The following blog post is from a You Have More Than You Think partner.
The right buildings and contents insurance should give you the cover you need for your home and possessions in the New Year. But with the indulgence of Christmas out of the way, isn’t it time to start thinking about what else you can do to make next year a better one?
On 1st January we resolve to quit bad habits, take positive steps and start the New Year with gusto and good intentions. We’re all very good at making resolutions, but some of us are equally good at breaking them. So if you’re making New Year’s resolutions this year, try to make them realistic so you can stick to them.
And although home insurance isn’t the most exciting thing to think about in the New Year, you should check your level of cover. Or if you don’t already have a policy in place, you should look at getting contents insurance quotes – as well as buildings insurance quotes.
While you’re making your list of things you should do this year – and things you shouldn’t – why not adopt the ones below to help whip your house into shape? Here’s your checklist. Say out loud, “I resolve to”:
1. Check the roof
Inspect your roof for leaks, especially at penetration points such as drains and edges. Water leaks can damage the contents of your home – and its structure – so it’s good to catch the small problems early, before they turn into big ones.
2. Clean the gutters
Remove leaves and twigs trapped in your gutters as blockages can cause major water damage to roof and walls. And also inspect your gutters and fix any cracks or gaps you find.
3. Service your boiler
Get your boiler serviced by a CORGI-registered engineer to make sure it’s running safely and efficiently.
4. Lag the pipes
If you haven’t lagged your pipes already, you should seriously consider doing it to prevent them from bursting if they freeze. January and February are often the coldest months of the year. Also remember to lag your storage tank if it’s in a cold part of the house.
5. Cut drafts
To save on fuel bills and heat loss, make sure you stop cold air from coming in. Put draft excluders over the front and back doors and also repair broken glass and loose or missing putty on windows.
6. Get the carpets deep-cleaned
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to keep your house tidier, why not start the year off on the right foot and get your carpets professionally cleaned? It’s cheaper than buying new ones and you’ll probably be surprised by the results.
7. Test the smoke alarm
You should have a smoke alarm on every floor of your home already, so if you don’t have any, fit them straight away. It’s the cheap and easy way to help save lives. Even when you do have smoke alarms, it’s easy to forget to test them. So test yours now and make sure you do it regularly throughout the year.
8. Put together an emergency kit
It’s good to be prepared for a home emergency so gather together a disaster kit that includes a torch, candles and matches, insulation tape, spare fuses, batteries and bulbs, screw driver and radiator key, insurance documents, emergency contact details, tinned food, warm clothing, blankets and a shovel.
9. Get buildings and contents insurance
It’s vital to make sure your house insurance is fully up to date and that you’ve got the correct level of cover of both contents and buildings insurance. If you sort out your insurance now, it’ll be easier for you to start the year with a smile on your face. Why not visit Halifax’s website to see what they offer.
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I rent, but I think it's important to have content insurance even so. There's always a possibility that something may happen!
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