Insurance

Preparing for your home move? 

Moving house is a very exciting milestone in your life and one that a lot of us consider with the approach of a new year.

 

However, in the excitement it can be very easy to overlook some of the more serious practicalities, such as ensuring adequate cover for your home and contents during the move and in the immediate days or weeks following.

 

Here are the essential considerations for you to be aware of:

   

Almost four million items are lost, damaged or stolen during house moves each year.*

 

Moving house is already very costly, so it's crucial you're not having to replace or repair any possessions using your own funds, which could have been better spent elsewhere.

 

Even before you've made your new place a home, you need to be speaking to your insurance broker to protect your belongings in transit, and to make sure a new policy will cover you from the first day in the new property.

 

Many people make the mistake of searching themselves, which can often mean they undervalue or overvalue the total worth of their contents, or that they're tempted by a cheaper deal that offers unacceptable cover.

 

This is especially important after the Christmas period, where expensive gifts such as electronics or jewellery will often be forgotten in the estimations.

 

It's also a good idea to make an inventory, as this will prevent you from losing sight of missing pieces of furniture.

  

Make sure you are covered against all risk types that are appropriate

 

In a lot of cases, policies will exclude certain types of damage, such as pet damage or theft from outbuildings.

 

With the change in season, there is an increased possibility of water damage, and in some areas, floods.

 

Accidental damage cases have also risen since the rise in Brits working from home, with the most common claims being for computers. 

 

When talking with your broker, it's advisable to ask questions and make sure you're clear on the exact wording of your policy, so that you're informed on what you're entitled to, should you need to make a claim.

 

Here are some problems commonly excluded from policies:

 

- Accidental damage (DIY disasters)

 

- Damage caused by failing to maintain your home structurally

 

- Home emergency services (a plumber for a leaking shower)

 

- Personal possessions that are taken outside of the home

  

If you are in the process of moving or would like to have an existing policy reassessed, contact us today.

 

*Property Reporter

 

Reducing the risk of working from home

For the past 18 months, the majority of employees have been working from home; first, as a means to continue working under lockdown, and now with the widely accepted roll out of hybrid working practices.

 

As a result, businesses and individuals have had to cope with rising threat levels from cybercriminals, who are finding new ways of extracting personal data and hacking accounts.

 

From ransom attacks that can affect whole companies and networks, to the links embedded in an email, cybercrime comes in many different formats, so it can be challenging to identify every risk.

 

70% of employees would prefer for the continuation of flexible remote working conditions, giving cybercriminals the opportunity to take advantage of the gaps in a company's IT infrastructure and data protection measures.*

 

One in five organisations reportedly experienced a security breach due to remote working, so to better protect your team and your business, we've broken down the areas you need to pay closer attention to.

 

Phishing emails are becoming more and more difficult to spot. Here are a few signs to look out for:

 

- Demanding an urgent action to be taken whilst threatening a negative consequence

 

- Bad grammar and spelling mistakes

  

- Inconsistent email addresses and domain names

 

- Includes suspicious attachments or links

  

Smishing

 

Smishing is when you receive a text message (commonly from a bank) telling you that there is a problem with your account, an issue with a payment or you need to reset a password due to suspicious activity.

 

Not all text massages from companies are a scam, however, it is always best to contact the company using a real number just to make sure the text is genuine.

  

When working remotely, always be vigilant and inform your workforce of best practices.

 

For more support, get in touch with us today.

 

*McKinsey & Company