Complete next week - Query on Home Insurance & Utilities

playaz

I am completing on Wednesday next week (29th) - I know I will need Building & Contents insurance but want to make sure I answer all the questions online 100% correctly..

Is it possible for me to arrange this on the day once I have the keys in my possession so I can go round and check the relevant things such as doors/windows etc..

Also.. on the day I will need to do my meter readings. Is this a case of me, getting the meter readings, calling the relevant utility companies to give them the readings and cancel and then contact the new utility companies?

So stressful... why do they not have house planners like wedding planners.. i'd pay for one right now

stator

You'll need the policy in place before the mortgage company release the funds, so before you get the keys.
Can you ask for another quick viewing to check the doors and windows?
If not just answer conservatively, ie say the windows don't have locks and the door locks don't conform to BS standards.

playaz

stator wrote: »

You'll need the policy in place before the mortgage company release the funds, so before you get the keys.
Can you ask for another quick viewing to check the doors and windows?
If not just answer conservatively, ie say the windows don't have locks and the door locks don't conform to BS standards.

Thanks for the tip! I love your signature by the way might have to borrow that myself!! :-)

AdrianC

If you've exchanged contracts, then you should insure the place NOW.

If you didn't notice the locks on a viewing, ask the EA to ask the vendor.

EmmyLou30

If you have exchanged contracts, you should already be insuring the building up to the point of completion. Then you obviously need buildings and contents insurance because you'll be owning and living there.
Take meter readings once you move in and contact your NEW utility company that you wish to use (if it differs from the current supplier). They will do it all for you and contact your old provider on your behalf and give them the readings so they can send you a final bill. I didn't know this and contacted the existing one first, then had all sorts of fun and games trying to get switched over as aparently I should have just gone straight to the new provider rather than registering as a customer with the existing provider.

playaz

AdrianC wrote: »

If you've exchanged contracts, then you should insure the place NOW.

If you didn't notice the locks on a viewing, ask the EA to ask the vendor.

I'll be doing this tonight now the EA has given me the relevant info thanks guys

playaz

EmmyLou30 wrote: »

If you have exchanged contracts, you should already be insuring the building up to the point of completion. Then you obviously need buildings and contents insurance because you'll be owning and living there.
Take meter readings once you move in and contact your NEW utility company that you wish to use (if it differs from the current supplier). They will do it all for you and contact your old provider on your behalf and give them the readings so they can send you a final bill. I didn't know this and contacted the existing one first, then had all sorts of fun and games trying to get switched over as aparently I should have just gone straight to the new provider rather than registering as a customer with the existing provider.

Thanks for that tip... I was going to do that but now thanks to you know different Hopefully it all goes through swimmingly

AlexMac

My lender (Nationwide) helpfully offered buildings insurance BETWEEN exchange and completion as a freebie to incentivise me to take their insurance. So I did; one less thing to worry about.

And as regards contents insurance; just do it, and answer yes to Q's like ' are door-locks insurance-rated 5-lever deadlocks' and 'are windows secured by lockable catches' 'cos if they ain't then you'll sort that within days of moving in won't you; I always change locks when moving anyway.

Having said that, I obviously didn't look closely enough when we moved here in 2011. Chunky-looking locks on all windows... but... secured by half inch screws into timber windows. Which bust open, as a half - inch screw's no match for a full-size crowbar, which the bad guys used to jimmy open a rear window 3 weeks after we moved in!

Luckily we'd recommissioned the burglar alarm so the siren scared em off as soon as they triggered a PIR detector.

And the same locks now have bomb-proof 2 inch screws which took me less than half a day to fit.

And as regards utilities, as long as you take the meter readings on day one, most suppliers won't get stressed if you dealy contacting 'em if you're stressed (or tired and emotional. They don't actually disconnect supply, and if you don't contact them, will just start writing to 'the new occupier ' after a week or few, in my experience. We delayed contacting ours for four weeks as it was just a holiday home and we forgot before closing it up after getting the keys/

Anyway, I'm wandering off topic... happy moving into your wonderful new home!