Buildings insurance refers to the structure of your house, and to all those items which are non-movable and construe the very essence of your home. These range from the fittings and fixtures such as those which can be found in baths, toilets, kitchens etc. The part called covered outbuildings refers to those structures and properties which are outside your home, but still connected to it: walls, fences, gates, garage, tennis courts, and swimming pools. Some insurers may offer coverage for damage to pipes and cables, broken windows etc.

What does the insured sum mean?

The term "insured sum" refers to the amount of cover that is the maximum sum of money you can receive from the insurance company if the worst scenario occurs (for example your house burns down). It is important to know beforehand that the insured sum refers to the costs of rebuilding, repairing etc, thus it has nothing to do with the market value of your home (which can be much higher, or lower accordingly). In order to find out what should be the exact amount of your insured sum ask for professional advice, as well as consult your insurance agency. If you are unsure whether the amount of cover is adequate or not, choose a permanent policy that is they provide you unlimited cover, thus saving you from the worries of making decisions and estimations.

What is included:

- damage caused by fire, storm, flood, acts of theft or vandalism
- damage occurring to outbuildings
- landslip, subsidence
- emergency repairs (burst pipe, blocked toilet)
- accidental breakage of window planes
- emergency repairs of underground cables or pipes
- temporary accommodation, while reparations are carried out due to some insured damage
- non-stop emergency line, which refers to advice given in legal problems as well as to instant help in case of accidental damages: burst pipe, blocked drain.

Levels of risk:

There are a lot of factors which influence the shaping of the coverage amount as well as what is or what isn't covered. If you live in an area considered dangerous or with high risk level, your premiums will increase accordingly. However, there are several ways to minimize these risk levels:

- Whenever you observe damage (even a crack) in the structure of your home contact your insurer, as these can be evidence of subsidence. Try to do the repair works by yourself, with the help of professionals.

- Be careful with the planting of trees! Large roots can undermine your home's foundations, weakening the structure. When deciding to remove a large tree ask for the help of specialists especially in case you live on clay soil.

- Have a good maintenance of your house, especially during winter: check out the pipes, and electric system, clean the drains regularly.

- Keep thieves off your property by installing security systems, such as guarding fences around your house, alarm system against robbers etc.

Exclusions and excess clauses

Generally all insurance companies have exclusions and excess clauses. These refer to all those cases in which you are not provided any coverage. The most common exclusions refer to damage in case of earthquake, flood, ice and snow, acts of war, nuclear accidents as well as damage caused by aircraft's sonic waves. Therefore it is essential to check out the list of exclusions before purchasing a policy, so you won't get surprised later on. Excess clauses refer to the damage which occurs to your home while you are away from it for more than 30 days. In this case the damage is not covered, and reparation costs are not reimbursed.

Be up-to-date

A buildings insurance policy is not a contract set in stone. It always has to face the challenges of new requirements as well as your permanently changing personal needs. When you move house, you may have to change both your buildings and contents insurances, according to the necessities which result from the new living conditions. It may happen that your priorities change considerably, thus what was exclusion in your previous policy now can become a vital element, especially if you move in a high risk level area. Don't forget to shop around continuously for the best offers, and don't be afraid of shifting to another insurer when your coverage period is over. Do not rely only on the banking institutions while purchasing the policy, but try to consider the offers of independent brokers, too.