Cover your home this Christmas with Cheshire

Cheshire Building Society, which offers building and contents insurance provided by Royal & SunAlliance, advises home owners to make sure they are adequately covered, so that their Christmas cheer isn’t spoilt.

With this in mind, the Cheshire’s top tips advise people to be extra vigilant about their home security and avoid luring opportunist burglars:

Check the cover on your insurance policy – Many insurers, including the Cheshire, increase home insurance cover throughout December to cover expensive Christmas gifts – check that your policy does this first or shop around for new cover

Keep Christmas presents out of sight – don’t have gifts under the tree in view from the window leading up to Christmas, as they are tempting to potential burglars.

Prepare for your holidays - If you are going to be away over the Christmas period, make sure you cancel milk and newspaper deliveries and arrange for a neighbour to remove any mail and keep an eye on your home. Perhaps invest in a light timer so it looks like someone is home during the evenings.

Think about the little things – During the holidays, many homeowners have increased food and goodies in the refrigerator and freezer. Make sure your policy covers you for the food should there be a power cut.

Dispose of boxes and wrappings carefully – these can act as an advert to burglars for new goods inside the house, so make sure they are not on show.

Make a record - Mark all of your valuables and take a note of any serial numbers.

Do not forget the locks - Ensure that your home is fitted with the correct locks as specified by your policy and that they are in full use. If you do not do this, your claim for theft may be invalid. Always set the burglar alarm when you go out.

Don’t keep the home fires burning – Christmas is a great time to gather with the family around an open fire but it is important to remember to make sure it is put out before retiring to bed. To avoid electrical fires, make sure you turn off the Christmas tree lights when leaving the house or going to bed.

Check the small print – Make sure you are covered for accidental damage for example, wine/food spillages on the carpet. Do you have new for old cover?

Reassess your policy – In the New Year make sure you call your insurance provider to inform them of any additions to your home contents, this will guarantee your insurance is up-to-date and that you are covered for any future claims.