Home Insurance Tips - Protect Your Home

May 11, 2010 - PRLog -- Home Insurance Tips - Protect Your Home

There is plenty you can do to protect your valuables and try to prevent your home from being broken into.

Firstly, make sure that you have adequate home contents insurance cover. Shop around to make sure you choose an insurer who offers a good level of coverage, as well as new-for-old policies.

Make sure you specify high-value items, such as jewellery, when you take out contents insurance cover. And make sure that necessary items are covered by your insurer when they are taken away from the home.

Also check that the policy will cover items stolen from your garden, shed or outbuildings in the event of a burglary.

Other steps you can take - many of which will also reduce your home contents insurance premium:

•   List serial/asset numbers of electrical items and hallmarks
•   Mark your possessions with your postcode using an ultraviolet marker pen
•   Take photos of valuable jewellery beside a ruler to indicate its size, and keep the photos somewhere safe or save on a disk if you have a digital camera
•   Ensure that main entry doors feature a five-lever mortice deadlock
•   Ensure that all window locks are key-operated (and locked!)
•   Keep valuables out of sight
•   Keep keys in a safe place and away from windows and doors
•   Do not keep lots of cash in your home
•   Avoid letting strangers into your property - make sure you check ID
•   Watch out for 'distraction' burglars
•   Consider placing valuable items and documents (eg passports, jewellery) in a safe
•   Protect your identity and shred sensitive documents
•   Use NACOSS-approved security devices and set them whenever you go out
•   Fit security lights at the front and rear of your home
•   Keep side gates padlocked
•   Keep ladders hidden and padlocked
•   Keep garden tools locked away
•   Ensure all ground floor doors and windows are locked when you are asleep
•   Ensure all doors and windows are locked when you go out
•   Set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme where you live

When you are away
Tips to help make your home look occupied:

•   Cancel regular deliveries such as milk and newspapers
•   Ask a trusted friend or relative to clear the post from the doormat
•   Leave lights and a radio on timer switches
•   Leave a car on the driveway
•   If possible, ask someone to close the curtains at night and open them in the morning
•   Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye out for parcels left on the doorstep

Discover contents insurance and home insurance policies available from The AA

Discover contents insurance and home insurance policies available from The AA.