Renewal season

Coverage review slots for November and December renewals are open now.

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Independent agency · Personal & small business

Cover that still fits after life changes

We quote across several carriers, then walk you through the limits, the deductibles and the exclusions in plain language — before anything is signed.

Request a coverage review See what we cover
A row of family homes on a quiet street lit by low early-morning sunlight
How we work

One conversation, one written comparison. You see which carrier covers what, where the gaps sit, and what each option actually costs at renewal.

What we cover

Four lanes, and the gaps inside them

Most disputes come from what a policy leaves out, not what it includes. Here is how each lane usually works so you know which questions to ask us.

Home & property

Buildings, contents and the liability that comes with owning a roof.

Typically includes
  • Fire, storm and escape of water
  • Theft and attempted forced entry
  • Contents at replacement cost
  • Alternative accommodation after a loss
Usually not included
  • Gradual damp, wear and settlement
  • Flood, unless separately added
  • High-value items above the single-item cap

Motor

Everyday drivers, second cars and occasional named users.

Typically includes
  • Third-party injury and property damage
  • Collision and theft of the vehicle
  • Windscreen cover with its own excess
  • Courtesy vehicle while yours is repaired
Usually not included
  • Business use unless declared
  • Unapproved modifications
  • Personal belongings left in the car

Life & income

Term cover and income protection sized to the years your household still needs funding.

Typically includes
  • Level or decreasing term cover
  • Income protection after a waiting period
  • Critical-illness cover as an add-on
  • Cover written in trust where suitable
Usually not included
  • Conditions not disclosed at application
  • Hazardous pursuits left undeclared
  • Claims inside the initial exclusion window

Small business

Trades, studios and small premises that cannot absorb a bad month.

Typically includes
  • Public and products liability
  • Tools, stock and business equipment
  • Business interruption for lost trading
  • Professional indemnity for advice work
Usually not included
  • Work outside your stated trade description
  • Subcontractors without their own cover
  • Tools left in an unattended vehicle overnight

Choosing your limits

Three numbers decide your premium

Before comparing quotes, settle these three figures. Two policies at the same price can differ enormously once you read them against each other.

01

Rebuild cost, not market value

Buildings cover should reflect what it costs to rebuild your home today — materials, labour, debris removal and professional fees. Market value includes land, so using it usually leaves you underinsured, and an underinsured claim can be reduced proportionally.

02

Liability against what you own

Liability limits protect the assets a judgment could reach: savings, equity, future earnings. If your standard limit sits well below that figure, an umbrella layer is normally cheaper than raising each policy separately.

03

The deductible you can pay this month

A higher excess lowers the premium, but only helps if you could actually pay it tomorrow without borrowing. We set the excess against your cash buffer, not against the cheapest quote on the page.

Policy documents and a pen spread across a desk beside a calculator during a coverage review
Every comparison we send lists limits, excesses and exclusions side by side, in the same order, so the differences are readable at a glance.

If you need to claim

What actually happens, in order

Knowing the sequence in advance is most of the difference between a slow claim and a straightforward one.

Step one

First notice

Tell us what happened as soon as it is safe to. We open the claim with the carrier the same working day and confirm your reference in writing.

Step two

Evidence

Photograph the damage before clearing up, keep receipts for emergency repairs, and list affected items. Carriers pay faster on documented losses.

Step three

Assessment

An adjuster reviews the file and may inspect. We attend where it helps, and we answer their queries so you are not translating policy wording alone.

Step four

Settlement

You receive the offer with the deductions explained. If the reasoning looks wrong, we put the challenge in writing before you accept anything.

Keep your policy number and our reference somewhere you can reach without your filing cabinet — a note in your phone is enough. Emergency repairs to prevent further damage are normally allowed before assessment; discretionary improvements are not.

Annual review

The year changed. Did the policy?

Cover drifts out of date quietly. Work down this list before your renewal date — anything you tick is worth a conversation.

An insurance agent and two clients reading through policy paperwork together at a table
Reviews take about forty minutes and can be done by video call or in the office.
  • 01You moved, renovated or extendedRebuild cost and room count both change the buildings figure.
  • 02Someone joined or left the householdNew drivers, a partner, a grown child at another address — all affect who is covered.
  • 03You bought something worth insuring separatelyJewellery, instruments, bikes and cameras often sit above the single-item cap.
  • 04Your income or mortgage changedTerm cover and income protection should track the liability they exist to clear.
  • 05You started working from home or tradingDomestic policies rarely cover business stock, clients visiting, or equipment in use.
  • 06You have not read a renewal notice in two yearsPremiums and limits both move at renewal, usually without a phone call.

Questions

Asked before signing

What does independent mean in practice?
We are not tied to one insurer, so we quote the same requirement across several carriers and show you the comparison. If your current policy is already the better deal, we will tell you that and leave it alone.
Why did my premium rise when I made no claim?
Pricing follows the whole risk pool, not only your file: repair and rebuild costs, claim frequency in your area, and vehicle or property age all feed in. Introductory discounts also expire at first renewal. It is worth re-quoting rather than assuming the increase is fixed.
What happens if I miss a payment?
Most carriers allow a short grace period, then cancel from a stated date. A lapse is worse than it looks — you are uninsured in the gap, and the lapse itself can raise future pricing. If money is tight, tell us before the due date; adjusting the excess or payment frequency is usually possible.
I rent. Do I need anything?
Your landlord insures the building, not your belongings or your liability. Contents cover for renters is inexpensive and normally includes accidental damage to the property you are renting, which is the claim tenants actually make.
Is umbrella liability cover worth it?
It sits above your home and motor liability limits and is usually the cheapest way to add meaningful protection. It makes sense once your assets and future earnings exceed the liability limits already in place — we work that number out with you rather than guessing.
Can I switch mid-term?
Usually yes. The current insurer refunds the unused portion, sometimes minus a cancellation fee, so the move is worth it when the saving clears that fee. We arrange the new policy to start the same day the old one ends so there is never an uncovered hour.

Request a review

Send us the basics

Tell us what you hold today and when it renews. We come back with the questions worth answering and, where it helps, a written comparison.

Review hours
Monday to Thursday, morning and afternoon slots. Video call or in the office.
Response time
We reply within one working day, and we say so plainly when a review would not save you anything.
What to have ready
Your current renewal notice, if you can find it. If not, we can work from the policy type alone.

We use your details to prepare this review and nothing else. No quote is binding until you have the policy wording in writing.