More than just the roof over your head, your family home is the place where you live out precious memories every day, from cosy dinners to watching your children take their first steps. Insurance can make sure you are covered in scenarios such as extreme weather damage, burst pipes and burglaries.
Part of this is guaranteeing that you have always got a safe place to stay and helping shoulder the costs of repairs and replacements. What’s more, contents insurance can even cover gadgets such as your phone outside the home. Here we take a look at some of the most common scenarios when it comes to your home and contents, and how coverage can help you get back to normal as soon as possible.
Managing weather damage and unexpected accidents
Something happening to our home is one of the nightmare scenarios we all hope to never have to deal with, but unfortunately, these things can often be outside our control. Lighting strikes could spark a fire and bad winter storms could lead to flooding in a basement.
This destruction can be even worse if you live in an older property and can lead to even higher costs for replacing structural elements. Having your home damaged by natural disasters or extreme weather can be very traumatic, especially if you are forced to temporarily relocate, and can mean the loss of both sentimental and expensive possessions.
Even without extreme weather, unexpected accidents can still happen, such as a burst water pipe causing flooding and damage in the kitchen, or a broken window caused by a falling tree. With accidental damage home insurance, you can cover the cost of fixing the damage and getting your house back to normal without making a dent in your savings, helping you find temporary accommodation if needed and covering the cost of lost items.
If you notice any problems emerging, make sure to get them fixed as soon as possible before an accident occurs, as prior knowledge of an issue could invalidate your claim. Regularly check any smoke alarms are working, and remember that most policies also will not cover damage that’s caused because of your fault, such as from leaving a tap running, so be vigilant about turning everything off before you leave the house too.
Bouncing back from a break-in
But bad weather and broken pipes are not the only threat to your property and possessions—burglary is also a risk. Despite taking the necessary precautions such as installing security systems, disguising your absence and ensuring all windows and doors are properly locked, burglars are sometimes still able to find their way in.
In these cases, you might find yourself returning from a lovely family holiday to discover that valuable items including TVs, laptops, cameras and jewellery have been stolen, and your doors and windows might be damaged. Being burgled can be a very upsetting experience leading to feelings of insecurity and vulnerability—not to mention facing the costs of replacing so many items.
Fortunately, contents and possessions insurance can help you replace your belongings quickly and easily, with many plans covering all family members. It can also cover the cost of any damage to the home caused by forced entry. Make sure your coverage is valid by always keeping door and windows are closed with adequate locks and any setting any burglar alarms. Never keep a spare key in a ‘hidden spot’ either, as burglars can find this much easier than you think and it could invalidate a claim.
Protecting your gadgets on the go
With modern technology and the rise of remote working, we often find ourselves carrying several valuable items around outside the home too, from the pricey smartphones in our pockets to the laptops in our bags. As a result, we are more at risk of getting these items stolen, breaking them in an accident or losing them during the course of a busy day.
If you have had your smartphone pinched from your pocket on the bus or broken your laptop after an unfortunate incident with a spilt cup of coffee while working in a cafe, insurance can make sure you do not lose out when it comes to replacing these expensive items.
As well as advice on how to report the loss, theft or breakage, they will help you quickly sort out a replacement, be it for a phone, tablet or even a watch. Do be aware that some high-cost items need to be registered individually and coverage can be dependant on a maximum individual value and how old the product is—so make sure to check your policy against any of the items you are looking to insure and make sure your plan covers them.
Know more about Generali Central’s product offering to safeguard your home and content. Understand what all Generali Central’s home insurance policy covers.
