There are two types of home insurance which owners should have for ultimate peace of mind. They are available as separate policies but it"s often cheaper to get two-in-one policies which will cover everything. Having said that, you still need to be vigilant when choosing a policy; not all of them will have exactly the cover you need.
Contents insurance is the most common one, and the one people favour over buildings insurance. Contents cover will basically cover anything within your home that is not part of the structure - such as furniture, clothing, electrical equipment and other valuables. Claims are usually made after a burglary or fire, but there may be an option to extend your policy to cover flood damage, accidental damage or vandalism. The accidental damage clause can also be extended to an "All risks" policy, meaning certain items will be covered even if you take them out of the home - such as your laptop or mobile phone.
When taking out contents cover, it"s vital that you calculate your content"s worth correctly as you may end up losing money in the event of a claim. Insurers will set a maximum sum payable in a claim, and this applies even if all your contents are destroyed. Ask a potential insurer about discounts, as some offer these for non-smokers, people over a certain age, or those with security systems fitted. Like car insurance, you may also get a discount for going so many years without a claim.
There are two main types of contents cover: new-for-old and wear-and-tear. A NFO policy will replace items with their new market equivalent, or cover the cost of repairing that item if no equivalent is found. A WAT policy is sometimes called an indemnity policy, meaning that the items can still be replaced or repaired, but the amount payable decreases over time. The premiums on this type of policy tends to be cheaper.
Buildings insurance is often overlooked, but can be just as important. It not only covers the structure of your home - walls, ceilings and floors - but also the permanent fixtures within - baths, toilets and fitted kitchens. Often outdoor things such as garages, sheds and greenhouses are covered as well. Buildings insurance will cover the cost of rebuilding your home should it be razed to the ground by fire or explosion. This will not necessarily be equal to the market value of your home, which could be higher or lower.
The main thing to remember when you have a buildings insurance policy is to declare any changes you may make in your home to your insurer. This means informing them if you decide to knock a wall down, replace a bathroom set, or build a conservatory. Failure to do so may invalidate any future claims.
Be prepared - take out home insurance. Be covered for any eventualities with house insurance. It needn"t break the bank, cheap home insurance is available online.