Could A Blizzard In North Carolina Cause Severe Home Damage?

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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.

Prepare Your Car for Long-Term Storage

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You’ve needed this vacation for years and you finally have the time to go enjoy yourself. Now, you just need to leave your vehicle for an extended period of time and want to make sure it is well taken care of until you get back. If you need to store it for longer than a few weeks there are a few things you should do. Cross Creek Insurance, Inc. serves Hope Hills, NC, they can provide a few tips on how to prepare your vehicle for long-term storage.

The elements can cause extreme damage to the exterior of your vehicle when left unattended. In the summer, the sun can cause paint to crack, chip, and fade. The seats, dash, and other interior parts can become discolored. In winter, the snow and salt can seep into your car and cause it to corrode. Place a car cover over your vehicle if you are going to leave it open to the elements.

Leave it Topped Off

Make sure that all of your fluids have been replaced and filled before your trip. The engine could be destroyed if you leave it with used fluids sitting around. A fluid stabilizer will keep your gas from breaking down while you are away and corrupting the gas line.

Batteries Don’t Last Forever

Remove the battery and clean the connections. Batteries that sit without being used can become corrosive and start to destroy the engine. If you have a trusted neighbor or friend, you should have them start the car and drive it around the block once a week to preserve the battery until you return home.

Animal Prevention

Small animals, such as squirrels and mice can find tiny holes in your cars’ exterior when no one is looking. To prevent creatures from building a nest in your vehicle plug the tailpipe and other obvious holes. You could also place mothballs or other pesticides in and around the vehicle to keep the animals away.

In Hope Hills, NC, Cross Creek Insurance, Inc. agents are available to help you with beginning and maintaining an auto policy for your new or used vehicle.

5 Essential Facts about Homeowner’s Insurance

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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.

Choosing whole or term life insurance

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The basic difference between term and whole life insurance is, term insurance is life insurance for a set period of time, while whole life insurance has many other benefits like cash value at the end. That may make whole life seem like a better deal, but a lot depends on your situation and what your needs are.

Both policies provide basic life insurance, a death benefit for the person named on the policy, and that death benefit is normally tax free.  Term insurance is often recommended for younger people, or people who need coverage for a specific amount of time. Whole life is more aimed at the long term, and can be considered part of a long range financial strategy. At the end of the whole life policy there will be a cash benefit available. You may re-invest that in a new policy, or you can borrow against it in a partial surrender.

Initially the term life policy costs less, and the price stays the same for  the entire term, usually a fixed number of years. At the end of that term the policy expires. If you renew the policy it will usually be at a higher price, and it will go higher as you age. There are some policies now that allow you to convert the policy to a permanent policy that can build some cash value.

The whole life policy costs more to start with but it does not increase. Your policy could be for 10 or 20 years and will not change. However, it will expire at some point. At that time you can take the cash value or reinvest it in the policy.  There is also the possibility of cash value growing through dividends in some policies.

Come by, or call our agents at Cross Creek insurance to discuss your life insurance needs.

5 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Fall

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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.  

 

 

 

Do I need commercial insurance for my service-based business?

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When people think of commercial insurance, they often tend to think about a policy that covers a store or restaurant.  The truth is that service-based businesses are the companies most in need of commercial insurance policies.  If any of the following conditions apply to your business, then it’s time to invest in a policy.

  1. You travel to you clients.  Even if you’re using a personal vehicle, your personal auto insurance coverage may not cover an accident if you are using the vehicle primarily for business.  A commercial auto policy would cover all of the vehicles that you use for your business.
  2. You have business-related equipment.  Computers, cameras, power, tools, and anything else you use for work should be insured against loss and damage.  Criminal acts and natural disasters are next to impossible to avoid, but they can completely destroy your equipment and your only way of making a living. Make sure you talk to your agent about the type and value of the equipment you have, as well as where it is typically stored.
  3. You need coverage against lawsuits.  Commercial umbrella policies are strongly recommended for service-based companies because of the high number of individual clients that they work with.  Umbrella insurance will help you to pay for a lawyer and deal with the other costs involved in a lawsuit.  These policies can also help your business to be protected from a variety of other legal issues.

If you’re thinking about investing in a commercial insurance policy, call the agents at Cross Creek Insurance.  They can help you to find a policy that meets your needs without breaking your budget.

What type of auto insurance do I have to have in NC?

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If you live in Hope Hills, NC, then you know how important it is to be covered when you’re on the road.  It’s important to know exactly what you’re required to have and what kind of insurance you should strongly consider, however.  

Basic auto insurance policies in North Carolina are designed to protect the other driver in the event that you are found to be at fault in an accident.  The law is interested only in making sure that the victim of the accident is taken care of.  That means that if you are found to be at fault in an auto accident, your basic insurance policy would not pay you anything for your own damage and medical expenses.

In fact, even with the minimal required insurance, you would still be required to pay for some of the cost out of your pocket.  Your deductible would be paid to the insurance company, who would then pay for damages up to the limit of your coverage.  With required coverage limits so low in North Carolina, it is possible that you would need to pay even more money in the event of a serious accident.  In many cases, this can bankrupt a family as they contend with their own expensive medical costs and repairs.

To make sure that you are covered, you may want to consider a collision policy.  This type of coverage will cover your own damages and medical costs.  

If you’er thinking of getting a new auto insurance policy, or if you just want to save some money on your existing policy, call the agents at Cross Creek Insurance.  They have years of experience helping Hope Hills, NC residents.

3 Ways Home Insurance Improves Your Financial Future

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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.
 

 

3 Ways Commercial Insurance Protects You, Employees and Customers

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Commercial insurance is just one more task out of many a business owner has to understand and make decisions about, and it can feel like a complicated space to navigate for many. This is a very valuable service, though, and it’s important you realize just how important before deciding on a plan. Here’s what to keep in mind before moving forward. 

1. Protecting You

Chances are, you don’t have a lot of outside support coming in to help you out with your company. If it goes under due to a major flood or extensive vandalism, then you may not have any other recourse of supporting yourself if you can’t get your business back together. 

2. Protecting Employees 

Employees not only have a right to protection under the law, but you also need to look out for their best interests. There are a lot of unexpected events that can occur during any given workday, and you need to have the right preparation plan in place to best deal with it all. 

3. Protecting Customers 

Not only may customers be hurt on your property, but commercial insurance also helps you get your company back open as soon as possible. This can forge a bond with customers when they know that you’ve taken the precautions necessary to keep everyone safe and sound. 

Cross Creek Insurance serves Hope Hills, NC and we’re here to make finding a good policy as easy as possible. Talk to us about common events that are covered, and what you may need to purchase additional protection for. We’re here so you can understand everything before you’re faced with a problem. Call us and ask for a quote, or simply talk to us about your existing and future needs. 

5 Common Household Items You Can Recycle

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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.