Home Insurance

There are two types of insurance to consider for homeowners – Buildings Insurance and Contents Insurance. To get full peace of mind, both types of cover are essential as Buildings Insurance covers the structure of your home and Contents Insurance insures your movable possessions.

When choosing your insurance it is important not only to consider the level of insurance that you need, but also what is ‘excluded’ in the policy. Insurers will have different policy wording, so you need to look at the terms and conditions as well as comparing the price. Things to consider:

  • Make sure you have enough cover. The real purpose of homeowners insurance is to make sure that if there were to be a fire or other disaster you will be able to rebuild or replace your home with one of similar value. If you are ‘under-insured’ the Insurer may not give you the full amount following a claim.
  • Consider extra cover for expensive or luxury items such as jewellery, artworks, antiques, or electronics. Make sure you have a good record of the items in your home. Some people walk around with a video camera to record their possessions. Or use a digital camera to take pictures. Make sure you store these files or tapes off site. Keep receipts for expensive items.
  • Always close windows and lock doors at night or when you leave the property.
  • If you get a discount for having an alarm, you must remember to use it when you leave the house.
  • Using your home for business may invalidate your insurance policy.
  • Take precaution not to create fire risks in your home.

The best way to avoid accidentally invalidating a claim is to familiarise yourself with the small print. After all, you’ll be paying out for years for protection, so it makes sense to know exactly what’s covered and exactly what might prevent you making a successful claim.

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