Insurance is not the most interesting of subjects, as such many people either do not have adequate cover or simply take the easy option of renewing their policy with the same company year after year. This is an ineffective way of ensuring you are getting value for money or that your have sufficient cover.
Unless you have the type of policy which is index linked to inflation the chances are that you will not have adequate cover and will only find this out when you have the need to make a claim. Trying to save money by ignoring insurance for your home contents is not a wise choice to make, leaving you with no redress or ability to make a claim for possessions which are either stolen or accidently damaged.
There are a number of the proactive steps you can take to ensure you have adequate cover as well as a policy which offers the best value for money.
The fundamental things to look for include ensuring that the building itself has adequate cover, that the contents inside the house, garden, garage and shed are also included on the schedule of the policy.
You will then need to ascertain the value of the contents and the building. By using online check lists this will provide you with a clear indication of things to include, such as furniture, audio systems and other domestic appliances.
Other factors to consider when comparing quotations are aspects such as:
* Freezer contents: Are the contents of your freezer included within the policy? Are there any restrictions applied?
* The amount of excess: this is the amount that will be deducted from an awarded claim. It may be possible to increase the excess which will lower the premiums, however it will also mean that you cannot make a claim for anything under the agreed excess limit.
* Replacement for keys and locks: Some insurers include this within their policies whilst other class it as an optional extra for which there will be additional costs.
* Increasing the policy short term: Many insurers will increase the cover, typically by 10% ,during family festivities such as Christmas or weddings. This is worth giving serious consideration to and therefore worth asking if this option is available if you are expecting a lot of people in your house or hold frequent gatherings where the risk of accidental damage to your belongings may occur.
* ‘Old for new’: This type of policy is an excellent method of ensuring that items brought many years ago able to be replaced with ‘like for like’ items.
* Does the policy include any cover for money?: Those who regularly keep large amounts of cash at home should check the limits as indicated within the policy and if necessary ask for the amount to be raised, this will undoubtedly increase the cost of the premium, but will provide you with the peace of mind that your cash is covered by the policy.
* Ensure that highly valuable items are sufficiently covered. If not a separate insurance may be needed or the items listed within the policy. Check with the insurers as to the policies and procedures regarding highly valuable items.
It is possible to find cheap house insurance which meets you requirements, provides you with adequate cover and saves you money. All you need to do is invest your time in carrying out a little research either yourself or by using an reputable insurance broker. If you can’t be bothered to do this you could always phone your existing insurance company and ask if they can provide you with a more competitive quotation rather than just accepting the renewal they send!
Contact Swinton for competitive and Cheap House Insurance