Home Insurance Discussion

Sailor

georgeone wrote: »

I know it has been referred to on previous insurance threads but another reminder cannot go amiss.

Buying the cheapest insurance sounds obviously good. But beware. Just because the marketing morons at many insurers sell only on price, there is nevertheless more to it than that (as the FSA is waking up to - I note Martin is FSA authorised so I assume he is aware that they have expressed concerns to the industry about selling solely on price and whether this is in line with the principle of treating the customer fairly).

Do you want a claim service that pays cash and leaves you to sort out the mess (and find some non-cowboys to do the repairs) or one that provides a managed repairer network that takes care of it for you? Do you want a policy that will let you value the contents of your house and insure those, or one that assumes an average figure for a 3 bed, or 4 bed, or whatever, type of house? These are just a couple of examples to illustrate that you are not buying baked beans here and cheapest is not always best.

Really, Martin, I know it is about saving money, but insurance is one area where value may well be much more important than price. I heard of someone whose house burnt down completely and he rues the day he bought the policy from "insurer A". I had a claim that needed a specialist builder and I was left to my own devices ("get a quote from a builder, we'll approve it, send us the bill, we'll send you a cheque"), when I really wanted an insurer who would send a repairer and take care of it.

Not all policy coverages are the same.
Not all claims services are the same.

Ask and think before you buy on price alone.

(Apples and oranges may be the same price, but when what you really need is a banana ... )

You always have 14days in which to cancel. Read the policy documents as soon as you get them. If it's not what you want, cancel.

cairndog

Hi I need to renew insurance on our house parts of which are 400yrs old
It's not listed but in a conservation area with listed houses around area.
Up to now we've stuck with Halifax who gave us the mortgage but as it's paid off and we're now poor pensioners I'd like to get a better deal.
It was converted/modernised in 1920's and updated again before we bought it about 15yrs ago.
It has solid brick rendered walls with oak beams and a tiled roof but there are small areas of plaster and lathe.
How on earth do we calculate rebuilding costs? Would it have to be rebuilt in the same style if it's not listed?

Has anybody out there had a similar problem or knows how insurers calculate these things?
HELP!

markw5

Kev78 wrote: »

I am currently getting ready to move home. I am planning to put the majority of my stuff in storage as I will be moving back to my parent's house for a little while whilst I look for a new place. However I'm finding it very difficult to get insurance for the goods that will be in storage. The insurance of the storage company itself is quite expensive, my current home insurance provider can't / won't help and I've tried many other companies as well without success.

Has anyone else been in this situation before and have any advice for me? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

I'm looking for a more long term solution to the same storage insurance problem but Direct Line have told me that they will offer cover for 3 months - is that long enough for you? Unfortunately it's not long enough for me

theunsworths

Hi this is my first post so sorry if i go one!
I have just bought contents insurance for the first time ever but i am wondering if i need buildings, we live in a rented council house so all our household repairs are covered, but is our carpets, wallpaper etc covered under our contents policy it doesnt seem to metion it in the policy.
if any one is in a simler situation or have any info it would be great
thanks

Sparkly

anyone else having problems with the insurance websites yesterday/today? I've been trying to get quotes via Quidco, and 3 out of 4 I tried came up with an error (Asda, MoreThan, norwich Union). It's a normal terraced and nothing unusual asnwered on the questions and not had a problem in previous years. I'm beginning to think it's a plot to avoid quidco payouts!

nanjo

Hi all, I need some advise with insurance renewal

I am with NATWEST at the moment, a car crashed into my garden damaged some fences and gate this year ,and I have made a claim through Natwest but all excess and cost has been recovered by Natwest from the third party.

I am due to renew my insurance shortly, I will be moving to different provider because of quidco, the question is : Do I have to tell the new provider that I have made a claim ? even though that Natwest didnot pay for the damage.

Thanks in advance.

FlameCloud

Yes, you do.

sean70

hope this is the right place.

my home was broken into and one of the items stolen was a plasma tv £999 in dec2007. homeserve through rsa are only offering £629 for this tv. gutted. anyone ever had similar situation, if so what happened. need some advice.

Twosheds

If you're home insurance is with Norwich Union and you're about to receive the renewal, don't be in too much of a rush to renew it - wait a day or two to see if they ring you ...

My renewal arrived yesterday, so I checked for something cheaper as per Martin's instructions and found one slightly cheaper. I would have switched, but today I got a call from Norwich Union and they volunteered to cut the premium without me asking for anything and also offered me 6 bottles of wine if I renewed with them today!
Their new price was cheaper than anyone else's so... :beer: ...cheers Norwich Union!

firstTimeBuyer_2-2

Hi,

I'm a first time buyer and am now looking for home insurance does any one know how to get competitive home insurance for a house which is not of standard construction.

The problem I have is the construction of the house I am buying, the house isn't made entirley of brick although the boxes on the survey I had done for the mortgage are ticked next to Brick and then also next to Timber.

I spoke to the surveyor and he said it isn't a Brick and Timber house as the house has weather board cladding outside the front and back with no brick behind it. I have quoted the comment the surveyor made as a summary of the construction of the property in the survey below:

"Main Walls - Front and rear elevations are of single skin timber construction having weathered board cladding externally. The gable walls are of cavity brick construction and rendered externally."

A lot of insurers won't insure this and I was told last night by QoteMart there is only one underwriter who will insure this type of property and it will cost £370 for building and contents.

Does anybody know of insurers who quote for this type of property and if they do a reasonable priced one. Any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks