Brits forgetting to insure the little things

Householders who have spent years accumulating their possessions - furniture, ornaments, music and audio-visual collections, with sports equipment, gardening and workmens' DIY tools - often underestimate the full value of all of their home contents if there was a fire, flood or theft which forced them to start again.

Legal and General insurance company has found that people account for large, valuable, items - such as paintings, jewellery and antiques - but fail to think of items which are stored in drawers, cupboards, garages and cellars or attics. They have designed a computer programme which gives people the chance to mentally walk-through their house and to audit what is in each room.

Garry Skelton, marketing director for Legal & General's general insurance business said: "Many of us seem to be seriously under-estimating the value of the contents of our homes.

"Obviously every home is different and so the online calculator has the flexibility for customers to enter amounts that are appropriate to them and so help to provide a more personalised valuation. We remember to include major items like a sofa, bed or TV and ‘high risk' items - such as jewellery and art - but it is surprising how quickly the value of the less obvious items, such as clothes, bedding, gadgets or a CD collection for example, can add up."

For people who would like to try the programme to tot up the value of their belongings, log on to legalandgeneral.com/contentscalculator

04/06/2008 12:18:20