Do you accurately check your Buildings sums each renewal, or do you renew your policy without much thought to it?
The only time you may discover that your buildings are under insured is when you need to make a claim? How much would it really cost to reinstate your business investments?
Five pointers:
- Make sure you know what is included in the insurance policy definitions as this may include a range of ancillary terms such as walls, gates, fences, garages and other outbuildings. These items are frequently forgotton about, but must be taken into consideration when calculating sums insured.
- Include the cost of removing debris, as well as architects’ and surveyors’ fees when calculating the reinstatement figure.
- You may also need to consider other reconstruction expenses such as site decontamination or demolition or a fire-damaged building.
- Keep up-to-date with current building requirements and local planning criteria , as new demands can significantly increase rebuilding costs. For example, owners are increasingly properties with improved thermal efficiency or on-site power generation.
- The best way to obtain an accurate sum insured is by commissioning a regulated surveyor – to carry out a professional valuation every three to five years. That way, you will be less at risk of a claim shortfall.
For further details on this article please contact Richard Gibson on 0116 272 0770
