Insurance in the UK: Options for Consumers

Whether you're the owner of a high value home with equally valuable contents, a collector with irreplaceable items or have specialist items like antiques or paintings, the subject of insurance is a critical factor to consider if you truly wish to protect your UK home, its contents and your collection. Here's some information about acquiring an insurance policy that's both affordable and comprehensive.

What to Look For When Choosing Insurance Companies and Insurance Agents

Your insurance broker or agent should provide personal, bespoke service. This means that the he or she listens carefully to you and then tailors cover specifically for your unique situation. This cover should accurately reflect both the value of the items being insured and the degree of risk you're willing to tolerate, including:
  • Specialist cover for items in your collection, such as fine art, jewellery or antiques
  • Travel insurance that includes your entire family
  • Cover for holiday homes, both in the UK and abroad
  • Cover for investment property
  • Cover for home office equipment
  • Employer's liability cover for domestic staff
  • Public liability cover
  • Cover for outdoor items and outbuildings
  • Worldwide cover for money and credit cards
  • Cover for students' possessions when away from home
Other Important Factors

In addition to providing exceptionally high levels of personal service, paintings insurance, antiques insurance, a full-service insurance agent might also carry car insurance, life insurance and should give accurate insurance quotes. The types of policies offered should be both comprehensive and flexible. This will assure that your particular cover needs are addressed. And if you do have a claim, it should be expertly handled in a timely fashion. Although it's not essential, more and more insurance companies have Internet web sites where policy holders can download claim forms, learn about the company and find out how to contact the company via telephone, post, email or even live Internet chat.

Price: The Final Consideration

Whether it's art insurance, home contents insurance or another type of cover, price is always a paramount factor. While it might seem that a policy advertised as having broad cover at a low price will provide ample protection, generally such policies sometimes have dangerous gaps that could prove disastrous in the event of a significant loss. In this case, a closer and more bespoke assessment of your circumstances will undoubtedly result in a reasonably-priced insurance policy that accurately reflects the real-world value of your UK property and high value items.