Will Home Insurance Cover Your Easter Getaway?

These may be testing financial times with the UK deep in recession, but Brits aren’t planning to sacrifice their holiday plans. A survey by bmibaby in January 2009 showed that only 27 per cent of holidaymakers are contemplating scrapping their trip abroad to make ends meet.

While holidays over the Easter period are all about fun and relaxation, the last thing any of us want to do is to return home and find that our properties have been ransacked in our absence. Unfortunately however, domestic burglaries are on the rise according to the Home Office as the credit crunch prompts more people to turn to crime. Consequently, it’s become more important than ever for anyone planning to get away to ensure they have suitable home insurance in place in case the worst happens.

How can home insurance help?

Opportunist thieves are keen to strike and any sign of an unoccupied home could prompt them into action. As a result if you’re leaving the country for a sustained period you’ll need home insurance in place to give you peace of mind.

Most home insurance policies pay out in the event of a home burglary as long as you’re not deemed negligent – such as by leaving a door or window open or leaving an alarm switched off. Indeed the majority of insurers even offer new-for-old cover on a host of items meaning that you could receive brand new replacements for any goods that are stolen from your property.

The key however, is to check your home insurance policy thoroughly before leaving. Take some time out to evaluate the contents in your home and to ensure you have an appropriate sum insured as under insurance could leave you significantly out of pocket.

Also take a look at the home insurer’s rules about a home being left unoccupied. The majority of insurers will cover you for up to 30 days away from the home in one calendar year, while others even extend the cover to 60 days. However, not all insurers are so generous so read the terms and conditions of your policy and if necessary, shop around.

How can you avoid home insurance claims?

While home insurance offers great reassurance, in an ideal world you’ll never need to make a claim. Making a claim will bump up your premiums and wipe out a no-claims discount. So you should take steps to avoid a home burglary while you’re away.

There are actually a number of steps you can take. Firstly, remember to cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries as seeing items stacked up outside your home is a sure-fire signal to a thief that nobody is home. Then, ask a neighbor or friend that you trust if they would be willing to pop into your home every day and open and close curtains each morning and night to give the impression that you’re at home. They could also collect your post for you so you don’t have letters stacked by your front door.

If there is no-one you trust enough with a spare key, then make sure you close all your curtains before you leave. It’s much better to leave a home with curtains closed during the day than open at night as the latter is a much more telling sign. It also gives thieves a chance to look into the property to determine what they want.

Never leave any tell-tale signs that you’re away. For example, don’t post messages on a social networking site about your plans to go away as they could be read by people who aren’t really your friends. Don’t leave messages on an answer phone saying you’re away either as you never know who will call.

Make sure you clear up in your garden too – store any garden items such as tools and ornaments away before you leave. There are several steps you can take to boost garden security such as installing higher fences, padlocking gates and outbuildings and weighing down expensive potted plants with bricks.

Boosting security can also help you save on home insurance. Most insurers offer discounts to customers that are part of a Neighborhood Watch scheme or who have enhanced their property with security devices such as burglar alarms and time-switch lights. You could also consider upgrading your window and door locks to an insurer approved standard. Taking all these steps could have a significant affect on your home insurance premiums.

If you feel your home insurance policy isn’t suitable for your Easter getaway then shop around now and secure a cheaper and more comprehensive policy.