When it comes to taking out home insurance then the majority of homeowners fall into the trap of taking out cover alongside their mortgage. However the high street lender might not be the cheapest way to buy cover. It can usually be found online with a specialist broker. They will be able to look around on your behalf and compare quotes from the whole of the market place.
It is thought that over 2 million homeowners are under the impression that they had to buy cover in order to be able to secure their mortgage. It has long been known that high street lenders try to dominate and it seems one way in which they do is by selling home contents and buildings insurance with the mortgage. While you might get the cheapest mortgage deal with a high street lender this does not mean that they offer cheaper home insurance.
The cheapest deals can be found online with a broker. You could make savings of around 40% in comparison. There are many reasons why homeowners do not bother to go with a specialist to get a better deal. 28% genuinely thought that the mortgage lender could get them the cheapest cover. 18% thought that in order to secure their mortgage cover had to be taken alongside the mortgage. 13% took out the cover because it was simply convenient and 7% were just too lazy to be bothered to take the time to look online for cheaper home insurance.
It should be taken out as it can provide peace of mind. However the cost of cover can vary enormously and you can make savings by allowing a broker to shop around for you. Those who have held a policy for many years should also take the time to find if they can make savings. Finding the cheapest home insurance is not hard if you go with a broker. They will have access to some of the top insurers in the UK and so will know where to go to get the cheapest policy possible.
You will have to work out how much you need to take out. The quotes will be based on this amount and if you take out too much then you are paying too much. However you also do not want to leave yourself under insured. In the worst case scenario if fire were to destroy all your possessions then you would have to replace them all. This can add up to more than you think so never just take a figure off the top of your head. A better way is to make an inventory of all your possessions. While of course you will count the most prominent items in your home you also have to be aware that "hidden" items such as in your wardrobe should be counted too.
Cheaper home insurance is available to all if time is taken to go online with a broker. When comparing quotes also compare the key facts that a broker will give you along with the quotes, this is where you can find the small print. The small print can vary and will hold such terms and conditions as items which are not included in the policy.
David Thomson is Chief Executive of BestDealInsurance an independent specialist broker dedicated to providing their clients with the best insurance deal on their home insurance, car and life insurance.
