5 Reasons You Need Business Insurance

Written By Charlotte Insurance on July 26, 2016. It has 0 comments.

You’ve got a solid business plan. Your budget, financial projections, and marketing plan are current. Your plans have contingency plans.

Basically, you’ve thought of everything, planned for everything, and can’t imagine anything surprising you.

Think again.

If you don’t have business insurance because you think you’re ready for anything or because you’ve calculated the odds of something happening, you could be in for a big shock. It only takes one freak accident or one random lawsuit to ruin a business.

Still not convinced? Take a look at these 5 reasons you need to insure your business.

YOUR BUSINESS IS GROWING.

For years, your business was run by only you, and now you’re hiring someone to help. Congratulations! Now you’ll need a workers’ compensation policy. If your employee gets hurt on the job, their medical expenses and lost wages will be covered, and you’ll be protected from a lawsuit.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

It doesn’t matter if your neighborhood hasn’t seen a break-in in years, all it takes is one burglary to wipe out your entire business. Maybe you’ve never had a fire, but one bad wire can demolish your building. Anything can happen, and when it does, you have to ask yourself if you can afford to replace everything that’s been lost – the building, the inventory, the equipment, etc. With a business property insurance plan, you can focus on rebuilding, not the cost.

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN

A customer slips on your business’s walkway. A vendor falls off of a ladder. Guess who they might blame for their accident? You and your business. A general liability policy protects you from lawsuits and covers the costs for bodily injury and damaged property of customers, vendors, and other non-employees.

“THAT CAR CAME OUT OF NOWHERE!”

How many times have you said or heard that one? Now imagine you sent your employee to pick something up for the office, and they got into an accident. Their personal auto insurance policy may not pay their claim. Commercial auto insurance isn’t just for a company with a fleet of cars. You need it when you or your employees use your vehicles for business purposes.

ANYONE CAN SUE AT ANY POINT.

A disgruntled customer doesn’t like how you handled their accident in the store. A former employee still complains about an old work injury and thinks you should pay for it. Your delivery person dinged someone’s car in a parking lot. These are just a few examples of things business owners are sued for on a daily basis. You can either foot the cost of an attorney and any settlement or you can make sure you have the right insurance policy to take care of it for you.

Very few businesses can afford even one claim whether it’s from an accident, burglary, or something else. Even fewer can afford the settlement and court costs of a lawsuit. Your best option is a solid Charlotte business insurance policy to cover your unique needs.

When you’re ready to figure out your options and get the best coverage for your business, contact us here at Charlotte Insurance. We’ve been protecting North Carolina businesses just like yours since 1992, and we can help you, too.

In the market for a new car? Avoid making these mistakes

Written By Charlotte Insurance on July 20, 2016. It has 0 comments.

Your beloved clunker you’ve had since college has finally died. Your family has outgrown the two-door coupe you’ve been driving for years. You’re tired of needing a second job just to afford fuel in your gas guzzler.

Pick an issue, any issue, but you’re ready to buy a new car.

Good for you! Before you run out and buy the first brand-new, bright red, sporty thing that catches your eye, slow down. There are plenty of mistakes people make when they buy a car that costs them time and money. Avoiding them will help you find the right vehicle that you love and can afford.

BUYING ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT

Having a vague idea of what you’re looking for and then stopping at the first dealership with the nicest looking car has a less than good chance of working out in your favor. Before you buy, do your homework. Research possible vehicles, their prices, and their safety ratings. Know your budget and how much you can afford. Read reviews about the dealership and see what other people’s experiences have been.

SKIPPING THE TEST DRIVE

Loving the look of a vehicle is a far cry from loving how it handles on the road. Driving away after you’ve paid for it isn’t a good time to discover that it’s too loud, too bumpy, or too uncomfortable. Always take a test drive, and if you don’t like the ride, try something else.

SHOPPING IN ONE PLACE

Stopping your search at the first dealership you visit may be a mistake. Unless you’re very particular about the car you want, it pays to shop around. Other vehicles may have better features or be more comfortable to drive. One dealership may offer a better incentive than the next. Look around before you commit to a vehicle and where you want to buy it.

BUYING ALL THE EXTRAS

We aren’t referring to the sunroof or the technology and navigation package. If you want them and can get them, go for it. No, the “extras” we’re talking about happen when you finally make it back to the finance office to finalize your purchase. This is where you’ll be offered additional warranties, GAP insurance, and other extras. GAP insurance is a great idea if you put down a small down payment or you’re buying new, but you can often buy GAP insurance cheaper from an insurance agency than the dealership. Skipping those extras can save you a bundle.

FORGETTING TO CALL YOUR INSURANCE AGENT

When you’re in the market for a new vehicle, and you’ve got a few models in mind, call your insurance agent. You may eliminate a vehicle from consideration because the insurance is too expensive. Once you buy your new car, give your agent a call again. You want to make sure you have the right coverage to protect your latest purchase as soon as possible. Don’t forget that if you finance your new car, you may need extra coverage that you might not have had on your old car.

If you’re in the market for a new car, give us a call. We’ll be happy to provide a free quote to help you decide what kind of coverage you need and how much your Charlotte auto insurance will cost for the vehicle you have in mind.

The True Cost of “Cheap” Car Insurance

Written By Charlotte Insurance on July 14, 2016. It has 0 comments.

No one wants to pay too much for anything, especially not your car insurance. But we’ve all heard the old adage, “You get what you pay for.” Going with the cheapest car insurance or cutting your coverage to save money might make sense right now, but all it takes is one accident to ruin all those savings.

Take a look at the true costs of cheap car insurance so you understand what you’re getting yourself into.

LOW COVERAGE LIMITS

Every state has a minimum amount of insurance you’re required to purchase. In North Carolina, it’s $30,000 for bodily injury, $60,000 for all bodily injuries in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage. When people start looking for cheap car insurance, this is where they start. Cutting your coverage amounts to the bare minimum is a recipe for disaster, though.

Imagine an accident where you rear-end another vehicle, injuring the driver and two passengers. Your vehicle is totaled, as is their vehicle. Everyone is sent to the emergency room to assess their injuries. Can you hear the ka-ching of the cash register in your mind? The costs are racking up and it was a fairly common accident. Once the limits of your insurance have been met, any additional cost will be on you.

FEW FEATURES

When you choose the cheapest insurance company or cut your coverage to the bare minimum, you sacrifice a lot of features. Roadside assistance and towing after an accident are just two. Those things may seem small until you’re stuck on the side of the road because a raccoon ran out in front of you.

POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

Sometimes the insurance is “cheap” because companies cut their overhead – the people who work for them. That might not matter much to you until you need to file a claim for an accident. Be prepared for a lower level of service from an overworked staff, slower claims resolution, and little help. The hold time to talk to someone may not be worth the “savings” you’ll see with your cheap insurance.

DEDUCTIBLES YOU CAN’T AFFORD

One common trick to lower your Charlotte auto insurance costs is to agree to pay a higher deductible. There’s nothing wrong with this tactic as long as you can afford the deductible when you need it. The lower premiums associated with a $1,000 deductible do you no good if you can’t afford to pay it when you have to make a claim.

DROPPING UNDERINSURED AND UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE

Another way to make sure your auto insurance is as cheap as possible is drop the underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. Your might think that is a good idea. After all, if everyone is required by law to have insurance, this shouldn’t be needed. Think again. Unfortunately, not everyone follows the law, and if an uninsured driver hits you, you’ll be the one paying for the cost of an accident you didn’t even cause.

Trying to save money on your auto insurance makes complete sense, but going for the cheapest policy could easily cost you when you need it most.

If you’re in the market for a new policy, or you just want to save money on your insurance, contact us at Charlotte Insurance. We’ll get to know you and find the most cost effective solution for you while still protecting you and your vehicle.

When to DIY and when to Call in the Pros

Written By Charlotte Insurance on July 12, 2016. It has 0 comments.

Owning your own home is a dream come true for most people. It’s also a big responsibility. Many people take great pride in being able to take care of their home and save money by doing the work themselves.

Not everything should be done by a homeowner, though.

If you’re ever faced with the decision of whether you should do it yourself or hire a professional, consider the following.

CONSIDER YOUR SKILLS

Do you have the knowledge and training to re-wire your house, move a wall, or redirect your plumbing? If not, these aren’t the tasks for you. However, if you’re able to understand basic instructions, use Google, or watch YouTube videos, other projects may be okay. You’ll also want to consider what tools you have and if you have the right tools for the job. Some people like to use a new project to justify a trip to the tool store, but make sure you get the correct tools when you go.

CONSIDER THE COST

Cost isn’t just measured in dollars but also in time. If a home project saves you a few dollars but costs several weekends of your time, you have to decide if it’s worth it. Hiring a pro will almost always cost more money, and when you have the skills to do a job, you may want to DIY it. Otherwise, create a budget and get estimates from multiple companies before hiring someone to do the job for you.

CONSIDER THE DAMAGE

Think of what could go wrong. If hanging a light incorrectly means it doesn’t work, that’s minor. Compare that to what could go wrong if you re-wire your home and cross a wire or two. A fire is a very real possibility. Even something as “small” as hanging a ceiling fan incorrectly can have repercussions you need to consider – a fan that falls while it’s spinning is a very dangerous thing and a major liability. The last thing you want to do is file a claim with your homeowners insurance because of a DIY fail.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do things around your home,  just make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Otherwise, you may spend more time on the phone with your insurance agent than you would a contractor.

How Pets Impact your Homeowners Insurance

Written By Charlotte Insurance on July 7, 2016. It has 0 comments.

Your “fur baby”, be it dog, cat, or some other beloved pet, is a member of your family. You love and care for it as if it were your own child. It’s never been mean or vicious, and behaves wonderfully whenever you have people over.

Until that one moment when a loud noise or an unfamiliar person startles your pet. In that moment, they’re no longer a furry baby but a living, breathing animal – with the instincts and actions of an animal. They bite. They scratch. They attack.

And someone leaves with an injury.

Can pets impact your Charlotte homeowners insurance? You better believe it.

BIG DOGS

Some dogs, will either increase your premium or cause your insurance coverage to be dropped.

All dogs are capable of biting someone, but certain breeds are watched more closely because of how bad a dog bite or attack can be. In 2014, dog-related claims averaged over $32,000 per claim. Dobermans and pitbulls, known for being relatively calm, often won’t be covered by a typical home insurance policy because of the amount of damage they can inflict with one bite.

INSURANCE OPTIONS

Maybe you love only pitbulls or chow chows and no other breed will do. Maybe you fell in love with the idea of taking care of large snakes; cats and hamsters just aren’t your thing. You may still have options.

There are some insurance companies who will provide insurance specifically for your dog or your exotic pet. You’ll need to be mindful of the policy limit. The wilder the animal, the higher your limit may need to be. Be prepared to pay higher than normal premiums depending on just how exotic or aggressive your beloved family pet is known to be.

Even if you don’t have a dog whose breed is banned or a lion in your backyard, you may want to consider increasing your liability limits on your homeowners insurance policy, just to be safe. Your fur baby isn’t really a baby, it’s an animal, and in the right set of conditions, it could lash out like an animal. Upping your liability is a good way to protect yourself and your family.

If you’ve got questions about whether your family pet is covered or if you’re interested in a liability policy for your pet, contact us here at Charlotte Insurance. We love our fur babies, too, so we understand how important they are to your family. We can help.