1) Get the correct locks for your doors
Insurers want to see that you are putting in the correct measures to protect your home. One of the key elements to this is having the right locks for your door and conform to British Standards (BS3621).
2) Install smoke alarms in your home
Fires not only cause a lot of damage to your property and to your possessions they are extremely dangerous to life and can be very traumatic. Smoke alarms are essential for protecting you and your property. You should have at least one alarm fitted on each floor of your house and ensure that the batteries are checked regularly.
3) Insulate pipes against cold weather
Burst pipes and water damage are one of the most common types of household insurance claim, with insurers paying out £1.8 million for it every day. To try and avoid frozen pipes make sure that they are properly insulated. Even if you are away from the property make sure that you keep your heating on low as a minimum, this helps keep your pipes from freezing.
4) Try not to make an insurance claim
Insurers can sometimes reward customers for not making a claim, the longer you don’t make a claim the more likely you are to get a discount. You therefore need to think about any claim you make. If the expense to you is minor you may want to consider paying it and not claiming on your insurance.
5) Increasing your excess can reduce your premium
Increasing your excess means you reduce the amount the insurer has to pay and therefore your risk to an insurer. If you can afford to increase your excess, then you may be able to reduce your yearly insurance premium.
6) Consider installing a home security system
Installing CCTV or a home security system may help to reduce the cost of your home insurance premiums quite significantly. There are many types of home security systems available to purchase nowadays and most insurers will look favourably at homeowners who invest in these types of deterrents.
7) Combine your buildings and contents insurance
If you do need both buildings and contents insurance, it’s usually cheapest to buy them together on a combined policy rather than taking out two separate ones. Having one policy in place can also make it easier and quicker if you do need to claim on both your buildings and contents cover.
8) Shop around for the best insurance deals
You can buy home insurance from many providers, not just banks and mortgage providers. Insurers that specialise in home insurance will be able to provide comprehensive policies at a low cost. No matter where you decide to purchase your insurance from, shopping around to find the best deals is a no-brainer. An insurance broker, like GMI Insurance Services, can help guide you through the process of purchasing all the right insurance coverage especially if you have non-standard household requirements, helping you to save money.
For more information on household insurance both standard and non-standard visit our Household insurance page here.
