Tags: Utilities, Disaster Restoration, Home Inspection
Every year millions of pounds are spent on home improvements across the country. From simple jobs like redecorating to more intensive renovations, like loft conversions and extensions, homeowners are tackling home improvement tasks to improve their quality of life and add some value to their home.
Big jobs can often make big changes to our home, and often people don’t think of the repercussions a renovation like an extension or central heating replacement can have on their home insurance or even their council tax. Adding an extension to your home can be a great way to add value to your property, but can also add to your bills, putting your investment at risk.
Here are three quick and easy ways anyone can protect their home improvement, and their investment, by doing a little research and taking the right precautions.
Millions of homeowners don’t have the right amount of cover for their homes and contents. Some alterations to a home can even invalidate existing policies, leaving them with no cover at all. Adding an extension, door or window or a flat roof can dramatically change your home insurance costs.
If you are making any significant alterations to your home, you should check any existing home insurance you have to see if the alterations could change your coverage or invalidate your policy. If you need to make a claim later and the insurance is not there, you could cost yourself thousands in repairs.
If you have made investments in your central heating system, you should consider investing in boiler cover too. Problems with a home’s central heating system can be costly and inconvenient, but companies such as Certi offer boiler cover that can take the headache and stress out of future repairs or replacement. Having someone to call in the event of home emergencies can give you great peace of mind, and you are free to support your family while the problem is solved for you. Many types of cover also include an annual boiler service as well as home emergency cover.
When making a significant change to your home’s structure, you should always consult your local authorities to see if this will change your home’s tax band. Adding a bedroom or garage to a property can be very lucrative, increasing the home’s resale value significantly, but this can also add to your bills through an increase in council tax and perhaps also water rates. Those not on a water meter will often have their water rates set by the value of their home, so do check with all the relevant local authorities.
Owning a home is one of life’s greatest milestones and improving your homecan be a fun and rewarding experience. Making sure you have adequate home insurance to cover your improvements is essential, and you depending on the improvements you make you should consider boiler cover or cover for home emergencies. With a little planning and research, you can avoid paying excess costs if an accident happens.