Security Tips to Cut Home Insurance Costs

Since the onset of the credit crunch domestic burglaries have been on the rise with an estimated four per cent increase in 2008 according to the Home Office. As a result it’s become more important than ever to ensure your home is, well… as safe as houses.

There are financial benefits to security a property too. Most home insurance companies will cut your premiums if your house is deemed more secure. Clearly the more security features you have in place, the less likely you are to suffer a burglary – and this in turn means the insurer is less likely to payout on a claim.

Certain security measures seem straightforward enough. Most of us know that fitting a burglar alarm for example, will help to reduce our home insurance costs. However, are there any ways to increase home security that are overlooked?

How to increase security to save on home insurance

Here is a quick look at some key areas of the home and actions you can take to enhance security – inform your insurer of these measures and you may earn a discount too:

Doors: Install a front or back door that is certified to British Standard PAS 24-1 and ask for it to be fitted with a chain or have a door viewer installed. Glass panels on or around doors are vulnerable so replace them with laminated glass. Also look into enhancing your locks. Five-lever mortise locks are particularly popular with insurers as they can only be opened with a key.

Windows: Check every window is closed before leaving the house and fit key-operated window locks to all downstairs windows. If you replace glass consider laminated glass for added strength.

Indoor lighting: Time-switch lights can give burglars the impression you’re home even when you’re not.

Outside lighting: High efficiency, low energy lighting controlled by a dusk to dawn switch can offer a welcome deterrent to thieves.

Burglar alarms: Simply installing a burglar alarm may not be enough to earn you a discount from an insurer any more, as alarms vary widely in their quality. Low cost alarms may be little more than a nuisance to your neighbours – instead, look for one that meets British Standard BS 4737. You should talk to the insurer to ask which alarm system it recommends before buying.

Lock up outdoors: Many of us stack £1,000s worth of equipment in our gardens and sheds meaning that these are popular targets for thieves. Used a closed shackle padlock on sheds and if your outbuilding contains a door through to the house ensure the inner door is just as secure as the outer door. Consider installing garden furniture in place permanently with ground anchors and put expensive plants into heavy containers and attach them to the ground if possible. High fences and prickly hedges may not endear you to the neighbors but they do offer valuable peace of mind by restricting access to your personal space.

When not at home: If you’re planning to leave your property for a lengthy period inform your insurer as most providers carry policy limits on the number of days you can be away from home. Your insurer is more likely to overlook a brief period without occupancy if you are taking steps to keep the property secure. For example, cancel deliveries of newspapers and milk, and ask a neighbor or friend you trust to enter your property each day and open and close curtains at dawn and dusk to give the impression you’re home even if you’re not.

Are there other ways to save on home insurance?

While security measures can reduce your premiums significantly they are not the only ways to save money.

For example, you could pay your premiums annually instead of monthly cutting out interest charges. You can also agree to a higher voluntary excess – the amount you cover in the event of a claim.

Another step is to reduce the fire risk in your home too. Insurers look favorably on actions such as fitting smoke alarms and fire extinguishers in the home as well as quitting smoking if you haven’t done it before.

Perhaps the most significant step however, is for property owners to use a comparison website to compare home insurance quotes, at least around renewal time. These websites provide listings from more than 50 home insurance providers and so by comparing what’s available you can get a better idea of what is right for you.