Is it that time of year when you need to get a new home insurance quote? It rarely pays to stay loyal to just one insurance company. And you could save even more money on home insurance if you know the right questions to ask. Read our guide to everything you need to know before asking for a home insurance quote:

How much does home insurance cost?

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the average price of home insurance is £297. Costs will vary depending on the:

• type of home you own
• location
• cost to rebuild the property
• value of your contents
• number of previous claims made against your insurance

What’s the difference between buildings insurance and contents insurance?

Buildings insurance means you are financially covered to put right any damage sustained to the building of your home. This damage can be caused by a number of things like fire, storm damage, vandalism, vehicle collision, or flood. You’ll be covered to fix includes things like the walls and roof as well as fixed fittings like bathroom suites and kitchen units. If you have a mortgage, it is normally a requirement of your mortgage agreement that you hold buildings insurance. But be aware that you are not obliged to take out the buildings insurance provided by your mortgage lender.

Contents insurance covers the replacement of other items in your home, from gadgets and sofas to bikes and soft furnishings. Don’t be tempted to skimp on the estimated value of your contents. Sit down and write out the cost to replace everything in your home and you could be very surprised. Accidental damage, where you or a member of the family unwittingly causes the damage yourself, is not normally covered by standard contents insurance policies. But can be added on for extra peace of mind, so ask your broker if you need this level of cover.

Do I need buildings insurance if I live in a flat?

If you are a leaseholder in a flat, it’s likely that the freeholder will have taken out buildings insurance. Check with your management company. You will still be responsible for insuring any contents in your flat.

What about high-value items like diamond rings?

If you have high-value, high-risk items, like jewellery, watches and fine art, you may need to specify these items separately on your home insurance. Check with your insurance company what the single item limit is on your policy to make sure you have the level of cover you need. Also, check if your policy covers these items when you are away from the home, including on holidays abroad.

Will the cheapest home insurance always be the best deal?

Unfortunately, you never really know if your insurance is any good until that stressful time comes when you need to claim. By then, it’s too late to change! You can help to protect yourself by thoroughly checking the small print to make sure that your insurance covers everything you need, or ask your broker, like Easy2Insure, to do this for you. Very cheap policies may exclude cover that you take for granted is included.

If it seems too good a price to be true, it probably is. Whilst saving money is everyone’s priority, remember that some pennies saved now could cost you many hundreds of pounds in the long run. You should always buy the most robust policy you can for real peace of mind.

How can I save money on my home insurance?

• Install extra security measures. The more secure your home is, the lower your insurance premiums will be. Install a burglar alarm, fit high-quality locks and consider other security measures like CCTV. Joining your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme can also earn you a discount. As well as lowering premiums, these steps can also help to deter thieves, saving you the hassle of making a claim.
• Fit smoke alarms. Smoke alarms not only help save lives, they can help you to save money on your home insurance too. Make sure you have them in your home.
• Don’t claim unless it’s worth it. Building up a no claims discount will save you money on your insurance. Really consider if it’s worth your while to make a claim on your insurance if it’s only for a small amount.
• Combine your buildings and contents cover. Most insurance companies offer better rates when you take out buildings and contents insurance together.
• Adjust your excess. Increasing the excess you pay when you need to make a claim can help lower premiums.
• Pay in one go. Insurers may give you the option to pay monthly, but you’ll often pay heavily for the privilege. If you can pay in one go, you’ll save money.
• Shop around every year to find the best price. It rarely pays to stay loyal to one insurance company. Insurance companies rely on us being too busy to bother to change companies, and there are often heavily discounted bonuses that they’ll offer to get your custom. Smart home insurance shoppers will exploit this every year by shopping around. That way you get the great value, introductory price every year. If you don’t have time to call around several insurance companies, ask an experienced broker like Easy2Insure to do the legwork for you.

What can we offer home insurance quotes for?

At Easy2Insure, our friendly, experienced team can find you the right home insurance whatever type of property you live in. We’ll talk you through the options so you can get the cover you need to suit your budget. We’re independent insurance brokers, so we’re free to shop around the UK’s best insurance companies. And we’re also in a strong position to negotiate extra discounts on your behalf. We’re part of the Park Insurance Group, which has preferred broker status with a large number of insurance companies in the UK. That means we can source low prices on quality cover that simply isn’t available on the high street.

Get a free quote today by filling in our simple online form or call us on 0800 9179522.