Clare's consumer finance advice

Every week Clare Francis, financial journalist and editor of comparison site moneysupermarket.com will offer tips and advice on all things money-related to help iVillagers make the most of their hard-earned cash. From energy bills to car insurance; credit cards to children’s savings accounts; mortgages to discount vouchers Clare will show you how to make sure you’re getting the best deal

Get your home ready for winter

By Clare Francis on 19 Sep 2011 No comments

The weather is definitely on the turn so now’s the time to make sure your home is ready for the elements.

Last winter 35% of all home insurance claims were weather-related according to MoneySupermarket’s Home Insurance Monitor but many problems can be avoided if you give your home a once-over in preparation for low temperatures, wind, rain and possibly snow.

What’s more, this winter, the cost of keeping your home warm will be significantly higher than last year due to gas and electricity price hikes.

I was one of the unfortunate people to be affected by a burst pipe last Christmas, which was made worse by the fact I was on holiday at the time. That experience has certainly made me more aware of the perils of winter weather but rather than wait for something to go wrong in your home before you change your habits, do it now so you’ll hopefully avoid a disaster and surprise costs altogether.

Top tips

Check you’re on the best energy deal

The vast majority of households will be paying more for their gas and electricity this winter. The six major energy firms, British Gas, E.ON, EDF Energy, npower, Scottish Power and Scottish & Southern Energy have all put prices up. These increases will add around £200 a year to the average bill. However, if you haven’t switched your energy provider within the last 12 months, do so now.

It only takes about five minutes if you use an online comparison tool and could save you considerable amount of money.

Consider home emergency cover

The cost of repairing home emergencies such as a broken boiler or blocked drain are not only unexpected, but they can also be really expensive.

It’s advisable to have your boiler serviced once a year to make sure it’s working well – coming home to a freezing cold home or jumping into an ice cold shower in the morning isn’t the nicest experience. The cost of a service will depend on the boiler and whereabouts you live. However, you’ll probably pay between £100 and £150.

An alternative is boiler or home emergency cover. Prices start from about £10 a month up to about £25 – the cheapest policies offer lower levels of cover but you will get a service each year and a 24-hour emergency helpline. The more comprehensive policies include things like accidental damage cover, repairs to your boiler, controls, radiators, internal pipes and even drains.

Give your home a once-over

Check for loose tiles: cracked or broken tiles on your roof can not only result in leaks but they can also be blown off in high wind, which may cause damage to your property or someone else’s.

Clear drains and guttering: make sure your drains and guttering are free from leaves and other debris. It’s really important to make sure they’re not blocked otherwise rain water or melting snow can’t drain away easily and result in damp or leaks in your home. Also, the weight of sediment and leaf build-up could damage your guttering – this can be costly to repair but is easily avoidable.

Get pruning: If you have any loose or low-hanging branches in your garden cut-them back otherwise they could cause damage in the event of high winds.

Secure your garden: It’s time to put the garden furniture away, check fencing panels are securely fastened in place and that locks on garden gates work to protect against damage in high winds.