Posts Tagged ‘home insurance’

Winter can be hard on your home – and if the past week’s weather is any sign, this winter will be even harder than most. But a little maintenance effort now can reap big rewards, helping you keep up the value of your home and prevent disasters. Remember, as well, that most home insurance policies won’t cover claims for losses that are due to a lack of maintenance – so act now, and save yourself a bundle.

Here are the ten most important steps you need to take to maintain and safeguard your home this winter:

1. Check your geyser. Geyser problems are more likely in winter, so make sure your geyser is in tip-top condition. While you’re at it, take the chance to lower the temperature to 60°C or, even better, 55°C – and save a bundle on your electricity bill.
2. Fix leaking pipes. Exposed water + cold = ice. And ice will make leaks even worse and possibly even lead to burst pipes. Save yourself an expensive flood by repairing the leaks now.
3. Clean the gutters. Gutters fill up with leaves especially if you have big trees on your property or live in a particularly leafy suburb. Clear them now to avoid gutter damage and overflows.
4. Fix broken windows. This will not only keep your home in great condition, it will help keep the cold out.
5. Repair the roof. If you live in a summer rainfall area, take advantage of the dry winter months to check your roof. If necessary, now is the best time to repair, waterproof and repaint.
6. Trim garden growth. Most plants are dormant during the winter. Prune hedges, creepers and shrubs now to clear electric fences, gates, gutters, roofs and other areas where they might cause damage or interfere with your security systems. A good trim now will also prepare your plants for the next growing season.
7. Make sure all gas and electric heaters are in good order. Check the wiring or gas connections and give them a clean if necessary. Use heaters safely and responsibly: Don’t leave them switched on in an empty room for long periods, and never cover them or put them near beds, couches or curtains.
8. Install a smoke alarm. They’re cheap, widely available, easy to install and can save you and your family’s lives. It’s a no-brainer.
9. Consider installing insulation to keep your home warm and your electricity bills down, but make sure you choose fire-retardant product.
10. Switch appliances off at the wall during a power outage to protect them from surges – and remember NEVER to leave candles unattended, and to keep them away from furniture, beds and curtains.

The winter months are also the ideal time to take stock of your household contents – ask your insurer for an inventory list and update your cover to avoid being under-insured.

For more information on insurance cover for your home or household contents visit http://www.miway.co.za/home-insurance.

Remember the first time you had to get short-term insurance? You probably spent hours on the phone with brokers or sales representatives to find the best deal – an incredibly low premium that nobody could better. This is how many of us choose insurance. And it sounds like a good plan… until you have to make a claim, and discover that the great deal is actually a huge disaster. You struggle to get hold of the right person to process your claim, nobody gets back to you and when they eventually do, you’re told that there is a long list of restrictions you weren’t aware of and that the excess is so high it may be cheaper – and certainly a lot simpler – to pay for it all out of your own pocket. This is not a unique experience, yet people dismiss the role of the insurer in the policy, possibly pausing only to check the company’s name is vaguely familiar before getting down to price. But researching the different insurers on the market should actually be your first step when obtaining a policy. After all, your insurer determines how you, your claims and benefits are dealt with – and you don’t want to discover that they take a year to process your claim. So choose carefully. Empower yourself with information. Browse online and read personal reviews of people’s experiences in dealing with a particular company so you know what to expect.

There are five key criteria against which you should measure a potential insurer:

1. Claims process What is the company’s attitude, reputation and turnaround time on claims?
2. Service Look for an insurer that has a reputation for good customer service as well as a record of dealing with service issues swiftly.
3. Contact options Does the company offer services through your preferred contact method? Can quotes, policy updates and claims be handled online?
4. Excess What is the excess in the event of a claim? Is the excess fixed, or is it a percentage of the claim – and can you afford it?
5. Fineprint Read the details of the offer with care before comparing it with others or accepting it. Pay particular attention to policy terms, type of cover, exclusions and security requirements.

For more information on home and household insurance visit http://www.miway.co.za/home-insurance.