Why you need house insurance

 House insurance is among the most important insurances you can get - and in the case of buildings insurance, most mortgage lenders make it compulsory. This is because your home is your biggest asset and if you lose it because of fire, flood or another disaster and you have a mortgage outstanding on it, there may be nothing tangible to repay back your mortgage with.

There are two types of household insurance - buildings and contents. These can also be purchased as individual plans or combined. If you buy the insurance combined (ie from one insurer) they you tend to get an overall discount.

Buildings insurance gives your property (and it's fixtures and fittings which are permanent fixtures such as fitted kitchen or built in wardrobes) financial protection in the event of damage. Unless your mortgage provider insists you have cover, this insurance is still strongly recommended as it protects probably your most major asset.

Contents insurance - while not compulsory - is just as important as buildings cover. Again, it offers protection against fire, damage, loss etc. and will cover most of your possessions in the home from baby clothes to DVDs to audio equipment to valuables (up to a set limit which your insurer will define).

If you have something particularly valuable (such as an expensive watch) - or something you take outside the home and that is more liable to damage or theft (eg a bicycle or a laptop) contact your insurer to see if you need to upgrade your policy. This should only mean a small increase in your house insurance premium and will give you the peace of mind that the item is covered.

As with all insurance products, when looking for house insurance, do shop around for the most competitive premium. Online insurance brokers, where you enter your details and requirements just once and the search engines goes off and finds the best deals for you, are free and easy to use and give you a good idea as to how much you should be paying.

As with all product comparisons, when it comes to house insurance, do compare premiums on a like for like basis to ensure you get the level of cover you need.
About the Author

Jason Hulott is Business Development Director of Protection Insurance. Protection Insurance is an internet based insurance business dedicated to getting consumers the very best insurance rates and the best products. We have a range of free insurance guides download them here

 Jason Hulott

More Articles 

Internet Insurance Leads - Andreea Dinescu
It is a fact that more and more people everyday use the Internet to get insurance coverage. The number of online customers is massive compared to “traditional” business, and it is increasing day after day. However, as the online market grows, the...

No Fault Insurance - Paul Forcey
If you live in one of the twelve states (DC, FL, HI, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, NJ, NY, ND, PA, UT) that are under a non-fault auto insurance system, you can cause an accident, yet your insurance company won’t pay for the other parties’ damages. This...

How Much Car Insurance Should You Buy? - Erick Pace
Car insurance is one of the most dreaded chunks in your budget. And depending on which state you live in, it could be a smaller or larger chunk of your budget than your neighbors across state lines. How much insurance should you buy? Any insurance...

Life insurance fears following the London bombings tragedy - Richard Green
Following on from the tube train and bus bomb attacks in London there was a move from several UK insurance companies to reassure victims that claims would be processed “quickly and sympathetically”. This need for reassurance came in light of...

What You Don't Know About Auto Insurance - Liane Wood CIP
Most people understand that they need auto insurance. In fact, it's the law, if you drive a car, it has to be insured and the penalty for driving without insurance is pretty severe. However, insurance policy wordings are not easy for everyone...

Earthquake Insurance - Jakob Jelling
We never know what the providence has in store for us. The best thing we humans can do is to remain prepared against any natural disasters or untoward incidents. Nowadays, insurance provides financial protection against losses for persons or...

Facts about Renters Insurance - Brian Walker
If you rent an apartment or house, you might consider purchasing renters insurance. Renters insurance provides coverage for damage or loss of personal property for people in rental housing. It's to insure the renter's belongings from theft or...

Pet Insurance Is Vital To Your Financial & Emotional Health - Drew Harris
Pet insurance was front and centre during my last visit to the vet. As we were standing in a line, a woman came screaming into the lobby, carrying her bleeding and crushed dog in her arms. He had been hit by a car and was near death. ...

Cutting Health Insurance Costs - Tony Novak
Surveys of self-employed individuals consistently show that one of their major concerns is the ability to buy affordable health insurance. One in 4 self-employed persons has no health insurance today even tough more than 70% of these people could...

Carrying Car Insurance Is A Smart Choice - Sintilia Miecevole
Carrying car insurance is a crucial decision for anyone on the roads today. With so many drivers on cell phones, eating fast food and even watching TV while at the wheel, it isn't unusual to find yourself in a "fender bender" or serious wreck....

High Deductible Health Insurance Plans For Individuals and Families - Michael Ertel
Do you pay more attention to your car than your body? You change your oil every 3000 to 4000 miles. You have your tires rotated every other oil change. Your air filter and brake pads are changed at the appropriate intervals. Now, what about your...

Life insurance, the universe and everything - cashzilla
You may have noticed that life insurance is coming back into fashion. It’s true that it may not be the financial term on everybody’s lips, but sales of life insurance have been going up, according to the Association of British Insurers. Whilst we...