Switching Home Insurance In Ireland: A Quick 5-Step Guide
Whether it’s recycling plastic bottles or saving supermarket vouchers, we’re all making every euro count these days. But did you know there’s a much easier way to make real savings for your household?
Many of us take out home insurance for the first time when we get a mortgage or move into a new house. That often means we stay with the same provider for years, not noticing if the premiums increased, the protection has decreased or if the policy even still meets our needs. In fact, according to the Central Bank of Ireland, only around one in four consumers switch insurance providers on renewal.
But it’s actually very easy to move to a new insurer, and you can do it anytime, anywhere. You don’t have to wait for your renewal period or when you change your mortgage or rental arrangement. Although be aware, if you switch your home insurance cover mid policy you may be subject to a cancellation fee with your current insurance provider.
Here at RedClick, we make switching easy, with five simple steps to getting great value home insurance in Ireland. Let’s dive in.
1. Review your current policy
The first step in the process is to take a look at your existing policy details. Your insurer probably sent you a policy document on renewal, but most companies will also provide online access to everything you need.
Check to see your monthly or annual cost and what you’re insured for. Whether you’re a home owner, a renter, a landlord or have a holiday home, we have cover to suit you.
You should also make sure you’re not underinsured. Over the last few years, building costs have been rising steadily, which means your policy’s rebuild or reinstatement value of your house might not be accurate.
The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) has a very helpful calculator that can help you estimate the current cost of rebuilding your house. If your insurance policy has a figure less than this cost, you could be underinsured, potentially leaving you paying the difference should the worst happen.
2. Shop around for alternative policies
If you signed up to an insurance provider that your mortgage advisor recommended, don’t worry, that’s perfectly normal. But you should consider switching to an alternative company, as you might be overpaying for your current policy.
It’s a good idea to draw up a shortlist of three, four or even five providers you might move to.
Look for established, recognised insurers who have a long history in the industry — you need to trust that your provider will be able to cover your claim. For example, RedClick is part of the Generali Group, founded all the way back in 1831. Our group operates in 50 countries, taking care of more than 70 million customers worldwide. Our vast experience helps us design robust policies that deliver real care as well as cover.
We’re also proud to have a strong Trustpilot score, with thousands of verified independent reviewers writing about our “friendly agents”, “exceptional service”, and “the most competitive pricing.” There’s nothing like the peace of mind of knowing that if the worst happens, you can trust us to give you the help you need.
3. Compare like for like
Once you have a clear idea of what you’re paying for, it’s time to compare home insurance providers.
The best home insurance policy is the one that suits you — that means the right combination of price and protection. At RedClick, we can help you find a policy that suits you.
However, you should look at more than just the cost when reviewing home insurance policies. It’s a really good idea to also pay close attention to:
- Exclusions: Some insurance policies will exclude accidental damage, flooding, or certain valuables like bikes.
- Excesses: This is the first amount you must pay, in the event of a claim before the insurer pays the rest (sometimes a low premium might mean a high excess).
- Additional benefits: Some insurance companies offer extras like lock replacement services and 24-hour Emergency Home Repair.
For example, at RedClick, we offer affordable buildings and contents cover that comes with a range of added benefits, giving you extra comfort if you find yourself dealing with a problem with your home. These include:
- Emergency Home Repair (and a 24-hour helpline)
- Loss of rent or cost of alternative accommodation
- Fire brigade charges
Take a note of the features or benefits that matter to you and make sure you factor them into your comparison.
4. Get an up-to-date quote
Whether you need first-time buyers home insurance, buildings &/or contents home insurance, landlord home insurance, renters home insurance or holiday home insurance, you can speak to an advisor or get an online quote from most insurers.
You’ll have to enter your address or Eircode and provide details such as:
- The property’s rebuild value
- The type of building
- When it was built
- How many bedrooms & bathrooms it has
- How many smoke detectors are fitted
- Is there a burglar alarm installed on the property
- Is any part of the roof flat
- The type of heating
You'll also need to share some information about the area that the property is located in, including any history of subsidence or flooding.
When insuring your home contents it’s important to include the total value of all items, including high value possessions. Items that remain in the home and are valued over €3,000 such as paintings, or antiques, should be specifically listed in your policy. Additionally, valuables over €3,000 that are typically taken out of the home such as jewellery, golf clubs or cameras should be individually named in the policy, to ensure they are adequately covered.
The whole process should only take about 5-10 minutes and you’ll usually get a quote instantly, giving you an estimated cost and cover breakdown to help you make a decision.
5. Make the move
When you’ve decided to switch, RedClick makes it super easy. Once you’ve got a quote, you can sign up online or call our team on 015534040.
We’ll process your information, issue you with a new policy, and send you all the paperwork you need for complete protection and peace of mind too.
It’s also important to note that if you’re a homeowner with a mortgage, you'll need to provide an Indemnity Letter to your mortgage provider as proof of home insurance cover when switching providers. Just let the agent know you need one and confirm your mortgage providers name and address so we can include it in your new Home Insurance policy pack.
When you switch to RedClick, you’re joining 187,000 satisfied customers who choose to renew with us. That’s not a surprise when 97% of our claims are solved with the help of a dedicated Claims Buddy that’ll assist you from start to finish. Plus, we have a customer rewards programme, RedClick Club, that offers customers the opportunity to win fun prizes and enter competitions.
If you’d like to talk to us about switching your home insurance, just reach out to our dedicated team either through our online Live Chat or call us on 015534040. We have more than 400 employees in Ireland who are here to help. Or you could get started straight away by getting a quote — check our current offers online.
What are you waiting for? Switch to start saving today!
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