Unwary homeowners could find themselves coming under financial pressure this bank holiday weekend, it has been suggested.
According to Nationwide, the forthcoming long Easter weekend could see a significant number of Britons opting to spend time in their gardens. Meanwhile, research from the financial services provider indicated that more than a third (35 per cent) of respondents claim that the contents of their garden is worth between 250 pounds and 1,000 pounds.
However with "such a large amount of money being spent" on green spaces, people were urged against relaxing too much during their long break as they were reminded of the threat of opportunistic thieves. Research from the firm also revealed that it receives the highest number of claims in relation to gardens for the loss and damage of furniture and ornaments. As such, homeowners were advised of the need to take out an adequate insurance policy to protect their home against opportunistic thieves.
Following a break-in at a garden, those who have find that they are without insurance or lack an adequate policy may find that they have to dig into their own pockets and purses to meet the cost of repairs and replacing products. This may impact upon their ability to meet other demands on their finances such as making repayments on personal loans and credit cards, as well as paying household bills and mortgage costs.
Commenting on the figures, Robin Bailey, insurance director for Nationwide, said: "Spring is in the air and, if the rain holds off, some of us may be planning to spend time in the garden this bank holiday weekend. Items such as lawnmowers and garden furniture will be dusted off and may be left out in the open for long periods of time, resulting in easy pickings for opportunistic thieves and vandals. It is really important that these items are adequately insured against acts of theft or vandalism."
In an attempt to improve the security of their garden, the financial services firm advised homeowners to invest in ground anchors to help safeguard ornaments and furniture. Meanwhile, covering up shed windows with blinds or curtains was put forward as one way to protect the security of such an outbuilding as it prevents leaving tools out on display.
By not doing the latter, it was suggested, consumers may unwittingly provide burglars with an easy way to break into their homes. Furthermore, items such as bikes and lawnmowers should be placed in sheds which should be kept locked at all times. However, should consumers discover that items, such as ornaments and potted plants, have been stolen from their garden Nationwide asserted that claims can be made easier if photographs have been taken beforehand.
For those wishing to repair their gardens following a break-in, a homeowner loan can prove to be of assistance. In taking out this type of loan, borrowers may find that they are able to replace valuable plants, tools and pieces of garden furniture quickly and effectively, leaving them with an affordable low-cost repayment to make each month. A home loan could also help to meet the expense of hiring professional tradespeople to mend a garden that has incurred a particularly high amount of damage. Furthermore, the homeowner loan could provide additional monetary help to be able to purchase comprehensive insurance cover.
Such a loan could also be of assistance to people looking to protect their sporting equipment. A recent LV= study revealed that 1.9 million people leave items such as golf clubs and exercise bikes either in an unsecured garden or shed or on display in their cars. It was also revealed that consumers keep athletic gear worth an overall total of 23 billion pounds in their homes.
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