Planning for a Hurricane

Written By Charlotte Insurance on June 29, 2012. It has 0 comments.

The North Carolina shore can be a favorite target for hurricanes. This hurricane season, you should not only be prepared for a hurricane to hit, you should also know what to do during and after a storm. Your home insurance NC should be in place, as well as a flood insurance policy and hurricane coverage if you are in a high storm exposure area. Here are some steps to take before, during and after a storm hits:

  • Listen to your battery operated radio for updates.
  • Make sure your emergency supplies are intact.
  • Have a full tank of gas.
  • Bring in outdoor furniture which can become a dangerous projectile in the wind.
  • Board up windows.
  • Put freezer on coldest setting.
  • Beware of dangerous animals and snakes driven to higher ground by floodwaters.
  • Avoid loose power lines.
  • Take some pictures of damages.
  • After the storm, open some windows and doors to ventilate the house if there was water damage.

Your home insurance NC is a valuable asset to have in place. You should make sure you have enough coverage in place in the event of a total loss of the house. However, realize homeowners’ policies do not cover floods, so you will need a separate flood policy. Additional insurance is also usually required for hurricanes.

Never Give up Pursuing your Dream

Written By Charlotte Insurance on June 20, 2012. It has 0 comments.

When it comes to starting your own business, often the difference between sweet success and bitter failure is a never-give-up attitude, and not making a mistake big enough to sink your company.  Business insurance in NC could help you avoid being crushed financially if you do make a mistake (one that can be covered by insurance, that is) but being inspired by the success of others is also a good way to keep on going when things get difficult.

Business tycoon Frank O’Dea went from being a homeless panhandler in the early 1970s on the streets of Montreal, to owning a leading chain of coffee stores. He had a eureka moment and started selling high quality coffee by the cup, rather than the practice of the day of selling low quality coffee by the pound. He opened up a new market, and success was his.

As a teenager, actor Jim Carrey is said to have lived in a tent with his family on his sister’s front lawn at one time. His first attempt at stand-up comedy was a flop. It was from that humble start that Carrey rose to be one of the top comedians on the planet.

The lesson is clear: when it looks hopeless, don’t give up if there is still a fire burning within. If you have a vision and an idea for a business, it’s still always a good thing to have NC business insurance in place.

Calling All Graduates! You Don’t Need a Diploma to Know that Renters Insurance is a No-Brainer!

Written By Charlotte Insurance on June 19, 2012. It has 0 comments.

Graduation has come and gone and with that comes many changes for high school students going to college for the first time and recent college graduates entering the workforce. Many high school graduates will choose to live off campus and recent college graduates will land their dream job and begin apartment searching. Whether you’re renting a home when you are entering or leaving college, you have a lot of important decisions to make in the process. You will most likely be considering the location of your new residence, how to furnish your home, and whether you plan to live with roommates or live alone.

While there are many uncertainties in the planning process, North Carolina renters insurance should not be one of them. Most landlords require you have a NC renters policy and you will definitely want coverage for your possessions in the event of an unforeseeable incident. Moving out on your own is a big step and Charlotte Insurance is eager to offer you the best coverage to make the transition a smooth one.

The Return of the Back Yard Farmers

Written By Charlotte Insurance on June 14, 2012. It has 0 comments.

A once almost-lost art which is becoming more popular of late is personal gardening and farming. For those who have access to a little extra land, growing produce or even raising chickens and other animals may provide a healthy and less expensive alternative to grocery bills. Some people doing this have even become so productive that they are able to sell their extra produce to the public at local farm stands. In cases such as these it’s important to consider whether home insurance in NC will provide enough coverage. In general, as the size of your production increases, there will be more options and types of policies or endorsements to consider.

A possible reason for what appears to be an increase in personal farming has to do with the uncertainty of the economy. With the potential for economic collapse becoming more of a possibility, an increasing number of part time growers want to be able to maintain a certain level of self-sufficiency in the event of goods and services being depleted for an extended period of time.

Other part time growers enjoy being able to grow their own organic produce and have free ranging hens on natural diets producing local organic eggs. In many cases, small part time growers and farmers who don’t sell to the public need not be concerned with additional insurance policies or coverage on top of their NC home insurance for their hobby and potential food supply.  Should you require more information about insurance for your small holding, contact our office.

It’s Time to Evaluate your Insurance Policy!

Written By Charlotte Insurance on June 6, 2012. It has 0 comments.

It’s that time of year again! Summer has arrived and with it brought plenty of sun and fun. As the amount of daylight increases, so will your desire to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you are planning a sandy beach vacation, a challenging hiking trip, or simply relaxing in your own backyard, make certain that summer toys such as motorcycles, boats, jet skis, four wheelers, and golf carts are covered under your insurance policy. As your trusted North Carolina insurance agency, Charlotte Insurance can offer you the best coverage at the most competitive price.

Going on Vacation? Consider the Risk of Identity Theft

Written By Charlotte Insurance on June 5, 2012. It has 0 comments.

These days, protecting your identity from thieves when on vacation is just as necessary as protecting your home from would-be criminals. The home insurance NC residents need may have the option of providing coverage for identity theft risk, and if so, your insurer may also offer some recovery services after an identity theft loss. However, this may not completely or quickly alleviate the mess an identity theft loss can create. With this in mind, it is much better to learn how to best keep your identity from being stolen.

An organization called “Identity 911”, experts on identity theft recovery solutions, offers some tips to help protect your identity when on vacation:

  • Inform your banks and credit card companies of your trip plans to avoid having an account frozen at an inopportune time.
  • Have your mail held at the post office or ask a friend pick it up each day.
  • Lessen the effects of being pick-pocketed by keeping sensitive items such as your social security card out of your wallet.
  • Take care in the use of ATM machines. Use your pin-number card only and use ATMs at major established banks only (if possible).
  • Only use private internet connections when accessing sensitive information.
  • Ask if you can use the hotel safe for items which contain personal details.
  • Check your accounts for unusual activity after you return.
  • Don’t throw away documents with sensitive information until they are shredded.

By following these tips you should hopefully become less of a target for identity thieves. Contact us if you require more information on home insurance in NC or on how identity theft coverage may be able to protect you financially whether at home or on vacation.