ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, February 16, 1997              TAG: 9702170008
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 

NEW TO THE VALLEY

HICAR

Operating as: Carper Insurance Co. and Hill Insurance Agency

Owners:Sonny Hill, Daniel N. Carper, Scott Hill

Phone: 953-2383 and 639-3901

Location: 2801 South Main St., Blacksburg, and 206 First St., Radford

Services: Carper, a Blacksburg insurance agent since 1979, recently combined his business with Radford's Hill Insurance Agency, started by Sonny Hill in 1976. Hill is president of the new corporation, Carper is vice president, and Scott Hill, Sonny Hill's son, is secretary-treasurer. The consolidation allowed the agencies to pool their resources to expand their marketing and business operations, and to buy sophisticated and expensive computer systems, which will help their policyholders get the best coverage at the lowest rate, Carper said. Carper also moved his office from downtown Blacksburg to the new office on South Main.

Business philosophy: Carper's philosophy is to provide the "best possible service available." That may mean policies that are a few dollars more expensive than those offered by competitors, but Carper said he stresses strict adherence to guidelines and personal service, including insurance counseling and quick action when a policyholder makes a claim. His agency recently won the Quality Agency Award, given by the Erie Insurance Group.

Carper said not everyone is as fully or wisely insured as they should be. For example, he advises policyholders to take a high deductible on auto insurance, and use the savings on the premium to increase their liability limit. He also suggests a personal umbrella policy in addition to auto and home insurance for more security. Homeowners, he said, should know that their home policies often cover an array of areas, ranging from dog bites to incidental business expenses, libel and slander.

Unique history:Both Carper and Sonny Hill started their companies in the basements of their homes and grew them into successful independent agencies.

LENGTH: Short :   42 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  (headshots) Dan Carper, Sonny Hill, Scott Hill. color.