If you are a homeowner, contents insurance will save you money in the event of any possessions or valuables being stolen, damaged or destroyed due to a fire, flood or other disaster.
But to get a quote for contents insurance, you will need to know the total value of your contents.
At Quote Devil, we’re here to help with this handy guide that will show you what contents insurance covers and how to calculate contents insurance for more peace of mind in the event things go wrong.
What does contents insurance cover?
Contents insurance covers your personal belongings in the home like furniture, clothing, carpets, kitchen equipment, furnishings, electrical items and more. Think of contents as the items you would take if you were moving house.
It also includes items in attics or in garages and garden sheds like bikes and tools.
In the event of a claim, there is often a maximum limit to the amount an insurer will pay out for each item in your home.
Expensive items like jewellery and laptops may need to be specified and listed individually on your policy to be covered. Some insurers may also require proof of the valuation of these items.
If in doubt, always check your policy documents.
How much contents insurance should I have?
The cover you need from your contents insurance policy depends on the total value of your possessions and the cost of repairing or replacing them if they were damaged, stolen or destroyed and you had to make a claim.
It’s important to accurately value the contents of each room of your home to make sure you don’t pay more than you need for cover and that you are adequately covered in the case of a claim.
How to calculate contents insurance
To estimate the value of the contents of your home, you must consider the value of each item individually. For insurance purposes this is the amount it would cost to replace the item today, which is likely to be less than what you initially paid for it.
Start by going room by room to make a list of your possessions and their value, including the attic, garage and garden shed. If you are unsure of the value of certain items, then research online to see how much it would cost you to order and replace the same item.
Make sure to create a list of all your expensive items, which may need to be listed specifically on your policy. If necessary, get an expert to provide valuations of high-value items like jewellery or antiques and ask for a certificate stating the value it’s worth. Have your belongings valued regularly to ensure you have the best insurance policy.
For an accurate calculation of your home contents, add up all items in total room by room.
Add your totals together to get the estimated value of all your home contents.
When making your list, check for these common items covered by contents insurance:
Bedrooms
Clothing
Accessories
Shoes
Lamps
Jewellery
Toiletries and cosmetics
Bed linen and soft furnishings
Furniture including beds, bedside lockers, wardrobes, drawers and cabinets.
Kitchen
There’s likely to be many large, high-value items in your kitchen and lots of smaller items stored away in cupboards that must also be accounted for on your policy.
Dishwasher
Tumble dryer
Pots and pans
Washing machine
A TV if present
Crockery and cutlery
Table and chairs
Freezer and fridge
Contents of the cupboards and freezer
Non-fitted units and blinds
Cooking equipment including ovens, microwaves, toasters and kettles.
Living Room
Some of your most expensive belongings are likely to be found in the living room so make sure to list everything of value.
Lamps
Books
Stove
Artwork
Antiques
Television
Laptops and radios
CDs and DVDs
Game consoles
Sofa and armchairs
Furniture including tables, cabinets and bookcases
Soft furnishing such as carpets, blinds and curtains.
Bathroom
Toiletries
Cabinets
Electric razors
Electrical appliances
Decor like mats and blinds.
Garden & Sheds
Garden furniture and the contents of your shed can be expensive so these should be listed too.
Tools
BBQs
Bikes
Garden furniture
Electrical equipment including hedge trimmers and lawnmowers.
Attic
A lot of people store their family heirlooms and other memorable belongings in the attic. Look through it and add any valuables to your list.
Other high-value items
Check around your home for expensive, high-value items and make sure to list them, for example:
Laptops
Jewellery
Sunglasses
Antiques
Bikes/scooters
Musical instruments.
Top tips for estimating your home contents
Go room by room to list all your possessions and calculate the value of each item individually before adding it all up together. This will give you a much better estimate and make sure you’re properly covered in the event you have to make a claim.
If you’re unsure of the value of an item, research online to see how much it would cost to replace the item.
Take extra care with high-value items and consider if it’s worth getting an updated valuation from an expert. You should also get high-value items valued regularly to make sure your cover is suitable.
