Protect home ahead of severe weather

Homeowners are being warned that they should protect their home from the elements as the UK endures a period of severe weather.

Insurance firm Saga says residents must take precautions in order to avoid having to fork out for weather related damaged.

Particular emphasis is being put on encouraging people to check the outside of their homes ahead of any more storms that may hit the country.

Saga is urging homeowners to ensure snow is cleared as quickly as possible, to avoid leaks and damp, while loose putty in windows can cause problems with allowing water to get inside the house.

In addition, people are encouraged to keep a torch and batteries handy in case of a power cut, while doors should also be kept closed in order to retain heat.

Flooding is another major problem which can have a devastating effect on a home. In some parts of the UK it is advisable to take out insurance against flood damage.

It is possible to find out if you live in an area liable to be flooded by calling the Environment Agency’s Floodline.

Saga has produced a free guide, called Prepare Your Home for Bad Weather, aimed at helping homeowners during the winter months.

Tags: prepare, addition, power cut, flooding, Bad Weather

Consumers Advised To Get Home Insurance Before Christmas Arrives

With an alarming percentage of homeowners having inadequate or even no contents insurance cover to protect their worldly goods and their homes, experts are advising consumers to ensure that they get themselves sorted out with protective cover before Christmas comes around. With reports suggesting that claims on contents insurance tend to rocket over the Christmas period, consumers are being advised to ensure that they do not get caught short at a time when it seems that accidents and burglaries are most likely to occur.

According to research carried out by Zurich, a whopping ten percent of UK homeowners have no contents cover at all, which means that they are not protected in the events of theft, loss, or damage. A further twenty percent do not have adequate contents insurance based on the items that they have in their homes. The reports also suggested that fifty percent of those with contents insurance had no accidental damage cover on their policies, reducing the protection they received from having cover.

Data provided by Barclays Insurance suggested that the festive period was the time when accidental damage in the home was most likely to occur, and statistics showed that the rise in contents insurance claims tended to shoot up over this period. This is also the time of year when many homes are left empty, as people go to stay with friends and family, as well as the time of year when there are many valuables in homes, in the form of gifts and cash. These factors combined could also mean an increased risk of burglaries.

Data showed that there was a rise of over forty percent in home insurance claims after the Christmas period in 2005 compared to claims made the month before. One Barclays spokesperson stated: “Our data shows that during the Christmas party season, people are particularly likely to incur accidental damage incidents in their homes. The cost of replacing items or cleaning carpets or furniture can quickly add up. It is therefore important to add accidental damage cover to your home insurance policy.”

Tags: prepare, christmas, cover, winter, storm, claim