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Are You Properly Insured?

5 Things Worth Checking

It’s easy to renew an insurance policy each year without stopping to check whether your cover still reflects your circumstances.

Whether you’re a homeowner, landlord or business owner, here are five things worth reviewing:

Have your property values or rebuild costs changed?
Has your business grown or changed what it does?
Have you bought new equipment, vehicles or other assets?
Are your sums insured still accurate?
Do you understand the main exclusions and conditions of your policy?

Insurance isn’t just about having a policy in place, it’s about having the right level of cover when you need it.

At Grove Insurance Services (Derbyshire) Ltd, we believe insurance should be explained clearly, so you can make an informed decision about your cover.

Based in Buxton, we’re here to help local customers review their insurance and understand their options.

Why Use an Insurance Broker?

With so many insurance options available online, you might wonder why you would use an insurance broker.

The answer is simple: insurance can be complicated.

A broker can help you understand what different policies actually cover, identify areas you may need to consider and help you compare suitable options.

For businesses in particular, insurance isn't always a one-size-fits-all purchase. Your industry, premises, employees, equipment and activities can all affect the cover you need.

At Grove Insurance Services (Derbyshire) Ltd, we're proud to provide a personal service from our base in Buxton, Derbyshire.

If you’d rather speak to someone who understands insurance than navigate everything yourself online, we're here to help.

Landlord Insurance:

What Should You Consider?

Being a landlord involves more than collecting rent and looking after a property. Having appropriate insurance in place is an important part of protecting your investment.

Landlord insurance can differ from standard home insurance, and the right cover will depend on factors such as the type of property, how it is occupied and your individual circumstances.

It’s also important to consider whether the information held by your insurer is still accurate, particularly if circumstances surrounding the property have changed.

If you’re a landlord in Buxton or across Derbyshire and you're unsure whether your current insurance still meets your needs, speaking to an insurance broker can help you understand your options.

Grove Insurance Services (Derbyshire) Ltd is here to make insurance easier to understand.

70% of UK Properties are underinsured!

Underinsurance Remains Widespread - Are You Properly Protected?

Recent reports suggest that UK underinsurance has dropped to its lowest level in six years. However, when it comes to property, the picture is far less reassuring. Insurance valuation specialists RebuildCostAssessment reveal that 76% of UK buildings remain underinsured, with affected owners covered for only 63% of their true rebuild cost on average. This shortfall can leave homeowners and businesses exposed to significant financial risk if disaster strikes.

How to Make Sure You’re Properly Protected

Keeping your insurance accurate and up to date is essential. Here’s how to reduce the risk of underinsurance and ensure your assets are fully covered:

1. Update your property valuation regularly
Rebuild costs rise annually due to inflation in materials, labour, and regulations. An up-to-date professional valuation helps ensure your building sum insured reflects true reinstatement costs.

2. Keep receipts for valuable purchases
Store paper or digital copies of receipts for high-value items. These will be crucial if you ever need to make a claim.

3. Maintain a home contents inventory
List your belongings and update your contents cover as needed to reflect their value.

4. Photograph valuable items
Clear, date-stamped images showing the item’s condition can strengthen any future claim.

5. Create a quick video walkthrough
A short recorded tour of your home provides an easy visual record of your possessions.

6. Check single-item limits
Most standard contents policies cap individual item claims at around £1,000. Jewellery, heirlooms, antiques, and other high-value items may need to be listed separately or insured under a specialist policy.

Underinsurance may be improving overall, but the risks remain real. Taking a few proactive steps today can help ensure you’re properly protected when it matters most.

What Happens When You Need to Make an Insurance Claim?

Most of us hope we’ll never need to make an insurance claim.

But when something does go wrong, knowing what to do can make a stressful situation a little easier.

Generally, you should:

Make sure everyone is safe and take any necessary emergency action.
Contact the relevant authorities where appropriate.
Keep records, photographs and other evidence of the incident.
Check your policy and notify your insurer as soon as reasonably possible.
Keep receipts and records of any emergency work or expenses.

The exact process will depend on your policy and the circumstances of the claim.

At Grove Insurance Services (Derbyshire) Ltd, we understand that insurance can feel complicated, particularly when you’re dealing with an unexpected problem.

That's why having someone you can talk to can be valuable.