Household insurance: Top 10 Tips

1. When estimating the household insurance cover needed, get it right!
   Make sure your household is adequately insured. When getting a house insurance quote, If you’re not sure how much to insure your buildings for, check out www.scsi.ie for a guide on rebuilding costs. To properly value your contents get a pen and some paper and go from room to room and estimate the replacement value of each item or group of items in the room. Total the figure and add at least 10% to allow for error. Don’t forget to include carpets and curtains.
2. Receipts and Valuations for household insurance claims
   It’s a good idea to keep a file containing receipts and valuations and where possible; photographs of your valuable items. Store the file somewhere safe so that you can produce documentary evidence in the event of a household insurance claim. Ideally, make copies and store them away from the household.
3. Your household insurance may not be valid if the house is unoccupied!
   If your home is going to be unoccupied for more than 2 weeks in a row, remember to turn off the water and heating and, if possible, arrange for a neighbour or relative to check on the property regularly. If your house is unoccupied for more than 30 days in a row, your household insurance may not be valid.
4. Smoke Detectors
   Check your smoke detectors regularly to make sure that they are in proper working order, and ensure you comply with best practice for your house hold insurance cover.
5. Non Essential Electrical Appliances
   Completely turn off all non-essential electrical appliances at night. It won’t just be safer - it will save you money too. While your household insurance doesn’t state this is necessary, it’s just common sense!
6. Regular Chimney Cleaning
   If you use your fire place for real fires make sure you have your chimney cleaned regularly, it doesn’t do any harm to ask for a record or certification once the work is done, though it is not an essential of the house hold insurance cover, it is handy to have a record it was done correctly.
7. Set your Alarm
   Make sure you lock all doors and windows fully and set your alarm, if you have one, when you are leaving your home unoccupied. If there is no sign of forced entry, a robbery may not be covered by your household insurance policy.
8. How to protect your home and belongings from loss
   Open this link for some advice from your household insurance provider, Getcover, to protect your home.
9. Annual Gutter Check
   Have your gutters checked annually for build up of moss and debris to avoid potential water damage from overflow. While your household insurance cover is comprehensive, expensive damage can often be avoided with simple checks.
10. Regular Roof Checks
    If any part of your property has a felt roof, you must have the roof inspected regularly for damage or cracks etc or your household insurance may not cover you in the event of a claim.