Last year the team at Cocoon very kindly gave PolicyCastle a Cocoon smart home security system to try out. We have been impressed, and made a few notes, which are below. For full disclosure, PolicyCastle now works with Cocoon to give Cocoon customers a discount on their home insurance. Setting up Cocoon The online instructions are…
Author: policycastle
Winter security at your front door
Beware of burglars who could try to trick their way into your home claiming to be making a delivery for an online store. Four things to keep in mind now the evenings are getting dark:
PolicyCastle announces the first home insurance discounts for customers using smart home devices
PolicyCastle, the digital insurance platform, today announces that it will offer UK customers who have qualifying smart home devices installed in their homes discounts on the cost of their home insurance premiums. This is the first time that discounts are being offered for home insurance customers who are already using smart devices in their home….
The InsurTech journey… are we there yet?
We like this video by Altus Consulting about the potential future benefits of InsurTech for customers: The InsurTech Journey… are we there yet?
Making a home insurance claim
Show proof that the event happened Insurers’ claims teams want to see proof that the event you are claiming for has happened – unfortunately they have to watch out for fraudulent claims. Often providing proof is straightforward – a photo of the damage may be acceptable. But if your valuables were stolen by a burglar…
Autumn home maintenance jobs
Now is the time to be sure that your home is ready for autumn and winter, before it starts to get cold
Rebuild value for home insurance
If you are asked for the rebuild value of your home for your home insurance quote, do not use the estimated market value if you were to sell your property. The cost of rebuilding your home is likely to be different from the value you would receive if you sold your home because you do not…
Are unoccupied properties covered by home insurance?
Some home insurers will not allow you to renew your insurance, or cover may be restricted to Fire, Lightning, Earthquake and Explosion only (FLEE), if your property has been unoccupied for more than one policy year and you expect it will remain unoccupied long-term. If you are looking for more extensive level of cover you…
Contents insurance checklist
Contents insurance checklist
Storm Aileen on the way
High winds are forecast in the next two days as Storm Aileen is due to hit much of the country this evening and tomorrow. If you have a garden, check for any items that could be blown around and cause damage to your property – toys, barbecues, tables and chairs – and put them away….
Smart locks issues
Last week, around 500 users of smart locks produced by the US company LockState found that their locks did not work properly after a faulty update was released, leaving users unable to lock and unlock homes. Lockstate apologised but wasn’t able to provide customers with an immediate solution to the issue – it took 5-18…
Flood risk assessment
Ever more homes in the UK are now at risk of flooding. In 2015/2016, 9% of new homes constructed in England were in areas at high risk of river or coastal flooding, and 4,400 homes in the last five years were built against the advice of the Environment Agency, according to an article by iNews….
Holiday home insurance
Home insurers mean different things when they talk about “holiday” homes and “second” homes: A holiday home is one that you and your family use for holidays from time to time, and may also be let to others, on holiday lets. A second home is one that is occupied frequently by you, often for a…
Listed buildings – what are the different grades and categories?
If you live in a listed building, insurers typically want to know that grade or category of listing the building has. This is because the higher the grade or category the greater it may cost to repair damage. The different regions of the UK have different rating systems:
“Holiday” home or “second” home – is there a difference?
People lucky enough to have another home as well as their main home can refer to it in different ways. Like so many things in the English language, we don’t have exact defined terms that everyone agrees on. However, home insurers do mean different things when referring to “holiday” homes and “second” homes: A holiday…
Why are non-standard construction homes a problem for mortgage lenders and insurers?
Non-standard construction properties are those that aren’t built with brick or stone walls, and with tile or slate roofs. So the non-standard definition includes thatched houses, pre-fab (both post war and modern designs), timber framed houses and wood built houses. Clearly some types of non-standard construction houses are a greater risk – for example thatched…
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