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home contents insurance
By admin | August 9, 2011
Whether you’re moving into a new home or looking to find a cheaper policy, getting home contents insurance can be a tedious process. But the easier you are to insure the cheaper your policy will be and the more your policy provider will like you! It’s simple, the lower the risk the cheaper the price. With that in mind, here are some top tips on how to keep the cost of your contents insurance down.
Specify – If you’ve got any items which are more valuable or rarer than others it’s a good idea to speak with your insurer to be clear on what exactly they’re willing to cover. Most insurers will insure artwork up to a certain value, with anything above that not covered in the event of any damage or theft. If you’re an avid art collector for example you may need to take out extra cover. Specialist sports equipment can also be attractive to thieves, so make sure you tell you insurer you have them otherwise they may not be covered under standard cover.
Secure – You can keep your policy provider, and your bank balance, happy by securing not only your home but your contents as well. Be sure to keep sheds, garages, side gates and outbuildings secured with padlocks and keep all tools out of sight. You should have a good burglar alarm and make sure all doors are securely locked, and if possible fastened them with bolts at night. Remember that the more secure you make your home the lower risk it will be, putting you in a good position when trying to get the quote down. As mentioned with the specialist items, be sure to lock anything valuable away if possible. Window alarms can also be fitted at an affordable price and give your property an extra level of security.
Excess – You can often opt to increase the amount of excess you’ll pay when making a claim if you want to bring your premium down, and you can consider this if your home security is up to date and effective.
Valuation – You can save yourself money by making sure that you value the contents of your home properly. Check out Legal & General’s website as they have a home contents insurance calculator to help your work out the value of your home. They also have advice on key features and essentials for your contents insurance, as well as an easy to understand breakdown of what is and isn’t covered by their basic and extra cover policies and are a reputable provider. If you overvalue your contents then you may well end up paying more for your insurance than you need to, especially if you have any antiques or especially valuable items. If you do have any of these you might do well to have them valued properly so that they can be fully insured for the right price.
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