Insurance add-ons

Umbrella and house symbol. You property in safety.

When it comes to choosing home insurance, many customers look simply for the cheapest deal. But there’s more to it than that, as the most comprehensive products have a range of benefits that can really help if accidents happen. Here, we take a look at some of the most common added services, and explain what their benefits are. When you get a home and contents insurance quote, your insurer will explain the different options available, and it’s up to you to decide which ones you think are most appropriate for your needs.

Accidental damage cover: Some insurance providers do not include this insurance at all on standard policies, while others specify it is only for certain items or parts of the property. But with most policies you can opt to increase your cover to ensure more situations and possessions are covered. So if you do end up spilling paint on the carpet, you can rest assured that your insurer will be responsible for putting good the damage.

Away from home: With mobile phones, MP3 players, portable computers and any number of other high value items, what we carry outside our homes tends to be worth a lot more than it used to. So it makes sense to use this extra to keep all your possessions protected, wherever they are. This insurance will cover everyone in the household, not just the policyholder. So if you have kids then everything they take outside the home will also be insured.

Sports cover: If you play a lot of sports, or have valuable sports equipment, then you may want to think about this add-on to ensure anything lost or damaged while you’re using or transporting it will be covered.

Garden cover: While many policies will cover you garden, if you have higher value items outside then it’s worth taking out an enhanced policy. This will cover you for those expensive garden ornaments and furniture.

Home emergency: If your boiler fails or a pipe springs a leak, home emergency cover will ensure a qualified tradesman will come out and make repairs. The cover is unlikely to pay for work other than emergency fixes – if you need a new boiler, for example, then that cost will still be down to you – but it’s there for when emergencies do happen. And the benefits aren’t just financial – your insurer will also find the tradesman, who will come from a reputable company and have already been vetted, so you know you will get a good service.

Legal expenses: In some situations, the only option for people who need recompense for damage to their property or possessions is to go through the courts. But this can be a hugely expensive undertaking, and the costs put many people off, even if they feel they have a very good chance of winning their case. Legal expenses cover provides a set amount towards the costs of any legal action you bring.