Do you have a DIY enthusiast in your home? If you do you may be wise to check that accidental damage or the cost of obtaining professional help to put ‘right’ DIY projects which have led to disastrous consequences are covered on your house insurance policy.
Whilst the intentions may be good to help you save money and transform your home into palaces, the affects of poor workmanship may affect your buildings insurance, depending on the nature of any work carried out or not. Insurers should be made aware of any major changes as these may affect the policy’s terms and conditions. Of course, building projects may also alter the value of the property, hopefully adding to the value of your home rather than de-valuing it, either way you should ensure that you have adequate insurance cover.
Many injuries are sustained by DIY enthusiasts through unintentional accidents; again you should check that personal injury and accidental damage to fixtures and fittings are included within the schedule of the insurance policy. Most policies for contents include cover for such events; however you should not be complacent and assume that you have cover, more especially if you have tried to lower the cost of the premiums by opting for the cheapest insurance as these may not include accidental damage or personal injury at all.
If your home is still subject to mortgage repayments any structural changes will also have to be agreed by the lenders in the majority of cases, as with your insurance it is advisable to ensure that you are not breaching the terms and conditions of the mortgage when carrying out major DIY projects.
Whilst it is natural for people to transform their homes either internally or externally into their own unique domain, there are restrictions as to what you can and cannot do without planning or building consent. If you are planning major changes it is advisable to check with your local planning office before embarking on costly projects.
Likewise, it is also essential to keep a check on your home by looking for signs of subsidence, as the hot, dry weather is increasing the risk in many parts of the country. Checking for cracks in external walls, especially those which do not follow the mortar joints may be a sign the your home is beginning to subside. Cracks which appear to begin at the corners of windows or doors may also be a tell tale sign which warrants investigation.
Within the last four years the problems of subsidence have cost the insurance industry in excess of eight million pounds with 144,000 claims being pursued. However, the news is not all doom and gloom as there are some positive steps home owners can take if they are concerned. Large trees situated near the house will spread their roots further in hot weather in pursuit of water and may need to be removed. But before you start hacking down trees you should check that they are causing actual or potential damage by having a drainage survey carried out, as well as checking that the trees is not ‘listed’ with the local authority.
Whether you intend to carry out DIY projects or are concerned about subsidence check your house insurance policy to ensure you have sufficient and adequate cover. Alternatively give your insurers a call rather than assuming you are covered.
If you’re looking for a quote on house insurance visit Swinton.