[loopy_legin]

I live in middle england in a detached 4 bedroom house. I think my contents insurance in too low. What is the average contents valuation for my size house?

[Knownow't]

Depends if you have specified items of exceptional value such a jewellery, paintings, antiques., these can be separately shown on your policy.... excluding these maybe £30,000 should cover it....go around with a calculator and work out how much the main things would cost...carpets throughout, curtains, furniture, electrical goods, cutlery, bedding, beds, pots and pans, will be surprised how much it is...better to have more than less and generally insurance companies will not pay out more than a specified percentage on one item...Also check if the Policy is linked to inflation, or on a new for old basis...lots to look into.

[apes1963]

As an insurance broker, I must advise there is no"average"valuation. My advice would be to take an inventory of all your larger items of furniture, brown and white goods then allow a further few thousand pounds for the smaller items. I strongly recommend that you note valuable items separately and check if you need valuations. Also it is a good idea to consider getting full accidental damage cover and cover for items you take outside the home. Don't scrimp on insurance it is exteremely important to get adequate cover. There are companies who specialise in offering"high net worth"policies and it may be that this is what you need - one such insurer is Hiscox.

[nooka]

My advice would be don't risk estimating the value of your belongings, just go with a company who offer unlimited insurance and don't have an averaging principle. You would probably just have to declare what are classed as high risk items and set a limit on those but the rest would be classed as normal contents items. Where I work, when doing insurance quotes, we have to declare any high risk item worth over £1500 but everything else is covered as standard. You then don't run the risk of being underinsured when it comes to claiming. Just so you know 60% of people ARE underinsured on their contents insurance-a scary but true fact, make sure that you are not one of them.

[hugg]

It would surprise you to grasp how many homes have all of the latest in technological gadgetry, yet have not managed to insure the contents of their home against the event of either a robbery or damage.
Note from where you purchased each item and its make and model, if pertinent. Take footage of and / or videotape the things, too. If you purchased anything new in the year, say a new TV or video recorder, then the cost of this new purchase won't be included in the renewal notice you simply sent off to the insurance company. A very good tip here isn't to move your possession into one room and then itemise them, but to go from room to room doing this. You can then keep a copy of the video with the inventory. It is also really useful to know if the Credit card you used to buy an item includes any sort of automated guaranty against damage or loss.