Top Tips for a hassle free Christmas and New Year

Author - Andrew Long

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Top Tips for a hassle free Christmas and New Year

I have been busy preparing for the festive season (Christmas to you and I) and as I do so, the risk manager within me always comes to the fore! I cannot help but see this time as one of increased risk and exposure with fewer precautions being taken to protect what we’ve purchased or built up over our lifetimes. I thought I’d share a few simple top tips to ensure that you and your treasured possessions are safe and with us all to enjoy another Christmas.

Top Tops

1.  If you have home insurance – check the cover to ensure that there is an uplift in the contents limit over periods such as Christmas. As your home is often full to the brim with the latest “must haves”, it’s worth checking that your insurance is adequate.

2.  Have you checked your smoke alarms or detectors recently? If not, do it today – not tomorrow as that could be too late. If the batteries have been in longer than 6 months, replace them – a fiver or tenner spent now could make the difference between peace and chaos.

3.  If you are travelling to spend Christmas with relatives – does your home insurance cover you for any loss or damage to any personal possessions away from home?  Check  - if you accidentally drop that i-Pad that your wealthy Aunt has just bought you, are you covered?

4.  Are you planning to be away for all or part of Christmas or New Year? If so, ensure that you tell a close neighbour who can regularly check on your house, and make sure you have your lights set on timer, and leave a car on your drive – anything to make sure your house doesn’t look empty!

5  Don’t leave festive lights on all day and all night. The most common cause of house fires is due to electrical faults and issues. This could be a faulty plug or wiring or simply that the transformer has burnt out.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Healthy New Year!