| Are your house contents insured? Really? Are | | | | of marking or security code and record serial |
| you absolutely certain? If you're under insured, | | | | numbers, where this is relevant. Photographs of |
| from a legal point of view, you may as well not | | | | your valuables are useful too. |
| be insured at all. Your insurer may well simply | | | | There's a wide range of policies available. The |
| scale back your claim by the amount you're | | | | majority of standard household policies will cover |
| under-insured, but they would be within their rights | | | | contents of up the £75,000. It is normal for |
| to reject the claim totally. | | | | items valued at over £1,500 to be listed |
| Many people under-estimate the value of their | | | | separately. These will be covered inside the home, |
| personal possessions. If you go through your | | | | but would need "personal belongings insurance" if |
| home, room by room, and make a rough mental | | | | they are to be insured away from home. It is |
| note of the contents, you may be very surprised | | | | possible to arrange cover for your offspring's |
| at the result. Don't forget to include portable | | | | belongings whilst they're away from home as long |
| electrical items, jewellery, designer clothes and | | | | as they're "temporarily" removed and would |
| paintings and even photograph frames. It's often | | | | normally be in your home. |
| the smaller items that are easily stolen in a | | | | For those who find their contents exceed |
| "smash and grab" type of burglary and these can | | | | £75,000, there are specialist policies covering |
| be the very items which you overlook in your | | | | "high net worth" clients. The range of cover |
| valuation. | | | | extends to second homes abroad, which is useful |
| When working out the premium for your policy, | | | | for personal items. On this type of policy there is |
| insurers use your postcode, the size of your | | | | no need to list items separately as all items are |
| home and the claims history of the area. | | | | covered. |
| Contents calculators are often available online, | | | | It is possible to get discounts on insurance if you |
| which are useful in deciding the level of cover | | | | cover both your home contents and take out |
| required. There are steps you can take to help to | | | | buildings cover with the same company. |
| cut premiums and stay safe. | | | | There are wide-ranging offers and discounts |
| In addition to the normal alarm system, you could | | | | available, with lots of companies vying for your |
| think about installing motion-activated lights at the | | | | business. Remember you need to insure for the |
| entrances to your house, not only are they a | | | | full value of your belongings to avoid the risk of a |
| deterrent for the burglar but they're convenient | | | | claim being reduced or rejected, whilst still getting |
| for your own use too. A security cover inside a | | | | the very best value for money. The easy way to |
| letterbox makes sure a thief can't gain entry by | | | | do this is via an on-line insurance broker. They'll be |
| putting a hand or instrument through it to open | | | | able to search a wide range of insurers and come |
| the door. Fitting all outside doors with efficient | | | | up with the right policy to suit your own particular |
| key-operated locks and bolts is a good idea. | | | | needs. Not to mention the (up to 10%) on-line |
| Inside the house, valuables could be kept in a safe | | | | discount. |
| and security fittings could secure any precious | | | | Stay safe. |
| works of art. It's a good idea to use some kind | | | | |