Home Insurance

geordiemick

After years of staying with the same companies, I ran Moneysupermarket and the prices of combined buildings and contents are like a fifth of what I've been paying.
So now its a matter of choosing one. I wont go for the cheapest, but a reliable company. I've made no claims for years.
I went to public library today to see the on-line Which reports, but system was down; there was a small section in a recent Which magazine. Cheapest Moneysupermarket quote was Privilege. Now, Which seemed to rate them well, but an on-line check of reviews of Privilege was not encouraging.
I'll have to wait to see the full on-line Which reports.
Others that were a good price that Which rated were Halifax, LV, Tesco, Saga , LLoyds Bank.
Any comments welcome.
My buildings cover runs out end of June and contents at end of July which is a complication.

ACG

I could be wrong, but I think Which are grading them on the quality of their product, where as online reviews are grading them on the quality of their customer services.

I always suggest people take this with a pinch of salt, but its a useful guide if nothing else - https://defaqto.com/star-ratings/home-insurance

Many people get caught in the trap of cheap and cheerful/cheap and nasty rather than payiing for a quality product. Also many insurers have different quality of products, so you may see abrand name and think they are good but actually it is a stripped down version in order to get the premium down. On that link you will see the insurer in bold and then the rpoduct under it.

csgohan4

One of the most expensive but good quality, as in their exclusion criteria is very very short is Hiscox. But they are x3 times more expensive than what we are paying at the moment

geordiemick

"I could be wrong, but I think Which are grading them on the quality of their product, where as online reviews are grading them on the quality of their customer services.

I always suggest people take this with a pinch of salt, but its a useful guide if nothing else -defaqto.com/star-ratings/home-insurance

Many people get caught in the trap of cheap and cheerful/cheap and nasty rather than payiing for a quality product. Also many insurers have different quality of products, so you may see abrand name and think they are good but actually it is a stripped down version in order to get the premium down. On that link you will see the insurer in bold and then the rpoduct under it."

Thanks for that..
Thoughts:
1) Customer service surely is a big part of the cover
2) defaqto star-ratings/home-insurance ...rates Privilege (as an example, that was cheapest , at the top of my Moneysupermarket search) highly, but what about this ?? uk.trustpilot creview privilege
3) I'll ring Halifax (who my buildings cover is with now), and ask if the on-line cover is the same.

4) What's the point of comparison sites if their recommendations aren't good quality?

geordiemick

I rang the Halifax online . It all seems fine, no different from my letter of renewal only much cheaper.
I just need to see what Which say.

guitarman001

So many providers - I have no idea who to go with.
My pension is with Aviva.
Life insurance with Legal and General.
Car insurance with Direct Line.
Bank account with Santander.

Home insurance = ????

Also... I'm buying a new build. I'm not sure if I need to get home emergency cover (boiler, heating, plumbing, electrics cover) or if that's included in Barratt 2-year warranty.
-> I think you're perhaps best getting a separate British Gas Home Emergency cover package instead of tacking it on with a home insurance product?

geordiemick

do a moneysupermarket run.
defaqto star-ratings/home-insurance seem good for ratings

guitarman001

I've checked through this forum but there seems to be no clear winner.
Too many companies get top ratings but then have poor online reviews.

TBH I'm thinking about sticking with Direct Line - for no real reason, either.

geordiemick

I checked Which ; these come out best. It doesnt seem to correlate well with Defaqto???
top
ageuk
barclays
john lewis
LV
m&s
NFU
RIAS
Castle cover
nationwide
tesco bank
saga
shielas wheels
axa
churchill
then about 15 more below

Quentin

Which? uses different criteria to rate insurers than Defaqto

ACG

Price comparison sites pull up results on price. Most people just want the cheapest policy possible either because they do not want to pay much or do not realise the difference and think an insurance policy is an inurance policy/

Customer service is important, I was not suggesting otherwise. My point was if you buy cheap, there is going to be cut backs somewhere.

There is a good image that says
"cheap, good, quick"
Cheap and good wont be quick,
good and quick wont be cheap
and quick and cheap wont be good.