Home insurance's FAQ

Before you try to boost the value of your home by adding extra rooms it is recommended that you contact your home insurance provider. As the Irish housing market weathers the recession homeowners may be considering making alterations to their properties in a bid to boost its value. As house prices begin to pick up, extra space can help your home to attract the highest possible valuation, which may see you making more profit if you do decide to sell your home in the future.

Building extensions and converting present rooms are ideal ways to get your property valued at the higher end of the market. Many homeowners in Ireland choose to enlarge their home by constructing additional dining rooms and lounges for example. In addition, lofts are commonly turned into bedrooms. To make the most of the space available in properties, you may also be planning to convert your garage into an extra room to increase your home's value.

Before you start to make structural changes to your property it is wise to make your house insurer aware of your plans. Your premiums cover you for the number of room currently in your premises and they will alter if these increase. In order to find the cheapest policy you may like to get several quotes, so you can choose from the best deal.

Companies require information on your property when they calculate your premium so they can offer you the protection that your home needs from a variety of circumstances and catastrophes. Once you have had new buildings constructed, it is imperative that these and the rest of your home are adequately covered by your house insurance. A comprehensive policy will supply funds to help you repair damage that is caused by events, such as storms, floods and fires - including extensions in policies means that they can be rebuilt at little cost to you, if these events occur.

It is advised that you get quotes for both Contents and Buildings insurance when you are looking for policies that will cover your new rooms. While the latter can help you finance the reconstruction of your extensions and other conversions, you will need the former to protect your expensive goods, including computers and televisions. As well as making sure your pricey items are covered from fires and floods, home contents insurance also guards them against burglary by providing you with money to replace them, should they be snatched from your property.