The parts that normally come under buildings insurance
Walls, roofs, floors, ceilings and permanent fixtures such as a fitted kitchen or bathroom usually count as part of the building. The policy may also include garages, sheds, drains, drives, gates and boundary walls, although this is where wording begins to differ.
Cover commonly includes damage caused by fire, storm, flood, escape of water, theft or attempted theft and subsidence. A named risk is not an automatic promise to pay every related repair. The cause still has to be covered, and an excess and other conditions may apply.
Maintenance is a frequent source of misunderstanding. If old roof felt has gradually perished, replacing it is usually the owner's job. If a sound roof is damaged in a genuine storm, the resulting claim is a different matter.
Read how the policy treats matching sets and undamaged parts. A leak may ruin one run of kitchen units without the insurer paying to replace every unit merely to make the room match.
A realistic way to add up your contents
Imagine turning the house upside down. The things that would fall out are broadly the contents, though carpets are often treated as contents too. Include furniture, clothing, kitchen equipment, electrical goods, books, tools and the belongings stored in a shed or garage.
Do the calculation room by room. Most people remember the television and jewellery but forget how much it would cost to replace wardrobes full of clothes, bedding and ordinary cookware. Check the policy's single-item limit. Anything worth more may have to be listed separately.
New-for-old cover usually means the present replacement cost is used, subject to the policy terms. Some belongings, particularly clothing, may be dealt with differently. The schedule or policy summary should say.
Houses, flats and mortgage requirements
A mortgage lender will usually expect a freehold house to have buildings insurance. You can choose your own insurer unless the mortgage terms say otherwise. Contents cover is generally optional, though a serious fire or flood could leave you replacing almost everything yourself.
For a leasehold flat, buildings insurance is commonly arranged for the whole block. Ask for the policy schedule and find out what your service charge pays for. You may still need contents insurance and cover for improvements inside the flat.
Extras can be useful, but read the small print
Accidental damage might cover something such as drilling into a pipe or dropping a television. Personal possessions cover can extend protection to belongings taken away from home. Legal expenses, bicycles and home emergency call-outs are other common additions.
The names can sound broader than the cover really is. Home emergency insurance may pay for an urgent call-out without paying for a new boiler. Accidental damage may be restricted during major building work. Look at the limits and exclusions before deciding whether an extra is worth paying for.
Excesses, limits and the questions you answer
The excess is the amount you pay towards an accepted claim. There can be one general excess and larger ones for particular claims, especially subsidence or escape of water. Raising a voluntary excess can reduce the premium, but do not set it higher than you could manage at short notice.
Answer quote questions carefully. Construction, locks, alarms, occupancy, previous claims and planned work can all affect the offer. Where the drop-down answer does not fit your house, contact the insurer rather than choosing something inaccurate because it is close enough.
Keep the quotation answers. If you later notice an error, tell the insurer promptly. A correction may alter the premium, but leaving a wrong answer in place risks a much larger problem.
Compare policies on the cover you would rely on
Decide what matters to you before opening the results. That might include a manageable water-damage excess, enough alternative accommodation cover or protection for a particular valuable item. Price makes more sense once those basics are in place.
Also check who provides the policy and how claims are handled. The comparison result, insurer, underwriter and claims administrator may be different organisations.