Burglars, burst water pipes, freezer breakdowns and festive accidents can all lead to a stressful Christmas.
The festive season is edging ever closer and households are being urged to check the small print on their home insurance policies ahead of time to ensure peace of mind when the big day does arrive.
Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (N&P) points out that Christmas is a busy time for opportunist burglars as families often have expensive gifts stashed away in their homes. Having adequate home insurance cover to protect against theft is therefore essential at this time of year.
But in addition to the obvious, families should also make sure they are covered for the contents of their freezer, since it is likely to be full of festive goodies that would be expensive to replace if the freezer broke down. Protection against burst water pipes is also advisable, says N&P, since the cold weather may cause water in the pipes to freeze.
Finally, the building society advocates including accidental damage cover on home insurance policies if possible, as mishaps can occur while putting up decorations, lifting presents out of the loft or enjoying festive parties with friends and family.
And any parents planning to buy a Nintendo Wii for their children should know that, according to Halifax Home Insurance, cover for expensive television sets is a must as damage could be done if over-excited players accidentally throw their controllers.
N&P spokesman Steve Kendall said: "It's an important time of year to check the small print of your insurance policy. The key to a successful Christmas is preparation. Accidents happen, but it's having the right measures in place to deal with them that counts."
