'Flood Mary' Urges Property Owners to be Flood Ready

The last thing you want is for your home to become flooded. 

After one of the driest summers in recent years, experts are warning of an increased risk of surface water flooding this autumn. 

With the ground hard and dry, heavy or prolonged rainfall may struggle to soak away, meaning communities across the UK could face increased risks of flash flooding through the autumn and winter months.

Property flood resilience expert Mary Long-Dhonau OBE, also known as Flood Mary, is urging homeowners to act and be ‘flood aware and flood ready’: “After such an exceptionally dry summer, many communities are understandably worried about the wetter months ahead," she told That's Home and Household. 

"Dry, hardened ground simply can’t absorb water quickly, so even a short, sharp downpour can lead to surface water flooding. Being prepared is the most important thing you can do, and I therefore encourage homeowners and business owners to create a ‘flood to-do list’ to stay one step ahead.

There is also another problem, floods caused or encouraged by drains that often haven't been cleaned in 40 to 50 years.

Over the past two winters, Mary has spoken to over 2,000 people while visiting newly flooded communities with the Floodmobile and FloodPod. Time and time again, she was asked the same questions: “Where can we find trusted advice on flood resilience products, and where can we buy them?”

In response, Mary has produced a brand-new Making Your Home Flood Ready Directory - a free and impartial practical guide packed with tips, tools and trusted products. From flood doors and barriers to recoverable kitchens and simple, low-cost preparedness tips, the directory helps homeowners understand what’s possible and where to turn for support.

It also includes Mary’s popular Flood To-Do List, which is a quick, step-by-step checklist to follow when flood warnings are issued.

In addition, the directory includes advice from Flood Re, plus information on flood insurance, PFR surveys and even how 'greening up' your garden can help to reduce local surface water risks.

Continues Mary: “Unfortunately, most people don’t research flood resilience measures until flooding happens to them. This directory is designed to be a first stop, giving people the knowledge and confidence to prepare now and be ‘flood ready’.”

Access the new PFR directory here: https://floodmary.com/attention-introducing-the-new-property-flood-resilience-pfr-directory/

Designed as a trusted, independent resource, the directory brings together information on proven products, practical strategies and expert specialists, also making it an invaluable tool for flood risk management teams and local authorities delivering flood alleviation schemes.

www.floodmary.com

Also check out https://www.floodre.co.uk for advice on flood insurance.

Confused.com launches Facebook app that 'burgles' houses

Confused.com has launched a Facebook video app called 'House of Horrors' in order to raise awareness of the importance of home insurance, coinciding with the launch of Confused.com's Nectar campaign, where customers can collect 1,000 Nectar points with every home, pet, van, bike and car insurance policy bought through Confused.com. Customers who buy life insurance will receive 3,000 Nectar points.

The app clearly shows why people need home insurance and customers can collect 1,000 Nectar points by simply buying this product through Confused.com.

The app, which was created by A Social Media Agency, forms part of the on-going digital content marketing strategy of Confused.com and reinforces the importance of having a home insurance policy in place to make sure your possessions are covered against theft.

Once plugged into the video app, Facebook users are presented with a video of a burglar breaking into a home which they quickly realise is in fact their house shown through a Google Maps image of their street that is displayed in the clip. This is made possible as users are required to enter their postcode at the beginning.

The video app takes information from users' profiles, such as photos, and places this around the house in which the burglar appears to be, to make them feel as though it is their own.

In order to demonstrate the need for home insurance, the app includes eerie music and a threatening 'burglar' character that is seen to be handling photos of the app user around the house. A shot of the thief stealing a laptop that displays the users' Facebook profile and one last shot of the character holding a photo frame containing an image of the user completes the video, with the message ‘cover your possessions at Confused.com’.

Speaking about the video app, Mike Hoban, Marketing Director at Confused.com, said: "We're looking to spark conversation with this video app and make people understand the importance of having home insurance. With the current challenging financial times, people may stop insuring their possessions just to save a few pounds, but this is false economy."

Sharon Flaherty, Head of Content at Confused.com continued: "The integration of information from users’ profiles, especially their photos, is bound to make people feel uneasy as though their home really has been broken into. However, this is a situation which is very much a reality given that the British Crime Survey reported a 5% rise in burglary in the 12 months to September 2011."

Laura Edwards, Account Manager at A Social Media Agency, added: "We wanted to make the experience of users having their home broken into as real as possible. Building Google Maps into the start to show their street was a big part of this, immediately putting you on edge."

Known for their success at combining PR, social media and digital marketing, Confused.com continue to launch original ideas, such as their first video-only newsletter sent earlier this month and the recent Happy Birthday Video App. Social media has become a focus for the company in 2012, with exciting plans to focus on growing their audience in coming months.

The 'House of Horrors' app can be found at https://www.facebook.com/confused

Confused.com reveals life insurance as the newest way to say "I love you"

New findings from Confused.com have revealed that taking out life insurance or breakdown cover for a partner is deemed romantic by some couples. Bucking traditional gender stereotypes, it's the men who most want to be protected with a gift of breakdown cover but many couple have not had 'the chat' and are unaware of where important financial documents are kept in their household.

Confused.com asked people in a relationship to tell them how they would feel if their partner took out a life insurance policy to protect them or purchased breakdown cover on their behalf.

Over half (53%) of people in a relationship tell us it would be 'thoughtful' if their partner took out life insurance to protect them: 56% of women versus 50% of men call life insurance a 'thoughtful' gift. 8% of people go as far as to call it 'romantic' if their partner takes out life insurance in their favour while 9% of men who drive compared to 6% of women think that breakdown cover for their car is a 'romantic' gift. 75% of women and 60% of men think breakdown cover is a 'thoughtful' gift.

Not everyone agrees, as 10% of people feel that life insurance is 'morbid', but a further 8% say it would be 'well-overdue' and that their partner should have got around to getting life insurance sooner. Couples tend to be independent when it comes to finances with 47% of men and 39% of women admitting they don’t know where their partner keeps their financial documents and only half of people in relationships saying that their partner knows where they keep details of their own finances.

Matt Lloyd from Confused.com’s Life Insurance team said: "It's heartening that couples realise life insurance is there to protect your loved ones and that making provision in case you die is actually a very caring thing to do.

"Having private finances is up to individuals and keeping your information safe is important but it is advisable to have 'that chat' with your loved ones so that they know which bank or provider to call if the worst happens."

Confused.com want to give you £1000 when you purchase home insurance!

Confused.com is offering £1,000 to spend on household bills to four lucky householders who get a home insurance quote through the price comparison site during March.

The giveaway comes on the back of recent Confused.com research which found that 34 per cent of homeowners admitted they have never switched home insurance provide. This is despite the fact 70 per cent of Confused.com home insurance customers could save money on their home insurance premium.

To motivate people to shop around for a better deal, four lucky customers who get a quote on home insurance in March through Confused.com will be randomly selected to win £1,000 to spend on household bills.

Gareth Kloet, Confused.com Head of Home insurance said: "We wanted to say thank you to those people who are looking to get home insurance through Confused.com, by giving them a chance to win £1,000.

"As we all know, money is a topic of much discussion and many people can't afford to buy those essentials for the home, or even pay some bills. Therefore at Confused.com we wanted to give our customers a helping hand. Not only by saving them money by using our comparison site but by also giving them the chance to win £1,000 to spend on things they need.

"We want people to be aware that they could save hundreds of pounds on their home insurance just by shopping around for a lower quote. 22 per cent of homeowners are under the illusion that switching home insurance is too complicated, but by using a comparison site like Confused.com it means that we do the hard work for them."

FACTFILE:
73.9% could save, 10% of customers saved at least £229.10 against their renewal price (July - Dec 11)

Compare the burglaries...

Tesco Compare has posted a Burglary Infographic on its website to let customers know about the rate of burglaries in different UK areas, and the strategies used by housebreakers.

An innovative approach from Tesco Compare, an Infographic is used to represent information graphically. The new one on the site displays interesting statistics:
Did you know the most likely break-in and burglary victims are single-parent families in urban UK areas?

Alongside revealing UK burglary hotspots, the webpage also displays most sought-after items amongst burglars.

Vikki Macleod, Commercial Director of the comparison website, comments: “Infographics are an innovative way to display statistics by making them easier to understand. We aim to use more imaginative techniques to convey information – and this form of graphic is a great way to achieve this.”

In addition to unveiling most commonly-stolen objects, or when and how burglaries happen, the Infographic may give people an insight into some of the variables insurers base their home insurance premiums on. This, for example, may include the home’s location and its level of security.

What is Tesco Compare?
Launched in 2007, Tesco Compare helps people search for deals from leading car and home insurance providers. But there is more to the comparison site than meets the eye: It can introduce consumers to comparison services for products within money and utilities, and a greater range of insurance products. It also provides links to pet and breakdown insurance providers, and customers can also compare quotes and deals by features according to what is important to them, not just on price.

Summing up, Vikki Macleod, said: “We look forward to continually developing the site by introducing new types of web pages to engage and help customers. By presenting them with interesting information, we intend to encourage greater interaction with Tesco Compare.”

Want to see if you could find a deal on your car and home insurance this winter? Visit www.tescocompare.com

Tesco Compare adds more well-known car and home insurance providers to its portfolio!

Tesco Compare has added an extra six insurance providers to its portfolio, providing customers with new opportunities when searching for car and home insurance deals to save money.

For car insurance, Tesco Compare welcomes Bell, elephant.co.uk and Lloyds, together with Halifax and swiftcover, while the home insurance portfolio now includes RAC in its list of providers.

Vikki Macleod, Commercial Director, said: “We’re delighted to have added six new providers which are well-known in the car and home insurance industry. Our new portfolio means we can offer customers more choice when they are comparing quotes.”

Tesco Compare believes the new providers will complement its existing car and home portfolio which already includes big industry names that provide a wide range of insurance options.

Compare by price and features…

As with the existing providers, customers can also compare car and home insurance quotes by features and benefits according to what is important to them, and not just on price.

There is more to Tesco Compare than meets the eye: It can introduce consumers to comparison services for products within Money and Utilities, and a greater range of insurance products. It also provides links to pet and breakdown insurance providers and, more recently, the ability to compare health insurance and telecoms.

Vikki Macleod added: “We look forward to working with the new providers and establishing a successful working relationship with them. By offering new providers to customers we can deliver more choice which, ultimately, we hope can save them money.”

Want to see if you could find a deal on your car and home insurance this autumn? Visit www.tescocompare.com

No boiler cover to save money? Please think again!

The Indian summer is well and truly over and as the British public resign themselves to another long winter season, many households will inevitably be reaching for the thermostat to stave off the cold weather.

Jon Ingram, product director at Energychoices.co.uk commented: "UK consumers everywhere are tightening their belts with many households waiting until the last possible moment before switching on the central heating in order to save money. However, many do not consider what will happen if their boiler breaks down, needing costly repairs or replacing altogether.

"If your boiler fails it can be frighteningly expensive to replace – an extra outlay that consumers can ill afford in the run up to Christmas. Furthermore, if the money to pay for repairs is not immediately available then you can be left without basic amenities like hot water and heat fro your home for some time.

"Boiler cover can offer homeowners the peace of mind that their central heating system will be repaired swiftly without having to fork out a huge amount. So if your boiler is looking a bit long in the tooth, we would urge you to compare boiler insurance deals and get covered.

"Remember - you are not obliged to take out cover from your energy supplier and whilst there are some expensive insurance plans out there, with a little research you needn't pay over the odds."

Energychoices.co.uk's top tips for choosing boiler cover:

1. Do you actually need cover? – If you are only renting, it is your landlord's responsibility to take out boiler insurance and have it repaired if it breaks down. If you own your own home and already have buildings and contents insurance, it is worth checking if your boiler is already covered, or if at least part of the cost is already met in the event of any emergency repairs.

2. Had a boiler fitted recently? – If your boiler is quite new, it may already be covered under warranty. Check the paperwork to see how long you are covered for, otherwise you may end up paying out for boiler cover that you simply don't need.

3. Check the age of your boiler – Most boiler plans exclude models that are over 15 years old, and any models older than 7 years may have to undergo an inspection. Remember to check that your particular brand is covered as some of the older makes are sometimes excluded.

4. 'Boiler only' or 'full heating system' cover? – The cheapest boiler insurance policies only cover the cost of the boiler and controls but if you are willing to shell out a little extra you can ensure cover for your entire heating system, including radiators and pipes.

5. What is considered an emergency? – Some insurance providers don't think that a lack of hot water constitutes an emergency, whilst others will only rush to fix your boiler in the winter months. Make sure you know exactly what your boiler insurance provider considers an emergency so you aren't left waiting around in the cold for them to get around to fixing your boiler.

6. No claims period – Most new plans have a no-claims period to prevent people signing up on the day their boiler breaks down and then making a claim. The majority of no-claims periods last 30 days so bear in mind that you won't be covered during that time.

7. Compare suppliers – It is essential to shop around for a policy using a reliable price comparison site as there is a huge variation in prices and features for boiler insurance. Remember: the cheapest cover may not necessarily be the best value so make sure you read the small print BEFORE you sign up.

FACTFILE:
Energychoices.co.uk was launched in 2005 and offers comprehensive and impartial advice on home energy services.

At Energychoices.co.uk you can research and compare offers on gas and electricity suppliers and learn how to get more from your existing energy supplier.

They also offer advice on a range of boiler, heating, electrical and draining cover options and everything from choosing the right boiler to how to get your boiler serviced.

Whatever your needs, Energychoices.co.uk offers a fair and unbiased view of the market, looking at long term value and price savings on gas and electricity bills above the marketing hype.

Confused.com reveals that overvaluing possessions could lead to a higher insurance premium

Confused.com has pointed out  that valuing contents incorrectly could see customers paying more than they need to for home insurance.

According to research by Confused.com, in 2011, the average amount people are valuing their home contents at is £50,000 with the most expensive value being £5 million. Some of the most unusual items insured in 2011 included an astronaut autograph collection, a hot tub and a signed 1966 world cup final programme.

But Confused.com are warning that although these possessions may mean the world to their owners, getting them valued correctly is essential as people may be paying more for their home insurance than they should be.

With the economy taking a turn for the worst, Confused.com is urging homeowners to be money savvy and remember that home insurers will only pay out the market value of an item, so it is false economy to insure your contents for more than they are worth.

Mark Gabriel, Head of Home Insurance at Confused.com said: "People always ask whether they need home insurance. Home insurance gives peace of mind should the worst happen. Everyone places a different value on their possessions but getting the right amount of cover is important.

"Do your research when valuing your home contents as you want to make sure you are not over-estimating and paying a larger insurance premium than you should be. On the flip side, one of the most common problems is under-insurance for contents because many people do not realise the value of possessions.

"There is so much competition when it comes to home insurance providers on the market today, so use a price comparison website to ensure that you get a great deal and get your worldly possessions insured, no matter how unusual they are."

Better choice for customers as Tesco Compare and Tesco Bank work closer together

Tesco Compare is pleased to be working with Tesco Bank to provide customers with even greater choice and transparency when they compare car insurance or home insurance quotes.

The new arrangement will give customers who have come to Tesco Bank for a car or home insurance quote the option to compare it against a wide range of providers through the price comparison site. Tesco Compare will also be able to provide further quote options for customers who the bank cannot cover due to their risk profile.

How does it work?

Within the Tesco Bank quote process, customers have the option to visit Tesco Compare at various stages when applying for car or home insurance. Importantly, they do not have to enter all their information on Tesco Compare; the system remembers their details, saving them time and hassle of starting the process from scratch.

Tesco Compare Commercial Director, Vikki Macleod, said: “We are delighted to be working with Tesco Bank so we can give customers more choice when searching for insurance. Both companies strive to do the best for customers. This co-operation demonstrates our transparency and determination to achieve a great deal for customers.”

Launched in 2007, Tesco Compare can find deals for customers from leading car and home insurance providers; it can also introduce people to many comparison services for products, including insurance, money, utilities and telecoms.

Tesco Compare intends this autumn to continue to help people search for deals so they could save money. In addition to comparing by price, customers can compare by features and benefits through the quick and simple comparison service.

Summing up, Vikki Macleod, said: “We are sure the new arrangement will embody the Tesco Bank spirit of treating customers fairly. During these tough financial times we appreciate that Every Little Helps can make a difference when finding deals on insurance and other financial products.”

Why not search to see if you could save money this autumn? Visit the Tesco Compare website