A First Ireland

First Ireland - Home Insurance

At First Ireland Insurance Brokers, our brokers can arrange tailor made packages to suit your needs as a home owner.  We offer a range of covers, including additional add ons that can be hugely beneficial to you, the home owner, including:

• New for old cover
• Accidental damage insurance to home and contents
• Cover for business equipment in the home
• Cover for holiday homes, rented property and mobile homes

Call us today to see how we can save you money on your home insurance!

Home Insurance Tips

• Insure your home for the reinstatement value, not the market value
• The building value should include the home and any other structural extras such as garages etc
• If anything outside the home needs to be insured, invest in All Risk insurance as well as normal cover
• Mention valuable items inside the home on your proposal form
• Smoke alarms, burgler alarms etc can reduce the cost of your insurance
• You might be able to get discount if your home and car insurance are with the same underwriter
• Inform your broker if your property is unoccupied or occupancy has changed as this effects your insurance

Keep Your Head Above Water

We are experiencing increased incidents of flash flooding and prolonged rainfall,which can cause major damage to an unprotected home.

1. Visually check the roof of your home for any damage and or missing slates and flashings. Flat roofs are particularly vulnerable to damage.

2. With roof coverings where you have any concern, have them inspected by a professional and arrange for repairs or replacement where necessary.

3. Keep all gutters, drainpipes and gullies around your home clear of leaves and other debris. This will prevent any water build-up allowing water to flow away quickly.

 4. If you live in a flood prone area you need to;

• Check what contingency plans your Local Authority has in place.
• Be aware of any local flood warnings and evacuation procedures.
• Get to know the contact numbers of your local emergency services.
• Consider providing flood barriers to all ground floor openings including below ground floor air vents. It may be necessary to fit barriers across gateways or openings in boundary walls.
• Consider fitting non return valves on underground drains & sewers.
• Have access to sandbags for emergency use.
• Consider installing intervening walls or banks.

5. If flooding is inevitable, there are basic steps you can take (but only if it is safe for you to do so)

• Move possessions to an upstairs location or safely stack them.
• Unplug electrical appliances and turn off electrical power.
• Turn off water supplies at the mains.

6. When water subsides;

• Remove and dry out any damaged floor coverings and possessions.
• Proceed with any emergency repairs that help minimise damage.
• Have the electrical system checked for safety

Beat Those Freezing Conditions

Winter inevitably delivers bouts of severe frost.You can avoid the threat of damage that frost brings to your home.

1. Keep your home well heated during cold spells.

2. Insulate all pipework on the cold side of the insulation within your attic.

3. Insulate the top and sides of your water tank in the attic leaving the area

underneath uninsulated and extend the insulation from the side of the tank to the ceiling insulation.

4. Find out where the stop valve is so that you know where and how to turn off the water in case of a burst pipe.

5. If you’re going to be away from home at any time during the winter; 

• Leave the heating on at a low temperature or alternatively make use of a thermostat to ensure that the temperature is maintained above 4ºc
• Open the attic door to let heat circulate.
• Be sure to ask a neighbour/friend to visit your house daily.

6. Make sure that all overflow pipes (including water cisterns etc.) are adequate and discharge to a drain system.