying On Your Application

The truth will set you free when it comes to life insurance. If you lie on your policy and your provider finds out, they can deny your policy. Lying can be as simple as misrepresenting a disease you have or even denying a serious life-changing condition, such as cancer when buying a policy.

Drug And Alcohol Use

This loophole can be a very problematic one for many people. It states that if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol when you die, the insurance company can deny your claim. This fact is true even if the drugs or alcohol had nothing to do with your death. It can be a very troubling one if you enjoy a drink now and again and die at home due to a heart attack not related to your alcohol intake.

The Suicide Loophole

Those who are suffering from a serious disease may try to use suicide as a way of helping their families. As a result, life insurance companies have a clause that allows them to deny payment for the first two years of the policy. After that, beneficiaries only receive the premiums the policyholder paid for their deaths.

Performing Dangerous Activities

Traveling to dangerous or even war-torn areas, performing extreme sports, or doing other dangerous activities can void your life insurance. That’s because you weren’t taking due care to prevent your death.

Keeping Your Coverage Active

If you want your Hope Hills, NC life insurance to pay off, please contact us at Cross Creek Insurance. Our experts will make sure you don’t fall into these loopholes and void your policy, leaving your beneficiaries in a tough situation.