Buildings and contents insurance is designed to protect you from all sorts of dangers and unanticipated events. If you have suffered a theft, damage or vandalism, it can be an extremely distressing experience, and many people will want to get their money back immediately. Your first point of call, however, should not be your insurance company but rather to the police. This will ensure that the theft or vandalism has been officially noted and may help with your claim.

Another thing you must do, from the outset of getting your policy, is know exactly what it covers. If there is anything missing from your policy you should contact your insurance company and make sure that you have the protection that you require. You may have several different types of insurance: buildings, contents, or home insurance and you should be clear as to which items, and what eventualities, are covered by which policy.

If you are not sure which policy to claim under you should contact your insurers as they will be best placed to help you. Many insurers have emergency telephone numbers for policyholders, and will also be able to find you good tradesman in case you need immediate repairs. It may prove easier to use one of these insurance company tradesmen if it comes to having work that you will later claim for.

Your insurance company can provide you with a claim form when it comes to making your claim, complete it as soon as possible, and where possible return it with estimates for the cost of the repair, or the specific items that you have lost, with any proof of their value if you have it. If you are unable to value estimates - in case you have suffered extensive damage -make sure that the claim form is sent in as soon as possible and tell the company that you will give them the estimates as soon as you can.

If you have items that have been damaged by vandalism, fire, or flood for example, you should make sure that you keep them, whether it be in the house or your garage, because the insurance company may wish to make an assessment themselves.

Once the insurance company gets your estimates it will either immediately pay your claim, or if there is any doubt, arrange for a claims inspector to call on you. The claims inspector will arrange with you the basis on which your claim will be settled. Another option might be to send a loss adjuster who will handle the whole claim for you. Loss adjusters are independent experts, and are more likely to be sent in specialised cases. There is no need to appoint anyone to act on your behalf, and if you do you will have to pay the fees yourself.

For most people their home is the most valuable item that they own and it is important to make sure that it has proper protection.