Home Insurance Renewal - help please

bridgetdunstable

Hi

I'm due to renew my buildings and contents insurance but am totally confused about what I should be looking for. Do I need accidental claims cover on buildings and contents? Do I need legal cover? I live in a modest three bedroom terrace would £30,000 be enough cover for contents. Money is very tight so I am trying to get my policy as cheeply as possible, however its no good if it doesn't pay out it if you need it. Any help would be apprectiated.

lisyloo

Do I need accidental claims cover on buildings and contents?

That's really up to you.
Do you do DIY, do you have kids?
That might be some of the factors you might want to consider.
Things seem to get accidentally damaged a lot more in housholds where there are children.
At the end of the day it's your choice.

Do I need legal cover?

Again up to you.
Personally I like to have it.
It's certainly useful if you cycle as it excludes motor vehicles but not being a pedestrian or cyclist.

I live in a modest three bedroom terrace would £30,000 be enough cover for contents.

That's not a lot to be honest, but there is no way we can tell what you have.
What you need to do is go round room by room and value all your contents. It might take an hour, but better to do it.
I don't value each item individually (as that would take forever) but I put a value on cd collection as one item. Same for clothes, books etc.

Money is very tight so I am trying to get my policy as cheeply as possible

In that case I would not get the accidental cover or legal cover.
Obviously you need to be aware that you will not be covered if a pipe bursts during DIY or a glass cabinet is knocked over, but if needs must then you just have to go for the basics which are buildings and contents.

nicjane113

hey, as said previously it really is down to you how much cover you take.
accidental damage extension basically covers you for anything accidental that is not covered in the standard section - most policies cover accidental damage to electrical items without needing the AD extension so things like TV's, laptops etc. would be covered.
Legal protection covers you for any disputes with your employers, neighbours or any companies you purchase from so the likelihood of needing this is slim but it's upto you whether you take the risk of not having it.
I live in a 3 bedroomed terraced house and have my contents insured for £30,000 but have a quick look round your house and see how much your belongings are roughly worth. Take into account it would be replacing them as new if you were to lose everything. you don't want to be underinsured as you'd only have a claim partially paid if you are not fully insured.
Also be aware that anything fitted (anything you would leave behind if you were to move house) are usually classed under the buildings section so anything such as fitted kitchens, wardrobes etc. might not need to be included in the contents section

bridgetdunstable

Thank you both for your replies. I think I will go for a basic policy as I don't do a lot of DIY (prob not as much as I should) and the children are grown up. Although am bound to drop the iron on the carpet and burn a big hole in it now, but that's life