Our simple 3 step process
Our goal is to help you make a better future through smart financial decisions.
Knowing what matters
Each building and contents insurance policy can be tailored to meet your needs. Tell us what you think is important, and we’ll find something that works.
Your policy might include:
- A place to stay while your home’s fixed
- Fixing leaking pipes
- Subsidence or landslides
- Damage caused by falling trees
- Replacement and repair of windows through accident, theft, or vandalism
What is Buildings and Contents Insurance?
Buildings and contents insurance are two key types of home insurance that protect different aspects of your property and belongings. Buildings insurance covers the structure of your home itself, including the walls, roof, floors, protecting against damage caused by events like fire, flooding, storms. Essentially, if there is any physical damage to the permanent parts of your property, buildings insurance can help cover the cost of repairs or even a complete rebuild if necessary.
Contents insurance, on the other hand, covers your personal possessions within the home. This includes furniture, electronics, clothing, jewellery, and other valuable items. Contents insurance protects against risks such as theft, fire, or accidental damage. Both types of insurance are important for homeowners, but they serve different purposes. Whilst buildings insurance safeguards the physical structure, contents insurance protects what you own inside the property.
What Do I Need to Get a Home Insurance Quote?
When applying for a home insurance quote, there are several details you’ll need to provide to ensure you get an accurate offer that meets your needs. Normally, you’ll be asked for the following:
- The type of property you own
- The age and construction type of your home
- The value of your property for buildings insurance, often based on rebuild costs rather than market value
- The estimated value of your contents, which includes everything inside your home you want to protect
- Security measures in place, including type of locks
- Your claims history, if any, including previous claims for damage or theft
- Whether you have any history of subsidence or flood risk in your area
- Details of any valuable items that may require additional coverage
Providing accurate information not only helps insurers assess the risk and calculate a fair premium but it also helps prevent any issues with claims later on due to incorrect or incomplete information. We also advise having any relevant documentation or valuations to hand, especially if you’re insuring high-value items separately. Taking the time to prepare this information in advance can make the quote process quicker and ensure you’re fully covered from the start.
FAQs for Building & Contents Insurance
Valuing your home’s contents requires you to estimate the total worth of your possessions. Start by making an inventory of all your belongings room by room, noting down the type of items and their approximate value. For high-value items like electronics, jewellery, or artwork, keep receipts or valuations to prove their worth.
Home insurance costs vary widely depending on factors such as your property’s location, size, age, building materials, security features, and the level of cover you choose. Other factors include your claims history and whether you’ve had any recent changes in your circumstances. Combining policies can often reduce the overall cost, making it more affordable to protect both your home and belongings effectively.
Most home insurance companies don’t perform a credit check when you request a quote. This is because quotes are primarily based on the risk factors related to your property, such as its location, construction type, and the security measures in place. However, if you decide to pay for your insurance monthly rather than annually, some insurers may carry out a soft credit check to assess your ability to meet the payment plan. This won’t affect your credit score and isn’t visible to other lenders.
Obtaining home insurance when your property has a history of subsidence can be more challenging, but it’s not impossible. Some insurers specialise in offering cover to homes with subsidence, though premiums may be higher, and certain conditions or excesses could apply. Make sure to disclose any known subsidence issues upfront, as failure to do so could invalidate your policy. Working with brokers like Mortgage Matters can help you find insurers willing to cover subsidence risks.
Standard contents insurance generally covers valuables when they are inside your home. Some policies also provide limited cover for items temporarily taken outside, such as when travelling or wearing jewellery. However, cover outside the home usually has stricter limits and conditions. For high-value items frequently taken outside, like cameras or laptops, you may need additional or specialist insurance to ensure they are fully protected against loss, theft, or damage whilst away from home.
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