Call the present insurer before the move is close
Give them the new address and the expected exchange and completion dates. The price may change because the property, area, security or rebuilding cost is different. Ask whether the policy can transfer and what cancellation charge would apply if you move elsewhere.
Convenience is a fair reason to stay, but it is still worth seeing what other policies offer. Compare the full annual cost, the excesses and the cover you care about. If you pay monthly, check whether there is a remaining balance under the credit agreement.
Ask for any amendment in writing. The new schedule should show the address, start date and people covered. Read it while there is still time to correct a mistake.
There can be a short spell with two properties
You might become responsible for the new home before you stop owning the old one. Explain the overlap to the insurer. Some policies can cover both addresses for a limited time, while others need a separate arrangement.
An empty property needs special attention. Standard cover can be reduced after the home has been unoccupied for the period stated in the policy. You may have to keep the heating on, turn off the water, inspect the property regularly or meet particular security conditions.
The policy definition matters more than the everyday meaning of “empty”. A furnished home can still count as unoccupied if nobody normally lives there.
Are your belongings covered in the van?
Some contents policies include household goods while professional removers carry them between homes. Self-moves, fragile items, poor packing, valuables and storage may have different terms. Read the transit section instead of assuming everything is included.
The removal firm's liability is separate. Ask what it would pay if an item were damaged and what packing rules apply. Keep jewellery, money, medicines, identity documents and essential paperwork with you.
If belongings go into storage, ask both the storage firm and your insurer what applies. Cover during a direct move may end once items are placed in a separate unit.
Tell the insurer about work before moving in
A week of painting is quite different from removing walls, replacing a roof or leaving the building empty for months. Standard home insurance may restrict cover during major work. The builder's public-liability policy does not insure your house in the same way as your own buildings policy.
Describe the work, estimated cost and timetable. A large renovation may need specialist cover before the first contractor arrives.
Photograph the property before work begins and keep the contract, plans and invoices. If damage occurs, a clear record of the earlier condition can save a great deal of argument.
Once you have unpacked
Confirm who lives at the address, the security devices, any business use and whether part of the home is let. Review the contents amount now that you can see what is actually there. List high-value items separately if the policy requires it.
Keep the schedule, wording and claims number somewhere accessible outside the home, perhaps in secure online storage. Photographs and receipts for expensive belongings can also be helpful.
Remember outside items as well. Bicycles, garden equipment and tools may now be kept in a shed or garage with different security requirements.
Compare while there is time to read the result
Have the new property's construction, rebuilding cost and correct start date to hand. Mention any overlap, empty period or building work. Then you can compare without having to squeeze uncertain answers into a form on the night before exchange.
When comparing, use the annual figure as well as the monthly payment. Check compulsory and voluntary excesses separately. A saving on the premium can disappear quickly if the excess on the claim you are most concerned about is much larger.
Once the new policy is active, cancel or amend the old one only when you are sure responsibility for the former home has ended.