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The first step is to give consideration to your requirements. Starting with the basics Are you living in a flat or bed sitter? Do you own the freehold? Do you tend to have more than your fair share of accidents? Perhaps you just need to cover your contents? What sort of property do you live in and do you have a lot of valuable items or just typical fittings and furnishings? Are there any children rushing around the house? Based on the answers to some of the above questions, you have to choose (for both buildings and contents) if you need, and want to pay for, accidental damage cover or if you can accept just the normal risks. Considering questions like these will help you decide. These days, the majority of online insurance companies calculate the minimum value of a building based on the type of building and number of bedrooms combined with your post code. You are then invited to increase this value if your house is particularly well preserved or if it has many added features. It should be remembered that this valuation is for the cost of rebuilding the house, it doesn't include the cost of the land that the house is built on. For the contents, there are two options. You could compile a list of everything you have and note beside it the cost of replacement (you want 'new for old' cover don't you?). If that sounds like an overwhelming task then you might consider a 'bedroom rated' policy i.e. the number of bedrooms in the property is used to determine the level of contents valuation. It would save all that work but you would be very likely to be paying out a higher premium for higher sums insured than you need to. Thirdly, consider all those special items and valuable pieces you have. If you have any valuable jewellery, antiques or works of art, we always suggest that you specify them as individual items on the policy. This will add to the policy cost but it is well worth it. Before listing them, get a professional valuation for each piece (and if jewellery, gem checked) and get a photograph of each piece. Similarly with expensive camcorders, PDA's,bicycles, Ipod's, laptop computers and so on. Indeed, anything of value that you are likely to take out and about with you. Fourth, I propose that you include cover for unspecified items away from the home. This cover should also offer accident damage cover for these items within your home. The only people that do not require this cover are those that never go outside their front door! It will also cover you for your basic luggage whilst on vacation thus providing savings on your travel insurance. And the cover is better! (Travel insurance providers always pays indemnity - they take off wear and tear. Your unspecified items cover, if you follow my advice, is 'new for old' - except clothes). Fifth - liability cover. This is a must have. It is always provided free with your other cover. Make sure you have it on both buildings and contents if you are an owner. If you do not own buildings, then the liability cover on your contents policy is fine on its own. It's a bit like having 'third party' cover on your car (although not compulsory by law). Lastly, there are the 'freebies' that many insurers now provide. Services such as free legal help lines and emergency assistance providers. My own experience of these services is none too favourable. I usually end up getting out the 'Yellow Pages'. Now all that's required is to buy the cover you want. Chose an insurance company that has a good reputation, even if it costs a little more. (All of the insurers featured on our site have a good reputation !)..and of course they offer superb value for money.
Article Source: http://www.SponsorDirectory.com/Free-Content
This article was written by Trevor Dace. He has many years of experience working as a claims adjuster with a number of UK insurance companies. His website www.instant-online-insurance.co.uk offers cheap home insurance with online quotes and secure online payment.
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