Insurer offers advice to make sure Christmas is wrapped up

RIAS is advising people to take extra precautions to avoid unnecessary upset this festive season should they fall prey to opportunistic thieves or accidental damage. The over 50s insurer suggests that adequate home contents insurance is more essential at Christmas than at any other time of the year.

Combine the latest gadgets, designer clothes and expensive gifts being bought for loved ones in the run up to Christmas with fridges crammed full of tasty treats to eat, the festive season can see the value of home contents increase by as much as £5,000.
Many homeowners seem to forget that they accumulate possessions over time, not just at Christmas, rarely updating their contents insurance as they upgrade their belongings. As a result, policyholders could be left drastically out of pocket should they need to make a claim in the event of a burglary.

Janet Connor, managing director of RIAS explains: "The threat of burglary along with the potential for accidental damage during the Christmas period cannot be ignored. But unlike motor insurance, people seem less inclined to review their household contents insurance on a regular basis. Because we know that insurance is unlikely to be at the top of your Christmas shopping list, RIAS automatically increases the maximum claim customers can make on their policy by 10 per cent over the festive period."

RIAS offers the following tips to help people protect their property at Christmas:

Keep presents out of general view by positioning your Christmas tree away from a window.

Use timed light switches during the evening if you are out or away.

Take photos of expensive presents (with serial numbers) if the items need to be identified for insurance or police purposes.

Make sure all doors and windows are locked when you leave the house.

If you are away, try and leave a car parked in your driveway or ask a neighbour to park their car in your drive.

Don't overload power sockets or leave flexes trailing across the floor and check that plugs have the correct fuses.

Remember to add any new gifts you have received to your home contents policy on an ongoing basis if they are over £1,000 or £2,000 in value.