Tips and guides

Buying a property is exciting, but buying a new build home can be even more special. You’ll be the first to turn it from a house into a home, and create long-lasting memories within its walls. Nothing beats stepping inside on completion day and celebrating, as you go from room to room, taking it all in. But it’s vital you still consider the important stuff – home insurance, in particular.

If you used a mortgage to buy your home, your provider will have insisted you have buildings insurance before transferring any money to your solicitor. However, this alone is just one of two types of home insurance, and to make sure you’re fully protected, you’ll need both buildings insurance and contents insurance if you own your own home.

When it comes to protecting your home from burglars, having a good home security system can help. If your home doesn’t currently have an alarm and you don’t have any security measures in place, you could be up to five times more likely to be targeted.

If you’re trying to choose between getting a brand-new, a nearly new or a used car, there are lots of things to consider. In this guide, we’ll help you choose the option that suits you best.

If your car is due its MOT check soon, you might want to give it the once-over yourself to see if you can spot anything that needs fixing. Rectifying any issues before having your car MOT checked could increase your car’s chances of passing the test, saving you time and money in the long term.

If you own a car, but don’t want to insure it because you aren’t going to be able to drive it for an extended period of time, you need a statutory off-road notification (SORN). Plus, you can’t let your insurance policy lapse or you’ll be breaking the law and will be fined.