Home is Where the Heart is

An Englishman's home is his castle... Home is where the heart is... These, and a thousand other cliches somehow sum up the special place your home has in your heart. However, it can be hard to regard your home with misty eyed affection when the cost of home insurance is putting a huge strain on your finances. There are, however, a couple of things you can do to reduce this strain.

Maintenance: The aspect of home insurance most frequently claimed on is that pertaining to damage from things like burst pipes, fire, or weather damage. There are some ways you can reduce damage from these things, thus reducing the chance you'll have to claim on them.

• Keep an eye on your roof, especially after bad weather. A roof is one of the most expensive things to replace in a home; and replacing missing slates or tiles immediately can help reduce the chances of you needing to do this.
• DON'T switch off your heating if you go away in winter. Though this may seem like a way to save money, in fact it drastically increases the chances of it breaking down, which then leads to the possibility of burst pipes. Instead, just turn it down.
• Another way to reduce the chances of problems with your heating is to have it checked once a year by a professional.
• If the worst does happen and something in your home goes wrong, companies like Kwik Fit Insurance offer Home Assistance as part of their standard policies*. This means that you can call in a professional at any time of the day or night to help repair things like broken pipes.

Security: Most insurance companies take into account how secure your home is when calculating the cost of your insurance. Simple techniques to help make your home more secure can drastically reduce your insurance.

• Fitting approved security devices such as lever mortise deadlocks (which meet the BS3621 standard) to any external doors or windows can drastically reduce both your insurance, and the chance of someone breaking in.
• Belonging to a neighbourhood watch scheme can reduce the cost of your insurance by 10-15%. Make it easier for your neighbours by fitting outside lights which will spotlight anyone who comes creeping up your drive.
• Mark your property. Write your house number and postcode on valuable objects like televisions, radios or computers with an ultraviolet pen. The number will show up when the object is placed under ultraviolet light, thus increasing the chances of stolen objects being returned to you.

*Take a look at the Kwik Fit Insurance website for a house insurance quote.