Always keep home insurance small print in mind

Model house with hand placing coin over it

March 06 2019

We’ve all heard stories about home insurance claims going unpaid – even when the incident wasn’t the claimant’s fault. If you don’t check through the T&Cs you can easily get caught out, leaving you out of pocket in a tough spot.

So, we’ve pulled together some common mistakes that can see our claim go unpaid, and what you can do to avoid them:

Know your locks

If you’re safety conscious you’ll probably have a combination of locks: from deadbolts, to chains, to bars. Regardless of what you have, make sure you report them accurately to your insurer.

Set your alarm

If you have an alarm, aside from making sure you’ve described it to a tee to your insurers, get it set. Every time you go out of the house you should put your alarm on. If you were to be burgled and it wasn’t set, insurers often don’t pay out.

Get smart

If you’re the forgetful type the point above may be a tough pill to swallow. Not to worry, with ADT Smart Home you can check if your alarm is set while you’re on the go, then turn it on remotely if you did forget. Check out the full package here.

Keep your keys safe

It’s tempting to leave spare keys under plant pots or inside post boxes as a ‘just in case’. But if a burglar finds these and lets themselves in, you often won’t be covered by insurers. The same goes with keeping your keys by the door, burglars often use a hook through the letterbox to fish for nearby keys. Keep your keys safe on your person to avoid easy entry for intruders.

Secure your tools

If a burglar is caught with tools that could potentially be used to break into homes, they’ll be subject to questioning from the police. They’d much rather use tools from their victims’ gardens or sheds to smash windows or force doors. If an intruder uses your tools to break into your home, your insurance could be void. Try and keep tools inside the house, or under lock and key in a shed.

Report it ASAP

If you’ve been burgled, the emotional distress can distract you from the practical steps you need to take. But unfortunately, according to some insurers, there’s no time to waste. If you don’t report the crime to the police within 24 hours of being burgled, you often go uncovered. Here at ADT, we want to make sure you and your family are as safe and secure as you can be. And that if the worst should happen you’re prepared and protected. Get in touch for a free quote on a tailored alarm.