A freak tornado struck Birmingham on the 28th of July and caused damage to dozens of houses as well as ripping up trees. It is thought that the costs to repair the destruction caused by the 130 mph winds will run in to millions of pounds.

The recent events should start alarm bells ringing to ensure that you have adequate home insurance. It is unlikely that homeowners would have enough money readily available to pay for the repairs to their home out of their own pockets. This is why home insurance is so important. Home insurance is designed to provide a financial safeguard should your valuable asset be struck by disaster or if your possessions are damaged or stolen.

Insurers have said that residents would not face any difficulties claiming for damage to their homes, but gave warning that motorists who have only third-party, fire and theft cover for their cars would be unlikely to receive compensation. Car owners who have fully comprehensive car insurance policies should also be able to make claims for any damage to their vehicles.

It is impossible to prevent forces such as a tornado from striking your home but you can make sure that you have adequate levels of insurance cover. The following points should enable you to make sure that you will be fully covered if a disaster of any nature should strike.

1. Keep your sum insured up to date: This is the maximum the insurer will pay out in the event of a claim. The correct level of buildings cover should cover the full rebuild cost of the property and not the market value. Contents insurance should include all the possession inside your home. Remember to update your policy with any new purchases or home improvements.
2. 'New for Old' cover: This is also known as 'replacement as new' cover and means the insurer will pay out for the price it would cost to buy the items new. Most insurers will not provide 'new for old' cover on clothing, household linen, bicycles and audio/visual and computer equipment over five years old that has been damaged accidentally. For these items, a deduction is made for wear, tear and depreciation. In addition, deductions are made if items are not replaced or the sum insured does not represent the full cost of replacing the property insured.
3. Check the single item limit: Most insurers will pay up to a maximum of £1,500 but this limit does vary dependent on the insurer. Always inform your insurance company of any expensive individual items you wish to include on your policy. It may be necessary to pay a higher premium or take out a separate policy. These options are often worth it to protect your valuable possessions.
4. Make your property secure: Insurers tend to favour mortice deadlocks and rimlocks that conform to British Standard 3621 and a NACOSS approved alarms. Make sure that you always lock doors and windows and set the alarm if you are leaving your property for any period of time.
5. Flooding and Subsistence: If you live in an area prone to flooding and do not have house insurance it is very important to inform your insurer. When you take out a policy, failure to tell the insurer the truth about your property and the area may result in the claim being rejected.

Living in a flood zone will often mean that you have limited house insurance options available. The best advice from the industry is stay with your current insurer and not to be drawn by the lure of different prices or schemes from other insurers.

It is rare to encounter a problem (such as flooding) with house insurance as an existing owner, the hitch comes when a house is sold and the new owner tries to secure home and contents insurance. To prevent being caught in this trap, ask the current owner of any problems they encountered when insuring the property. If the existing owners have experienced problems, find out the name of the insurance company they used to ensure the most appropriate cover.
6. Shop Around: It pays to shop around when looking for home insurance as different insurers specialise in different risks. One insurer will often offer a more suitable product at a more competitive price. Use the HouseWizard™ to find the most suitable insurers for you and your home.
7. Be aware of the policy exclusions: Remember that the cheapest quote does not always offer the most comprehensive insurance. Always make sure you have checked the policy terms and conditions and exclusion to make sure that you are happy with the level of cover provided. Failure to have the correct level of cover could result in the insurer refusing to pay out in the event of a claim.

Insurers tend not to cover you for any of the following:

1. Any damage as a result of general wear and tear of property or contents.
2. If you fail to inform your insurer of any changes that may effect your policy such as:
- The people insured.
- The level of insurance you require.
- If you are going to leave your property empty for a long period (the number of days a property can be left empty varies across different insurers).
- If you need to add any high value items (jewellery, antiques, paintings).
3. If you fail to keep reasonable care of your policy.
4. If you do not have sufficient high quality security devices in place such as alarms, window door locks.
5. If your home is in an area which suffers from severe flooding or subsistence.
6. Any damage or loss occurring before cover commences.
7. Any expense, loss or damage to property as a result of
- Radioactive contamination.
- War, invasion, civil war, rebellion, military power.
- Terrorism.
- Pressure waves from aircraft.
- Pollution or contamination.
8. Any deliberate acts caused by you, your family or any other person lawfully in your home.

Making a claim:
In the event of damage contact your insurer immediately quoting your policy number to register your claim and start the claim process rolling. If temporary repairs are necessary let your insurer know as they may wish to inspect the damage before permanent repairs are carried out. Always make sure that you keep a record of damage and keep a copy of correspondence with your insurer. It is always a good idea to take photographs of any damage to your property to show the insurance company.