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Protecting Your Home and Everything In It
Your home is probably the biggest purchase you will ever make. The things inside it matter too. Home insurance helps you cover the cost of repairs, replacement and rebuilding if something goes wrong.
Cover comes in two main parts. Buildings insurance protects the structure of your home. Contents insurance protects what you keep inside it. Many people take out both together, and we can arrange either on its own.
We start by asking about your home, your belongings and what matters most to you. Then we recommend cover that fits.
Types of Home Insurance
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Buildings Insurance
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Buildings insurance covers the structure of your home. That includes the roof, walls, floors, windows, permanent fixtures such as fitted kitchens and bathrooms, and often outbuildings such as garages and sheds.
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It usually pays for damage caused by events such as fire, flood, storms, subsidence and escape of water. If you have a mortgage, your lender will normally require buildings insurance to be in place before your purchase completes.
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The amount you insure for is the cost of rebuilding your home, not its market value. These two figures are often very different. If you insure for too little, a claim may be reduced.
If you own a flat in Scotland, the building is often insured through a shared policy arranged by a factor or the owners. We can help you check what that policy covers and whether you need anything extra.
Contents Insurance
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Contents insurance covers the belongings you would take with you if you moved. That includes furniture, electrical items, clothing, carpets and curtains.
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It usually pays out if your belongings are stolen, or damaged by fire, flood or storm. Policies have limits for individual high-value items such as jewellery, watches and art. These items often need to be listed separately.
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Add up the cost of replacing everything you own before you choose a sum insured. Most people own more than they expect.
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Optional Extras
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Many policies offer extra cover that you can add if it suits you.
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Accidental damage covers things like a spilled drink on a sofa or a drill through a pipe. Personal possessions cover protects items you carry outside the home, such as a phone or a bike. Home emergency cover pays for urgent repairs like a boiler breakdown or a burst pipe. Legal expenses cover helps with the costs of certain disputes.
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Extras increase the premium, so we will talk through which ones are worth having for your situation.
What Home Insurance Does Not Cover
Policies vary between insurers, but most home insurance does not cover:
Wear and tear, and damage that builds up gradually over time. Poor maintenance. Damage you cause on purpose. Homes left unoccupied for longer than the policy allows. Business equipment kept at home, unless the policy says it does.
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Every claim also carries an excess. That is the amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer pays the rest.
Small differences in wording can decide whether a claim is paid. We read the policy terms with you so you know what is covered before you commit.
Who Might Need Home Insurance​
Home insurance may be worth considering if you:
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Are buying your first home or moving to a new one
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Have a mortgage, as your lender will usually require buildings cover
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Own your home outright and want to protect it against major damage
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Own a flat and want to understand what the shared policy covers
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Have valuable belongings that need to be insured properly
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Are renting out a property and need landlord cover
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Why Choose Greenshoots Financial?
Home insurance is easy to buy and easy to get wrong. A policy that costs less can leave you underinsured, with gaps you only find when you make a claim.
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We explain each option clearly, check that your sums insured are realistic, and help you choose cover that fits your home. If you are buying with a mortgage from us, we can arrange your home insurance at the same time so the date your cover starts lines up with completion.
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Our advice is provided at no cost to you. We are paid a commission by the insurer when a policy is set up. This does not affect the price you pay or the recommendations we make.
