Saturday, July 24, 2010

Choose the Right Home Insurer to Financially Protect Your Precious Home

It is extremely important to choose the right home insurer for your precious home lest you end up only with the insurance policy in your hand and the clothes on your back in case of an untoward disaster. An insurer that fulfills all your insuring needs without compromising your security or your financial stability will help you to remain calm in the face of any calamity.

However, the key is to choose the right home insurer in the first place so that you get maximum cover at reasonable rates and more importantly receive your claim money as quickly as possible upon filing a claim. There are several factors that separate a genuine and efficient home insuring company from the competition and you should make sure that all your needs are covered by the company that you ultimately choose.

The first step that you need to take in searching for a dream insurer for your dream home is to make a list of your own requirements. In addition to your home, you can insure its contents and also insure your garden, etc. for added protection. Although each insurer will try to convince you to take maximum cover, it will reward you well if you know what you want to cover in the first place. An honest insurer will offer genuine advice and pay heed to your needs instead of simply trying to saddle you with unwanted cover that will result in inflated premiums.

You should certainly compare at least 3 to 4 quotes from various insurers to get a feel of the rates being offered as well as inclusions in each proposal. Although premium rates are very important they should not be the focal point of your final decision. You should opt for a home insurer that has a reputation for quick payments and wider cover instead of choosing one that offers very low premiums but harasses you when you file a claim.

You should however, look out for a home insurance company that offers these following services, at the very least. The insurer should offer a high discount in order to attract you towards their company, as well as a 'no claims bonus' if you do not make any claim. The company should also offer alternate accommodation in case your home is made uninhabitable due to a calamity that has been insured by them.

If possible, the insuring company should offer business and car insurance and a generous discount if you shift all your existing policies to their company as well. Not only that, but the insurer should spell out all exclusions clearly so that you do not get a nasty shock when you file for a claim. The insurer should also offer a discount if you have installed approved security alarm systems and lights in your home and property.

Insuring your home should free you from worries and not turn into a nightmare in case any calamity strikes your precious home. It is extremely important that you tie up with a reliable and competent home insurance company in the first place so as to get the maximum required cover, at reasonable rates. Your insurer should guide you with honest intentions and also step in to alleviate mental and financial pain in case of an unwanted disaster.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Ensure a Roof Over Your Head by Insuring Your Home

In these uncertain times you should not increase your risks by trying to save on a few pounds while keeping your home uninsured. Your home could be under threat from various natural forces that could attack without any warning. Burglars too might also have an evil eye over the contents of your home and could strike at the first available opportunity. In such a case, insuring your home along with its contents would be a small price to pay for total peace of mind.

Most people insure their selves, their loved ones, their cars, bikes, business and most other worldly possessions but simply forget that the humble abode in which they stay is not so humble in value. The value of their home itself could be in the hundreds of thousands of pounds, while various gadgets and contents inside could surely be worth a decent amount of money. Anyway, with or without any adequate insurance, your home could still be exposed to natural calamities such as fire, flood, storm and so on, while burglars too could threaten the precious contents within your home.

The good news is that now it is extremely easy to insure your home as well as its contents and you can expect extremely competitive rates due to increased competition. In addition to insuring your building and contents such as electronic equipment you can also insure your money, credit cards or even frozen foods inside your home or your garden outside your home, among other factors connected to your home. This move will ensure complete cover of your home, its contents and its material surroundings.

In addition to brick and mortar insurance providers there are several online insuring companies that claim to offer better rates due to lower overheads. You should make it a point to get referrals before asking for quotes or signing on any dotted line since you need a company that pays you quickly when you eventually do file for a claim. It is always better to get a few quotes so as to compare rates as well as cover offered. You should specifically make it a point to read the fine print as well as scrutinise exclusions in any proposed policy so that you are not left holding the policy in your hand when any untoward incident happens to your precious home or its contents.

If you go in for additional cover in your proposed home insurance policy then most service providers will offer additional discounts to steer your mind and your wallet towards their company. You can also reap extra benefits if you shift your business as well as your car insurance to a single company as this too will encourage insuring companies to throw in special rates that will benefit your home, office and car at the same time. However, you should thoroughly scrutinise the insuring company before you shift all your policies to a single source.

Your beloved home could be a target of nature as well as dishonest people. It is your duty to protect your home and its precious contents within by purchasing a home insurance policy that caters to your requirements while fitting in your budget too. By insuring your home you will not only get total protection but will also be rewarded with total peace of mind.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Insure Your Holiday Home Even When You Are Not on Holiday

If you have built or purchased an exclusive holiday home in the UK but do not visit it on a continuous basis then renting it out for the rest of the time makes good financial sense. However, you should make it a point to get specific cover for your holiday home whilst insuring your holiday home so that all your earnings are not snatched away from you in one unfortunate incident or accident.

A holiday home requires different types of cover as compared to a regular home insuring policy. You will require adequate building cover insurance to be included in your policy. This should include your holiday building as well as any outhouse or garage that you might have on your property. Your building should be specifically insured for fire, flood, earthquake, storm and various other types of natural and intentional damage by nature or by your tenants.

Another cover that your holiday home should have is property owner liability insurance. This aspect will cover you in case your tenants are injured or die on your property due to any accident. You could be sued in such a case and this protection is crucial if you plan to rent out your property. In addition you should also go in for employer's liability since your holiday dwelling will surely require regular maintenance. This could be provided by a plumber, an electrician, a gardener, etc. that will need to be insured in cased they suffer a mishap while tending to your property.

Again, along with your building insurance you should also go in for contents cover. This would include your refrigerator, TV, kitchen appliances, furniture, bathroom appliances, music systems, etc. that might need to be installed for your own and your tenants conveniences. Any contents in your garden shed or outhouse should also be included in your policy. You should opt for the old-for-new option when insuring the contents. Although the premium will be higher, you will receive a new product or equivalent value in case your old and used product is damaged beyond repair.

If you are seriously planning to rent out your holiday home then you should also include a rental loss clause in your policy. Thus in case your property is badly damaged by flood, earthquake or any other disaster then the insuring company can cover any rental loss until your property is restored back to its original state, which in some cases could take more than a year. In addition to these vital tips, you should also ensure that you get at least 4 quotes from reputed insurance providers to increase your options. You should carefully look at inclusions and even exclusions in the proposed holiday home insurance policy before making up your mind. You should ensure that you do not look only for cheap premiums but instead pay heed to the reputation of the insurer as well as choose one that offers better cover under one policy.

A holiday home in the UK could be a wonderful oasis of relaxation but could also turn into a painful mirage in case you do not have adequate cover. It is extremely important to cover all aspects in your holiday home insurance policy so that you can relax without any worries while relaxing in your holiday home and even relax when your tenants are doing the same.

Tips to Reduce Premiums When Insuring Your Home

If you want to insure your home but feel that the premiums are too high for financial comfort then you might only end up compromising on your insurance policy by canceling a few key features of your policy. This might leave both you and your home literally exposed in case any natural or man-made disaster strikes your home or its contents. Instead of trying to cut vital corners while insuring your home you should use these few tips to cut down on your premiums.

The first tip is to install adequate security equipment including alarm systems and CCTV cameras in your home. This will not only deter any thieves but also record the chain of events to some extent in case of any disaster or burglary. You can start by installing an anti-theft alarm system or a burglar alarm system along with fire detection and alarm system approved by the insurance company. This will allow you to get a discount in your premiums.

You should also install security lights in and around your property and can even become a member of your neighbourhood watch scheme. This too will qualify you for an additional discount in your premiums. If you live in a neighbourhood that has a very low crime rate then this feature could automatically earn you a hefty discount in your premiums.

You should also stick to an insurance company that offers a no claim discount since your premiums would certainly reduce over the years if you do not make any claim. You can make small repairs on your own without running to your insurer with a claim since this will allow you to increase your no claims bonus with each passing year.

You can also get additional discounts by trying to include as many features as you can in your home and contents policy. You can also engage the same insurance company to insure your business premises and if possible your car too. This move will surely compel your insurer to pass on a hefty discount to you. You can also try to raise the standard policy excess if you can. In case you are able to cover the majority of your claim then your premiums will definitely get reduced.

Instead of simply relying on one or two quotes from different companies, you should try to get at least three or four quotes from various insurers. This will provide you with a wider choice and also help in further negotiating the rates. You can also check on all inclusions and exclusions before making up your mind. However, do not let premium rates be the only deciding factor in choosing the right home insurance company. Instead, give equal importance to cover as well as the reputation of the chosen insurer since you need to quickly receive your policy amount in case you file a claim.

Insuring a home is a critical move that should not be avoided or compromised by you at any cost. If you are on a tight budget then you can still get adequate home insurance cover by following the above tips. These tips will help you to save money initially and also keep you saving more with each consecutive year. A little effort from your side will surely result in a noticeable reduction in your premium rates.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Form a Safety Cocoon by Examining Different Types of Home Insurance Options

Simply insuring your home building is not enough to save you in case of any natural or man-induced calamity. There are several home insuring options that offer specialised cover for your specific needs and you need to consider all such options before opting for a policy that forms a safety cocoon around you and your home.

There are several types of insurance covers that can help bail you out in case of any natural disaster like floods, fire, earthquake, etc. or any man-made problems such as burglary, intentional damage to property, etc. While you should surely insure your building for fire and flood damage, you should also insure the contents in your home. These could be furniture, valuable art pieces, money, credit cards and various electrical and electronic appliances including TVs, computers and kitchen appliances. You can also insure your home boiler and some insurers offer regular boiler inspections by qualified technicians. You can insure your garden as well around your home by paying an extra premium.

In addition to physically insuring your property and its contents you can also insure your mortgage payments so that you remain safely protected in case you are unable to make future mortgage payments due to an accident, sickness or due to unemployment. Some insurance providers also offer life insurance with such policies and if you get a decent discount on such plans then you can certainly opt for it. If you are a landlord that has rented out your property then you can still insure your home against damages caused to it by natural causes and by your tenants too. You can also get public liability cover in your landlord policy so as to avoid getting sued by your own tenant.

In case you plan to build your own home or renovate it then you can again opt for matching cover through an efficient insuring company. All your building equipment can be insured in such a policy along with public liability cover too. If your home is located in rural settings or if you reside in a farmhouse then you can opt for thatch cover. Such a policy will help you get the right cover for your thatched dwelling along with livestock and pet cover too. If you have purchased a holiday home in another European country then you can also get your holiday home insured so that you can rest in the UK without any worries.

Once you know about the various sub-sections available in home insurance cover then you should match them to your needs. There is no point in spending large amounts of money in buying cover that does not apply to you even though an over-zealous agent or insurer might try his or her level best to convince you to do so. You should also try to club together various categories of cover into a single policy if possible so as to get the maximum discount possible. In addition, you can also try to get your business and your cars insured with the same company if possible to get additional discounts.

Instead of only going in for basic home insurance cover or trying to cover all unwanted categories, you should opt for tailor-made cover of specific categories related to your type of home. There are several insuring companies that will understand your needs and offer a customised policy to form a safety cocoon around you and your home.

Monday, July 5, 2010

The Importance of Insuring Your Home Contents in Today's World

Gone are the days when a home used to be filled with age-old furniture and other knick-knacks that were not of much value. Today's average home consists of the latest electrical and electronic gismos, clothing, frozen foods, trendy furniture, heating and cooling equipment, mobile phones and even money and credit cards. It is important that you insure the contents of your home while insuring your building too.

Some insurance companies offer an additional discount when you buy building and contents cover together from them. However, it is still a good idea to also explore different policies in case you get a better discount. You should make a list of all the contents in your home that need to be insured so that you get complete cover as well as end up paying a premium only for those contents that actually need to be insured. In addition to your furniture, electronic appliances such as TVs, music systems, refrigerators and computers, you can also insure your garden and any contents in your garden shed too.

In case you opt for separate cover policies for your building and its contents from different insurers, you might need to be ready for a little confusion. If you do opt for a claim for damages to your building and its insured contents, both your insurers might argue on certain grey areas that fall between your building and contents claims. You might end up as an unfortunate loser in such a situation. Your contents cover should also include public liability cover in case someone else is injured on your property while using your equipment.

You should call for many separate quotes for your building as well as its contents. This will allow you to compare premium rates, range of cover and discounts in case you plan to buy a single policy. You should keep a keen eye out for inclusions and exclusions in these quotes otherwise you might simply be left holding a burnt plasma TV in your hands while your insurance company reads out an exclusion clause written in fine print. Certain insuring companies offer a valuation calculator that can help value the contents of your home so that you can buy a matching policy that covers the value of your contents in case of any problem.

You should certainly opt for the 'old for new' option while purchasing your contents policy. Although this is a costlier option with higher premiums, it will ensure that you get the value of a similar new product in case your older product is damaged. For example, if your eight year old refrigerator is damaged by floods then you can receive a brand new refrigerator of similar size or its equivalent value, which in turn will help you out tremendously as you will not have to shell out the balance of money.

Anyway, an eight year old refrigerator would be practically worthless and paying a lower premium for an 'old for old' option will certainly not help in the long run. If you get a decent discount while insuring your contents in your home insurance policy then the additional premium will certainly be worth it.

The contents of a modern home are high in value and ignoring to insure it sufficiently could result in large financial loss if a tragedy were to affect your home or its contents. You should certainly try to go in for a combined home insurance policy that also includes all the contents so as to get a hefty discount and ease of applying for a claim in case of any untoward incident.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Pitfalls to Avoid When Insuring Your Home

If you have fulfilled your life-long dream of finally owning your own home in the UK then one mistake whilst insuring your heavenly abode in the UK is to under insure or not fully understand the policy you purchase. You might not only be witness to your home being destroyed in a natural calamity such as a storm or fire but could also find your claim being rejected due to misreading the fine print or forgetting to include specific cover in your policy.

While insuring a home, most people make the basic mistake of undervaluing their homes in a bid to save on premiums. If you too make the same mistake then this move could force you to go in for a smaller home in case your original home is destroyed beyond repair as the funds would simply be insufficient to find or build the same home at current market prices. You should first calculate the current market rate of your home as well as foresee higher property rates in the future to arrive at the right rate of your home.

Another pitfall to avoid is opting for the old-for-old scheme while insuring the contents of your home, again in a bid to save on insurance premiums. In such a case if your 10 year old TV burns down to the ground then its value would anyway have sunk so low that you might not be able to afford a transistor radio for the money you receive against your claim. You should only opt for the new-for-old cover even if you need to pay more premiums. If you forget to include new items that you purchase after signing your policy then that could also turn out to be a costly mistake.

Rushing in to sign the cheapest policy too could land you in deep trouble in the future. Instead of only focusing on cheap premiums, you should make sure that you stick to an insuring company with a good record of paying their claims. You just might find yourself fighting with your insuring company after losing your home or its contents simply because you ended up buying your policy from the human equivalent of a leech that has simply sucked your premiums away.

If you concentrate on reading only about inclusions in your home insuring policy you just might find yourself in neck-deep flood water with your policy in your hand if you forget to read about the exclusions in that policy. You should make it a point to read about exclusions in your proposed policy as well as squint hard enough to read the fine print since your insuring company could be banking on these factors to bail them out of a tricky situation.

Another pitfall to avoid is getting swayed by a sweet talkinghome insurance agent or salesperson. You might end up paying a lot of premium for unwanted cover or could miss out on some vital cover. You should make it a point to call for 3 or 4 quotes to study the various types of covers available in the market. You should also try to get building and contents cover from a single insurance provider since this would reduce confusion while filing for a claim that involves damage to your building as well as its contents.

There are several pitfalls that await the unwary home owner after the purchase of a home insurance policy. The trick is to avoid such pitfalls and sign a policy that offers perfect cover as well as prompt passing of claims in case of any untoward calamity.