Buying home insurance is a great idea for many reasons, not least of all the fact that you will be covered in the event of any theft or accidents. Shopping around and finding the best policy for you is always going to be one of the best ways to ensure that you get a good price and a good value policy, but there are things that you can do in and around your home which will also help to bring your insurance premiums down, especially if you live in area which is identified as a higher risk. Here are five things that you can do to keep your premiums down:
Upgrade Your Garage Door
When you are getting quotes for your home insurance many providers will ask you about the doors on your home and if you have a garage attached to your property this door will also be taken into consideration. Safe and secure garage doors will not only make it harder for people to break into your property but your home insurance company will probably consider this as a security measure and . Safe and secure garage doors will not only make it harder for people to break into your property but your home insurance company will probably consider this as a security measure and take it into factor this in when calculating your premium.
Install A Burglar Alarm
Another thing that insurers will take into consideration is if you have some sort of burglar alarm fitted at your property. Quite a few home insurers will offer a discount if you have a burglar alarm especially if it is a wired system or one which alerts the authorities if your property is being interfered with. It is a good idea, however, to make sure you have a qualified engineer install any alarms that you opt for.
Check Your Locks
Most people will be aware that having good locks on the front and back doors or any other points of entry is not only a good idea but will also ensure your premium isn’t too high. However, many people do not take into consideration the locks on the windows and double glazing units, which are just as important as the locks on your doors when it comes to calculating security risk. Make sure all of the locks on your windows are working correctly and that the keys aren’t left in the unit all the time.
Join The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme
If you live in an area with an official neighbourhood watch scheme it could be beneficial to you to join it, even if you don’t want to attend meetings. Many insurers will take a local neighbourhood watch scheme into consideration when calculating your policy price and being a part of this scheme can sometimes entitle you to a discount.
Remove Tall Trees
Having trees more than 10m tall next to your home could increase your costs as they increase the risk of subsidence or heave. By removing these trees or being selective about what trees are planted near your home could reduce your premiums in the long run. Tall trees which are over a certain age can also be a risk in terms of heavy branches falling on your roof in high winds, which is going to be way more expensive to fix than having a tree surgeon get your tree under control!
