Close and lock all doors

Regardless of the neighbourhood you live in, it’s crucial you close and lock all doors before you go to bed each night or before you go out. Invest in high-quality locks on doors, sheds and garages, and window stays on ground floor windows to make it harder for thieves to break in. Remember to lock up the garage and any other entry points, and teach young children not to open the door to anyone without an adult with them.

Keep keys and valuables in a safe place

Avoid leaving spare keys under the front door mat, in the letterbox, or under a pot plant, as burglars are all too aware of these common hiding spots. Instead, invest in a lockbox with a code to store the spare key in or install keyless entry points on front doors to avoid having to use a key. Lock up your valuables in a secure, well-hidden safety deposit box inside your home, and don’t leave expensive items in full view of windows. Dispose of any packaging that could alert burglars to expensive items you’ve bought.

Get to know your neighbours

Neighbourhood watch schemes are an excellent way to encourage neighbours to look out for each other, report suspicious activity, and keep communities safe. Be prepared before going away on holiday, ask your neighbours to keep an eye on your home, empty your letterbox, and clear any parcels that get delivered while you’re away. Parcels left at front doors can be a clue for burglars that a home is vacant.

Install a security alarm system

One of the best ways to deter thieves is to install a home security system that alerts you and a security company if there’s an attempt to break-in. By triggering an alarm when your home has been compromised, you can act right away to possibly prevent a break-in and loss of your valuables, while using security cameras and smart doorbells linked to your phone lets you keep an eye on your home from anywhere. Use Home Improvement Loans to cover the cost of installing a security alarm system if you’re short on cash and don’t want to wait.

Lights and curtains

Homes left in darkness can be a target for thieves, so it pays to invest in a timer to turn lights on in the evening if you’re going to be away. Similarly, curtains and blinds that are closed during the day could alert thieves to the fact that a home is empty, while leaving curtains and blinds half open – but ensuring valuables are hidden out of sight – creates the illusion that someone is home.

Review house insurance and contents insurance

Another important task for homeowners is ensuring you have the right amount and type of cover for your home and contents. Review your house insurance and contents insurance policies every year – or have your Insurance Adviser go over these with you – to check that you’re adequately covered in the event of a loss. Remember to inform your NZ insurance provider about any significant changes or renovations you make to your home to update your house insurance policy.

Alert the police if you suspect a break-in

If you suspect a break-in, don’t enter your home as the intruder may still be inside. Call the police immediately and wait for them to arrive to handle the situation. If you do experience a break-in, check that you have all you need to lodge a claim and contact your NZ insurance provider as soon as you can.

Keep your home and contents safe

Keeping your home safe is a top priority for any homeowner. By taking a few precautions and investing in home insurance and contents insurance to cover you in the event of a loss, you can ensure that your home and all that’s in it remains protected.

If you need assistance with home insurance or contents insurance, contact one of the experienced Insurance Advisers at Max Insurances. Specialising in helping Kiwis arrange insurance NZ wide,  our team can help provide peace of mind knowing that you have the right cover for your needs.

Find this article helpful? Don’t forget to like it or share it on Facebook.

The post Want To Keep Your Home Safe? Top Tips Including Insurance appeared first on Max Insurances.

1. Most house insurance policies don’t cover pet damage

Having bought a new leather sofa and given your cat strict instructions to stay off it, imagine your frustration when you return home from work and it’s been used to sharpen her claws! Or what about the giant hole the dog has dug up in your landscaped garden? Or the damage to the carpet after a toilet training disaster? Or the designer curtains that have been ripped and will need to be replaced?

Unfortunately, when it comes to pet damage in the home, most house insurance policies won’t cover the cost of repairs or replacement to items damaged by pets. Even with an add-on to your house insurance cover, insurance policies will generally exclude damage caused by pets.

From an insurance perspective, pets are considered to be under the policy holder’s control, so any damage they cause may be interpreted as damage caused by the policy holder. Which means the cost of pet damage will need to be covered personally. However, you may be able to get cover against pet damage on personal belongings under a contents insurance policy, so talk to your Insurance Adviser if this is something you’d like to know more about.

2. Liability cover could help pay for pet damage to other people’s property

Pet owners know that even the calmest of pets can behave unpredictably at times. For whatever reason, something triggers a reaction and they behave out of character, perhaps chewing, scratching, biting or even running away. When that happens, there may be some pet damage to other people’s property, leaving the pet owner with costs to cover.

When your pet causes damage to someone else’s property, it’s reassuring to know that many house insurance policies offer liability coverage, which could help pay for some of these costs. So if your dog runs into the road and causes a car crash, or you have to defend yourself against liability because of damage your pet caused, you may not have to foot the bill yourself. Check with your Insurance Adviser to find out more about liability cover.

3. It is possible to minimise pet damage

Most pet owners budget for extra costs such as vet bills, pet food, and pet insurance when adding a pet to the home. But many don’t give much thought to the cost of repairs to items damaged by pets. While it may not be possible to have pets at home without incurring some damage (after all, accidents can happen!), there are things you can do to minimise damage by pets and protect your home and contents.

• Regularly exercising your pet keeps them stimulated and can help avoid destructive behaviour that’s often brought on by boredom.
• Professional training helps improve behaviour, alleviate stress, and avoid conflict in your pet.
• An anti-chew spray could discourage pets from chewing on carpets, curtains and furniture.
• Creating a safe play space for pets means they have their own area in which to feel settled and secure.
• Putting away fragile items that could be damaged or pose a risk to pets helps avoid unnecessary accidents.
• Avoid lighting scented candles and wax melts as these could be knocked over and cause further damage.
• Regular health check-ups at your vet could uncover underlying health issues causing your pet to behave badly. If your pet causing damage seems sudden, get them to the vet to check if that ‘abnormal’ behaviour is the result of a physical problem your pet is experiencing. To help ease the financial stress associated with vet care, our Personal Lending team at Max Loans can assist with an Emergency Loan to spread the payments over an affordable time period, and ensure your furry friend gets the health care they need!

Protecting what matters most to you

When life’s unexpected events happen, it’s helpful to know you have the right amount of insurance cover in place to help cover the cost of repairs or replacement. If you’re unsure whether you have enough insurance cover for your house insurance or contents insurance, get in touch with an Insurance Adviser at Max Insurances. As one of New Zealand’s leading insurance advisory firms, Max Insurances can help you compare insurance NZ wide to find exactly the right insurance cover to fit your needs.

Find this article helpful? Don’t forget to like it or share it on Facebook.

The post Pet Damage At Home: What You Should Know appeared first on Max Insurances.

1. Avoid over-insuring

While under-insuring home and contents can leave policy holders out of pocket in the event of a loss, over-insuring is just as detrimental to your finances. Over-insuring usually means the property’s value has been overinflated, and it’s been insured for a much higher amount than it would cost to replace. Simply put, paying a higher insurance premium than what the property is valued at is a waste of money.

But aside from the cost, over-insurance is a concern for insurance companies too. It can lead to policy holders being tempted into making false claims in order to claim a higher amount and turn a profit – in other words, commit insurance fraud. To safeguard against insurance fraud, NZ insurance companies will only reimburse policy holders for the actual cost of the loss they have incurred.

So when it comes to house and contents insurance, the amount reimbursed will be based on the total replacement cost or the sum insured. That’s why it’s so important your house and contents are correctly valued in the first instance. For peace of mind knowing you have the right amount of coverage – and that you’re not paying more than you need to or less than you should – have a Max Insurance Adviser review your house and contents insurance policy.

2. Choose a higher excess

Increasing your excess – agreeing to pay more in the event of a claim – is one of the easiest ways to reduce your insurance premiums. Excess is the agreed amount that you’re required to pay towards any claim you make. Different insurance policies have different levels of excess. Most house and contents insurance policies have a standard excess of between $250 and $400, which is the amount you’ll pay if you make any claim.

A voluntary excess lets you choose a higher excess in lieu of a lower insurance premium. This is an ideal option if you don’t claim often, but it does mean you’ll need to pay a larger amount when you do make a claim. Be sure to review your policy documents regularly, to ensure you’re clear on what your excess is.

3. Skip the small claims

The number of claims you make may affect how much your insurance premiums cost. That’s because your claims history is one of the many factors that insurance providers take into account when calculating your insurance premium. Too many claims and your insurance provider may regard you as a high risk and adjust your insurance premium upwards to cover the perceived risk.

One way to avoid being penalised for making too many claims is to avoid claiming for anything small and to only claim for major losses. It also makes sense to skip small claims if you’ve opted to pay a higher excess, as you don’t want to be claiming for something that costs less than the excess you’re required to pay.

Not claiming could also help you save money as you may qualify for a no-claim bonus, where your insurance provider rewards you with a discount for not making any claims in a set period of time.

4. List any home improvements

Renovating a home or making home improvements can increase your home’s value. But that’s not all. Some home improvements actually help reduce house and contents insurance premiums too.

A home security system, for example, helps reduce the risk of break-ins and provides protection for your possessions and your family. Upgrades to electrical or plumbing systems not only improve your home’s efficiency, they can also reduce the risk of fire and water damage. While taking steps to protect your home from natural disasters – like fitting a new roof or installing shatterproof glass in windows – is just another way to further reduce the risk of a claim in the event of a natural disaster.

All of these actions could help lower your insurance premiums.

5. Shop around and compare

House and contents insurance policies vary quite significantly from provider to provider, so it pays to shop around and compare policies and inclusions. At the same time, choosing a house and contents policy based purely on price alone isn’t always the best option. So do your homework before deciding.

Here are some ways to find the best insurance deal available to you:

• Ask friends and relatives for recommendations.
• Use online ratings and read online reviews.
• Get at least three insurance quotes to compare.
• Put insurance providers’ customer service to test while you’re shopping around.
• Get in touch with a Max Insurances Adviser to go over your options and help you compare policies.

Find the right insurance cover for your needs

At Max Insurances, we know that not everyone has the same insurance needs. Which is why we work hard to understand your individual needs, identify risks you may be exposed to, and then help you find the best insurance NZ wide. What’s more, we’re committed to ensuring you don’t pay more than you need to, and that your claims are handled efficiently, by liaising with the insurance provider on your behalf.

Talk to our team about NZ insurance that is designed to fit your needs and your pocket. Get in touch to book an insurance review or if you have any questions about house and contents insurance.

Find this article helpful? Don’t forget to like it or share it on Facebook.

The post 5 Ways To Save On House And Contents Insurance appeared first on Max Insurances.

1. Create a lived-in look

One of the key ways to protect your home while you’re away is to make it look as though someone is still there even when you’re not. You can do this in a number of ways:

• Set a timer switch to turn various lights on and off while you’re away, to avoid leaving your house in darkness at night.
• Install outdoor security lighting that turns on when it detects motion to save energy and turn off during the day.
• Leave a few oversized boots and shoes at the front door to make it look as though you’re home.
• Partially open curtains and blinds so it doesn’t look like your home is empty during the day.
• Turn down the ringer on your home phone, as an unanswered ringing phone is a sure sign that nobody’s home.
• Keep any expensive belongings or gadgets well out of sight of windows, away from prying eyes.
• Ask a trusted friend or family member to check in every so often.

2. Don’t spread the news

These days, most of us are not shy about advertising our plans on social media. But be careful who you tell about your upcoming holiday plans. By announcing your plans and how long you’re away for, you’re letting everyone, including any would-be thieves, know how long your home will be empty. Rather post details on private groups or only share with close family and friends. And avoid updating your mobile or home phone voicemail message with details of when you’re away – remember, it’s not just your friends who may call you.

3. Stash your valuables

As well as keeping your valuables out of sight from any would-be intruders, try hiding expensive jewellery or other items of high value in various places around your house rather than just in your sock drawer! Breaking in to get car keys is another common occurrence when homes are vacant during the holidays, so avoid leaving your car keys in an obvious place – at the front door or hanging on a key hook. For added peace of mind, check your contents insurance policy to ensure any valuable items are covered while you’re away on holiday.

4. Tidy the garden

If you’re planning to be away during the summer months when the grass and weeds tend to grow much faster, it won’t be long before your house looks like it’s vacant, with overgrown lawns and untidy flowerbeds. So before you go, mow the lawns, tidy the borders, and pack away any tools or outdoor furniture safely in the shed or garage. Avoid leaving empty garbage bins on the road after collection – ask a neighbour to bring these in for you. Leaving a car in the drive could make it look like someone is home, but check that all car doors are locked, windows are closed, and that any items in the car are removed or packed into the boot out of sight.

5. Cancel your deliveries

Remember to cancel your regular deliveries – like the daily newspaper, your weekly food box, or your fortnightly garden bin collection. And avoid doing any online shopping for delivery while you’re away, unless you can ask a neighbour or a friend to move these inside once they’re delivered. There’s no bigger giveaway that nobody is home than a pile of unclaimed boxes and a stack of newspapers at the front door. Check your house insurance policy for cover for accidental damage or loss to your home, particularly if you’re going to be away for a longer period of time, as your cover may not apply for extended vacancies. Talk to a Max Insurances Adviser if you have questions about the right insurance cover for your needs.

6. Install a home security system

Installing a home burglar alarm system is a great way to protect your home while you’re not there, by deterring any would-be intruders. Not only does it add an extra layer of protection to your home, it could even help reduce your house insurance premiums so you save money too. Find out if your house insurance qualifies for a reduced premium when you install a home security or monitoring system. You can also talk to our Personal Lending team at Max Loans about a home improvement loan to help cover the cost of installing a home monitoring system.

7. Lock up when you go

It may seem an obvious one, but it’s worth a reminder: spend the last few minutes before you leave for your holiday checking that all windows and doors are locked and secure. Even if it’s the smallest window at the top of your home, it’s not worth risking a possible break-in. Open windows or unlocked doors could also negate your insurance claim if you do come home to a break-in.

8. Get to know your neighbours

Having a neighbour or nearby friend stop by every few days to clear the mail and check in on your home is another good way to avoid any surprises on your return home. And it’s always good to have someone nearby that you can call on when you need to.

9. Check your house insurance cover

Every insurance provider has its own set of requirements that relate to how long a home can be unoccupied. For example, your house insurance may not cover theft or vandalism after 60 consecutive unoccupied days if you don’t inform your house insurance provider beforehand. Be sure to get in touch with your insurance company or Insurance Adviser to find out what’s required in your situation.

10. Final check before you go

Here’s a short list of the last minute things to check before you head off on your holiday:

• Windows shut and locked
• All devices switched off and unplugged
• Router turned off unless you’re using an alarm or camera that requires WIFI access
• Internal doors closed to limit views through the windows
• Empty garbage and recycling bins brought in from the street
• Check the fridge is closed
• Turn on alarm and lock the doors
• Have a happy holiday!

Keeping you and your home safe

Now that you’re armed with these 10 tips to protect your home while you’re on holiday, you can relax knowing that when you arrive back home, things will be as you left them. For more advice or answers to your questions about NZ insurance, house insurance or contents insurance, get in touch with the team of Insurance Advisers at Max Insurances.

Find this article helpful? Don’t forget to like it or share it on Facebook.

The post 10 Tips For Protecting Your Home While On Holiday appeared first on Max Insurances.

Planning a home renovation

Home renovations are an excellent way to add value to your home and really make it your own. But don’t get too caught up in your renovation project and neglect to inform your insurance company of the changes you’re planning to make. The last thing you want when it comes to making a claim is to find out that your home is underinsured or not sufficiently covered.

Most house insurance policies don’t cover major renovations, while some will cover minor, non-structural work only. But no matter what type of renovation you’re planning – whether it’s a major building work or a new deck – any changes you make to your home could impact your house insurance. So, before you proceed with your renovation project, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company or insurance adviser to find out if any additional cover is required.

Once the works are completed, remember to update the sum insured on your house insurance policy if the renovation has changed the value of your home. You may also need to update your contents insurance if you’ve added expensive items to your home that need to be included in this policy. Reviewing your house insurance regularly and updating your insurance company any time a renovation is planned ensures you have the right cover to fit your changing needs.

And remember, if you’re considering financing the cost of your renovation, get in touch with the personal lending team at Max Loans to discuss a home improvement loan. Or, to find out about adding the renovation costs into your home loan, contact one of the experienced Mortgage Advisers at Max Mortgages. And you’ll find some handy tips on getting your home ready for summer in this blog post.

Renting out your home or a room

These days it’s not uncommon for homeowners to rent out their homes, or rooms in their home, to earn a rental income and help cover mortgage repayments. But having tenants in your home comes with some risk, and that’s why it’s so important to ensure your home is protected with adequate house insurance cover should something go wrong.

If you’re considering having tenants stay in your home or renting out a room in your home, it’s important you’re clear on how this could impact your house insurance. Contact Max Insurances to talk to an Insurance Adviser about landlord insurance to cover against any damage caused by tenants, loss of rental income, and landlord liability. This type of insurance may offer more comprehensive cover and could replace the need for general home and contents insurance.

Leaving your home vacant for an extended time

Leaving your home empty while you travel or stay elsewhere could make it an easy target for criminals and break-ins. It could also mean more damage in the event of a fire or a water leak if the problem is left undetected for some time.

Insurance companies need to be advised if you are planning to leave your home vacant for more than 60 days, as the increased insurance risk of an unoccupied or vacant home could mean any claim you make while your home is empty gets declined. And any damages or losses you incur with a vacant home may have to be paid for out of your own pocket if you fail to advise your insurance company beforehand.

Starting a business from home

Whether the result of the pandemic or simply a personal choice, more New Zealanders are working from home – or running a business from home – than ever before. Depending on the type of business you run and the activities you undertake in your line of work, running a business from home can increase the risk of loss occurring to your buildings and contents.

So if you are running your business from home, you’ll need to update your insurance company to ensure you have adequate insurance cover for any stock you hold at home or business equipment or machinery used in your business. Your insurer will need to know about these items should you need to make a claim due to loss or damage.

What’s more, if you have customers or suppliers that visit your premises, you may need additional liability insurance to cover any accidents or injuries on site, so it’s a good idea to get in touch with a Max Insurances Adviser to discuss your individual needs when it comes to updating your house insurance to cover working from home or starting a business from home.

Review your insurance regularly

Your insurance needs change as your lifestyle changes, which is why it makes sense to regularly review your insurance policies. That way you can be assured you have the right insurance cover to fit your needs, and you’re not paying for insurance cover you don’t need or missing out on vital insurance cover. For all your house insurance, contents insurance, and general insurance needs, talk to a Max Insurances Adviser today and let us help you compare insurance NZ wide to find the best deal!

Find this article helpful? Don’t forget to like it or share it on Facebook.

The post 4 Changes Your House Insurance Company Needs To Know About appeared first on Max Insurances.

1. Investigate the home’s insurance history

Many home buyers leave choosing house insurance until last, but the best time to shop around for house insurance is when you’ve found a home you’re interested in buying. That’s because the property’s size, age, condition, location and what it’s constructed out of are all things that could impact the availability and cost of house insurance. As most lenders will require home buyers to have house insurance if they apply for a mortgage, knowing ahead of purchase how much your insurance premiums are likely to cost – on top of your mortgage repayments – could help you budget better.

Start by checking with your Insurance Adviser what insurance is available on the property you’re considering buying. It’s a good idea to find out from the vendor – if you can – what kind of insurance the house currently has, and whether there are any special conditions or considerations that may be in place, so you can compare any quotes you get.

You might even want to add an insurance condition to your sale and purchase agreement (along with conditions like finance or building reports) so you  don’t get stuck buying a property that you can’t get cover for. Equally important is making sure that finance is not withdrawn due to the lender not being comfortable that their security (ie: your property) is unable to be insured. That’s a key reason for looking at insurance quotes early in your buying process.

If you’re unsure about when to enquire about house insurance – or you have questions about what factors influence the cost of house insurance premium – talk to one of our experienced Insurance Advisers at Max Insurances.

2. Get the right amount of cover

Most house insurance policies in New Zealand work on a “sum insured” basis, which means, in the event of a claim, you’ll be paid out no more than the sum insured amount specified on your policy.

That’s why it’s so important to insure your home for the full cost of a rebuild, along with the full replacement value of your household contents. Keep in mind that these costs will change over time and you may need to update your insurance policy from time to time, to reflect a higher or lower sum insured amount. So booking in a regular review of your insurance policy is a good idea.

Choosing the right sum insured amount is understandably tricky. If you under insure your home, you’ll be left out of pocket should the worst happen and unable to afford to rebuild your home and replace your contents. If you over insure your home, you stand the risk of paying too much for insurance you don’t actually need.

There are several ways to calculate your sum insured amount using online calculators, but many home buyers choose to engage a registered valuer to provide a rebuild estimate that they use to set the sum insured amount. You may find it useful to reach out to an Insurance Adviser like those at Max Insurances who specialise in helping Kiwis arrange insurance NZ wide and can help you determine the right insurance cover and sum insured value.

3. Arrange insurance early

Disaster may strike at any time, which is why it makes sense to have your house insurance in place as soon as the contracts are exchanged. That way your home is never left without any insurance cover, and you’re not stuck covering the bill for something that happened before you moved in. What’s more, if you need property finance to help purchase a house, most lenders will require you to have house insurance in place before settlement date as part of your mortgage approval. We at Max Insurances would be happy to help you arrange your house insurance to ensure a smooth home buying process if you are in the market to buy a property and need help to find the insurance cover that best suits your needs. To know more about the home buying process and home loan pre-approvals, please check out the home buying guide pulled together by our mortgage arm Max Mortgages. Or contact one of our experienced Mortgage Advisers to discuss your needs.

It pays to shop around and compare

Shopping around for house insurance is one of those tasks that is often left until last. But the fact is, it’s one of the most important parts of the home buying process. As probably your largest asset – and one of your most expensive – insuring your home correctly is absolutely vital.

Before you make any decisions about house insurance, talk to an Insurance Adviser like those at Max Insurances, who can help you choose the right amount of cover and help you compare policies so you understand exactly what you’re covered for.

Find this article helpful? Don’t forget to like it or share it on Facebook.

The post 3 Insurance Tips For Home Buyers appeared first on Max Insurances.

1. Car Insurance

Depending on the level of cover you choose, car insurance can protect you against financial loss should you cause or be involved in an accident, cause damage to someone else’s property, or if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.

Although car insurance isn’t mandatory in New Zealand, most car owners choose some form of insurance cover for their vehicle. After all, losing a car through theft or an accident is not only a significant financial loss, it could also impact your earning ability if you’re unable to get to work.

When it comes to car insurance, there are generally three types of insurance cover:

1. Third party car insurance is usually the most affordable car insurance, covering your legal liability should you cause an accident and damage someone else’s car or property. Any damage to your own car or property is not covered though. This type of car insurance is ideal if you have a low-value car and you’re willing to replace or repair the car at minimal cost.
2. Third party, fire and theft is similar to third party car insurance, but it also covers your car for loss or damage by fire or theft.
3. Comprehensive car insurance offers full protection with cover for accidental damage to your car and other cars and any property in an accident that you cause.

Working with an Insurance Adviser like those at Max Insurances, we can help you determine which type of cover would fit your needs best. And we can also offer advice around insurance cover for other types of vehicle, including boat insurance, caravan insurance, motorhome insurance, motorcycle insurance and classic car insurance.

2. House Insurance

As probably your most valuable asset, it makes sense to protect your home with house insurance, to cover events that are out of your control. Like an earthquake, fire, or a burst pipe that could cause extensive damage to your home. Also, most lenders require you to have house insurance in place when you apply for a home loan.

Whether it’s a repair or a rebuild, house insurance protects you from significant financial loss should something happen to your home. It can also cover things like:

1. Temporary accommodation if you’re unable to live in your home while it’s being repaired or rebuilt.
2. Clothes, furniture, electronics and personal items lost because of theft or damage.
3. Your legal liability should you or a family member cause damage to someone else’s property, or if someone is injured in your home.

Insuring your home for the right amount is vital. An experienced Insurance Adviser like those at Max Insurances can help you compare house insurance policies to find the right cover for your needs.

3. Contents Insurance

No matter how careful you are, things can happen that are out of your control, sometimes damaging or destroying your personal possessions. With contents insurance, anything from clothing and jewellery to electronics and furniture can be repaired or replaced if they’re damaged or destroyed by insured events, which may include natural disasters, theft or fire, and accidental damage.

The cost of replacing the things you own can easily run into thousands of dollars. Contents insurance brings peace of mind, knowing that your things can be repaired or replaced without you having to foot the bill.

When it comes to choosing the right contents insurance, it’s a good idea to compare both price and level of insurance cover. An experienced Insurance Adviser like those at Max Insurances can help make this process easier, and ensure you have a thorough understanding of what’s covered and what’s not.

4. Renters or Landlord Insurance

Whether you’re a renter or a landlord, damage to rental property can end up costing you thousands of dollars. Having to pay for the cost of repairs or replacement can leave a significant hole in your budget.

Most landlords have insurance that covers the physical structure of their rental property, along with their own possessions inside the property. However, if you are a tenant, it’s worth bearing in mind that landlord insurance usually covers damage caused by tenants, loss of rental income and landlord liability, but these policies typically don’t cover tenants for any loss or damage to their own personal possessions inside the rental property-which is why renters insurance is useful for renters.

Renters insurance, also called tenants insurance, covers items inside the rental home, including things like mobile phone, electronics, furniture and clothing. It could also extend to personal belongings in the driveway, garage or a car. What’s more, renters insurance can also protect legal liability when it comes to loss, fire or any water damage you may accidentally cause to the property you’re renting.

Finding insurance cover that provides flexibility and good value – to suit renters or landlords-can be a challenge. With expert knowledge in a range of insurance products and access to a wide variety of insurers, Max Insurances can help you find the right insurance cover at the best price.

5. Travel Insurance

Whether you’re travelling near to home or far from home, changes to your travel plans, cancellations or illness can end up costing you in both time and money. When you need to change your holiday plans– or if your plans change because of events that are out of your control– travel insurance lets you get on with enjoying your holiday without worrying about the extra expense and unbudgeted costs that could result because of illness, loss or damage, cancellations or emergencies.

Travel insurance can also be used to pay for:

1. Medical costs due to illness or accident: however, most standard policies may not cover pre-existing conditions and you may need to pay extra to get cover for that condition.
2. Rebooking flights or accommodation when flights are disrupted.
3. Returning home in an emergency situation.
4. Luggage, credit cards or passports that may be lost or stolen while on holiday.
5. Injuries to someone else or damage to someone’s property.

All your insurance needs under one umbrella

When it comes to insurance, there’s a lot to understand. Many insurance policies are written using complicated language and hard to understand terms and conditions. It can be challenging trying to compare insurance cover, pricing and exclusions. That’s why it makes sense to work with an experienced Insurance Adviser. At Max Insurances, we specialise in helping Kiwis arrange insurance NZ wide, and we are also there for you at claim time if need be.

Our team are experts at understanding insurance jargon, and we can help you understand it too. What’s more, we know that your needs are unique, so we work hard to find the right cover to fit your lifestyle and budget. For all your insurance needs, talk to us to get the right advice! Find out more about the types of insurance cover we can help you with, by getting in touch with our team today.

Find this article helpful? Don’t forget to like it or share it on Facebook.

The post 5 Most Popular Types Of Insurance In NZ appeared first on Max Insurances.

Unlike home insurance though, which your mortgage provider will require to protect their security, content insurance is optional. But when disaster strikes or your home is burgled, having content insurance in place can prove beneficial. If you’re considering adding content insurance, be sure to check your policy for these 5 cool things.

1. New for old

These days, most content insurance policies include a “new for old” clause. That means any of your items covered under the policy that are lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair, can be replaced with brand new products of equivalent value, no matter if you’ve owned it for three years or three days.

Certain items – like clothing, bedding, footwear or cosmetics – that don’t have a suitable replacement value, may be excluded from the new for old rule as they have a limited lifespan. The insurance cover on these items is usually reduced to allow for wear and tear, and is generally settled at the market value. That means your insurer pays out based on the cost of the item at its current age, not a brand new one.

When deciding how much cover to buy under your content insurance policy, work out the cost of replacing all you own in your home to ensure you’re covered up to a level that allows you to replace everything in the event of a total loss. As different insurance providers use slightly different methods to calculate new for old, it’s worth checking the fine print carefully, or talking to an Insurance Adviser like those at Max Insurances – so that you understand exactly what type of cover you’re getting and how much you’re covered for.

2. Cover for food spoilage

An appliance breaking down – like your fridge or freezer – is not only a huge inconvenience, it can be costly too. Especially if you’ve just stocked up at the supermarket! It doesn’t take that long for food to spoil when you lose power to your fridge or freezer. In fact, it can take only a few hours.

With content insurance in place, if this happens to you, you can claim the cost of replacing any spoiled food. Some insurers even include reasonable costs to pay for fridge or freezer cleaning so you’re not left with that dirty job!

If your content insurance policy includes cover for food spoilage, and you want to make a food spoilage claim, it’s a good idea to take pictures of the food before you throw it out, and submit receipts of any food you’ve recently bought to go with the claim. The more information you present, the quicker your claim can be processed.

3. Liability for accidental damage

Damaging someone else’s property could mean paying for the damage out of your own pocket if you don’t have insurance cover in place. Like accidentally breaking a window in a flat you’re renting. Or accidentally dropping your flatmates’ laptop. The cost of paying for that damage could easily outweigh the cost of your content insurance.

If you damage someone else’s property, and you’re liable for the cost to repair or replace those items, your content insurance could cover you in this situation. Depending on the type of cover you need, liability for accidental damage may be included in your policy.

4. Cover for just your belongings

Whether you’re flatting with friends or renting your own place, content insurance can help you protect the things that matter most to you without having to cover the whole household.

If you choose content insurance cover, only your contents are covered by your content insurance policy. That means your flatmates and the items you share in a flatting situation are not included in your policy. So you’re not paying a premium for them. An easy way to work out how much content insurance you might need, is to walk through the rooms in the house you live in and list all of the things you own. Then calculate the estimated cost to replace each of those items.

Your NZ Insurance Adviser – Max Insurances – specialises in helping Kiwis arrange Insurance NZ wide and can help you decide which items to include in your content insurance policy so you have peace of mind knowing you’re covered for the cost of repairs or replacement if something unexpected happens to your personal possessions.

5. Protection when you move

Moving home can be stressful. And even more so if your personal possessions are damaged while in transit or storage. When you move home, it’s a good idea to check your content insurance covers your possessions during transit or storage. Many content insurance policies cover sudden or accidental loss or damage to your content while in transit between homes, and some provide cover while your items are in a secure storage facility for a set period of time.

Save on your content insurance

When it comes to content insurance – like all insurances – it pays to compare prices and policy inclusions and exclusions. Working with a NZ Insurance Adviser like those at Max Insurances, means you get access to a wide variety of insurance options. And because not all insurances fit all situations, at Max Insurances, we work hard to match you up with the right insurance cover. Because when things go wrong, there’s nothing worse than trying to navigate your way through complicated insurance policies or tricky terms and conditions. At Max Insurances, we are also there to help you during claim time.

If you think content insurance is something you’d like to add on to your existing home insurance policy, or you’re looking for stand-alone content insurance cover, contact our team of Insurance Advisers today to speak to someone who understands how important insurance cover is.

Find this article helpful? Don’t forget to like it or share it on Facebook.

The post 5 Cool Things Worth Knowing About Contents Insurance appeared first on Max Insurances.