Christmas Means You Should Think About Home Insurance

With Christmas literally weeks away, and the season in full swing, you’ve probably been busy buying gifts and getting ready for the festivities.

But have you reviewed your home insurance?

After all the time you’ve spent at home in the last two years, this holiday season may not feel any different. But statistically, you’re far more likely to experience an accident at home, or be the victim of a robbery at Christmas, than at any other time of the year. While Covid-19 has complicated the festivities in recent years, in Hong Kong Christmas is starting to feel slightly more “normal” once again.

Despite this, the risks commonly encountered around the holiday remain. So, with Christmas right around the corner, there is no better time than now to talk about Home Insurance.

Lights Often Bring Fire

Some of the most common risks associated with the Christmas season are those of Fires and Electrical hazards. This isn’t surprising as putting up a Christmas tree and holiday lights is a fixture of the season, even in Hong Kong.

From Candles, Decorations, Sent Diffusers, and Menorahs, to the massive fire risk found in Christmas trees, this season (like no other) presents a significant fire risk to your home. Dry Christmas trees can go up in smoke extremely quickly, poor wiring and faulty electricals can cause light decorations to spark. The best way to prevent disaster this Christmas is to ensure that you are adequately watering your trees, lighting your menorahs in a safe space, and using lights and electrical equipment which is up-to-date and in working order.

But, even taking all the necessary precautions, accidents will happen. If you own a property that has experiences a fire this holiday season, then your Fire Insurance policy will have you covered for the rebuilding and restoration costs. If you don’t own the property, and if you’re a rental tenant, then a Home Contents Insurance plan (also known as Renters insurance) is going to be the best way to recover your losses.

Expensive Gifts Mean Theft

The other side of the Christmas season is the fact that many people will have expensive gifts in their home. Unfortunately, during the holiday season things go missing, and robberies increase.

Home contents insurance policies will provide extremely flexible cover for all the items you are giving and receiving this season, while they are under your “ownership.” With worldwide all risks cover, this means that you can rest easy knowing you have the protection you need when the handbag you just purchased for your spouse goes missing out of the taxi. Or if your home is broken into an all your items, not just the Christmas presents, are stolen.

Depending on the value of the stolen belongings, you may only recover a portion of the loss unless you have specified these items on the policy or the policy contains a high limit. Despite this, a comprehensive home assets insurance plan is the best way to ensure that your possessions are kept safe during this season.

Holiday Parties Mean Accidents

Everyone loves a good holiday party, but on top of all the other risks inherent in the Christmas season, parties at this time of year have a chance in resulting in an accident. If you’ve decided to host a holiday party at your home (covid restrictions permitting), then you have a situation where alcohol is likely being served around expensive gifts and perilous decorations – it is a recipe for disaster as people discover every single year.

Fortunately, many Hong Kong Home Insurance plans will provide personal injury and accident protection to the policyholder towards their liability to third parties. So, if a loose seasonal light fixture slips and hits someone on the head, or someone slips on a wayward ribbon under the mistletoe, there may actually be insurance coverage provided under your existing policy.

Even the food served at this time of year poses a hazard to your home. Cooking fires will happen, especially with rich, fatty foods being prepared. These foods also pose a danger in their disposal – if you’re pouring the grease of a roast down the drain it will likely clog your plumbing, leading to a host of knock on headaches.

Further to this, and outside the considerations of hazardous seasonal decorations, your home has your important belongings. There is always the risk of a party getting out of control and things getting broken, either intentionally or unintentionally. Crystal, China, Porcelains, Figurines, Statues, Sculptures, Mirrors, Wine Bottles, and Glassware can all be the victims of accidents on the best of days, never mind at a raucous Christmas party.

Holding a comprehensive home insurance policy ensures that even if your guests do get carried away, you will be able to replace the items that you have lost.

Review Your Hong Kong Home Insurance Today

Home insurance is usually a policy which is purchased during times of change in a person’s life – for example, when they get engaged and now own an expensive piece of jewelry. However, it is generally a good idea to hold a quality home insurance policy at all times, especially during periods of heightened risk.

The winter holiday season, running into Chinese New Year, poses a range of unique risks that are not present during the rest of the year; risks which can seriously dampen your festive spirt. CCW Global is able to provide comprehensive global home insurance protection that will offer you the highest standards of cover possible.

For a free quote comparing the Hong Kong home insurance products which best meet your specific needs, please complete the short form at the top of this page. You can also request more information about Home Insurance, CCW Global, or the various risks you face this winter by Contacting Us and speaking to an expert CCW Global insurance broker.