Taking out home insurance is one of the most important things we can invest in. Not only does it cover us financially should a disaster happen, but it also provides peace of mind.

Hopefully, you will never have to make a claim but if you do find yourself in this situation you would naturally assume you are covered from theft and damage.

However, after you took out your policy, did you ever take the time to really inspect the small print? There could be stipulations written into your policy that you weren’t aware of that could lead to an unpaid claim.

Below are the most common mistakes made that can lead to you being out-of-pocket when making a claim.

1. Building Works and Renovations

Instead of taking on the hassle of moving home, 2-in-5 of us are now choosing to make renovations to our current properties to gain much-needed space. But make sure you alert your insurer before any work is carried out.

If you are simply replacing carpets or getting new kitchen cabinets, you will not need to declare this, but any structural changes should be voiced.

This is because the value of your home will most likely rise, and your policy needs to reflect this. Your premium may rise but this will be worth it as any claim could be voided should your value not be correct.

You also need to make sure any extensions are not infringing on neighbouring properties. Have your neighbours obtained the right to light? This is when a property has benefitted from natural light for a certain period and your new building works could block this.

By putting in place right to light insurance, this can protect you from any scary situations should your neighbours demand compensation, or even worse, they may apply to force you to tear it down.

2. Holiday Selfies

Social media is a brilliant way to keep in touch with friends and family and we all love sharing our memories with holiday snaps. But what happens if you have done this and you are burgled?

Your policy will state that you must take ‘reasonable care’ to ensure the security of your home and posting these photos in real time can be deemed as you not doing so.

When you post holiday photos, especially with location tagging, you are openly saying to the web that you are away, and your property is vacant.

Burglars will then see your property as an easy target. Statistics have revealed there is a direct link between posting vacation photos and an increase in burglaries.

You can still share these memories online, but it is best to wait until you return before doing so…
 
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