Home contents insurance, whilst not required by law, is an important item for everyone to consider for peace of mind that your valuables will be replaced should anything happen to them and that you will not suffer the cost of replacing some valuable items in the event of a flood or fire. A lack of insurance in an event such as this would be financially crippling for most people. The most basic home contents insurance  will protect most of your possessions against theft or damage, including furniture, appliances, clothes, food and some valuables and cash up to a certain amount.

 

When looking around for a good deal on contents insurance it is important to read the standard policy on offer carefully as it may not be adequate for your needs. If you require anything extra it will have to be expressly stated, in order to be covered in the policy and it will of course increase the premium you pay. For instance accidental loss or damage of household items is not generally covered by a standard home contents insurance policy and if this is something you require you will have to pay more for it.

 

Home contents insurance policies do not normally cover items taken out of your home such as jewellery or photographic equipment. Again you will need to pay extra to include this type of cover. If you have an item, or items, of a very large value this will be classed as requiring extra cover as well. Contents insurance may also require the owner of the items to have taken due care with valuable items, for example taking precautions such as installing a security system.

 

A policy may also not pay out in certain circumstances, for example if your home is broken into and you had left a window or door open, your policy may not be valid. Contents insurance may also not be valid if you leave your property for an extended period, for example a month. When purchasing contents insurance it is imperative that you provide the insurer with as much information as possible, as omitting details can leave you under insured. It is also important to inform your insurer if any of your details change straight away and not wait until it is time to renew the policy. If you are trying to secure as low a premium price as possible, a good tip is to include a higher excess in the policy, i.e. the amount you would have to pay out yourself in the event of a claim.