Is it Difficult to Get Insurance For a Thatched Roof Property?

Many people like the idea of owning a thatched roof home but are put off buy the idea that it’ll be too difficult to get insurance at a reasonable price. It’s certainly true that insurance for thatched roof properties is generally more expensive but the fact that you’re able to get quotes very easily now means you can avoid overpaying. Below are some of the main factors that will affect the cost of thatched roof property insurance. If you’d like to find out more about why insurance costs more for thatched roof properties then click here – http://www.thatchedinsure.co.uk/why-is-insurance-higher-for-thatched-roof-houses/ Where the property is located The area a property is located will always be a significant factor when it comes to the cost of insurance. Things like crime rate and how secluded the area the property is in will help insurance providers determine the risk of things like theft and vandalism. The size of the property The size of the property is another factor insurance providers will take into account. Thatched roofs can be very costly to repair/rebuild so for very large properties, you can expect to pay more for insurance since insurance providers will always consider the worst case scenario i.e. a complete rebuild being required. How safe it is When it comes to a thatched roof property, safety doesn’t just come down to how vulnerable it is to break ins but also how much risk the property is at from fire. The best way to prevent the risk of fire in a thatched roof property is by ensuring a full electrical inspection is carried out when you first purchase the property as well as scheduling regular chimney cleaning. It’s also a good idea to avoid using any candles inside the property as they pose a significant fire risk. Get Thatched Roof insurance at thatchedinsure.co.uk … Continue reading »

The Most Important Types of Cover For Motor Trade Businesses in the UK

Running a motor trade business comes with a lot of responsibility. One of the most important aspects of running a motor trade business in the UK successfully is having the right insurance in place. Below are some of the most essential types of cover available – Road risk insurance Road risk insurance is something that practically every motor trade insurance business requires. It enables the policy holder and their employees to work on and transport customer vehicles as required. You are able to what level of cover you want from third party only up to fully comprehensive. If you’re looking for a policy then you can get road risk cover from www.traders-insurance.com very easily. Liability claims Liability claims are something that business owners in the UK have to be particularly wary about these days. There are two main types of liability insurance for motor trade business owners – public liability insurance and employers’ liability insurance. As the names would suggest, public liability covers you for claims from the public, including customers; whereas employers’ liability covers you for claims from your employees. Legal expenses Legal expenses are another thing you can get cover for with a motor trade insurance policy. If you feel that a liability claim has been unfairly filed against your business then you’ll want to fight it in court. The trouble with this is that legal proceedings can be very time- consuming and costly. If you have legal expenses included in your policy then you at least don’t have to worry about the financial side of fighting a claim. Cover for premises If you have a premises for your motor trade business then getting insurance for it is vital. Although you can get a separate building insurance policy for your business premises, it often works out cheaper to have it covered under your traders policy. Many motor trade business owners opt to get what it known as a combined policy. This is a type of cover that protects all aspects of your business from your vehicles to your premises, tools, stock and cash. Finding motor trade insurance quotes traders-insurance.com motor trade insurance service allows you to get quotes from many different motor trade insurance specialists by filling out one simple form. Getting quotes from a lot of different providers is an extremely reliable way to prevent from overspending on motor trade insurance so it’s always recommended that you do this.… Continue reading »

Considerations of Running a Taxi Firm

If you have experience in the taxi industry then you might have considered starting your own taxi firm. When it comes to running a taxi company, there are a lot of things to consider. In order to help you get started, below are some of the most important steps you have to take. Getting a premises To run a taxi firm successfully, you’ll need some kind of premises to base your operations from. Some people start from home but this isn’t always the best idea and even if you do, you’ll need to think about getting a premises fairly quickly. When looking for a premises, you should take certain things into account. Firstly you should think about whether you’re going to rent or buy. It’s usually a good idea to rent first and then you can always decide if you want to buy later. Another key consideration is size. Although you don’t need a huge premises to run a taxi firm from, you still want it to be a decent size. Lastly is location. The location of a taxi office is very important, not only because you want to attract new business but also because you’ll need to choose somewhere that’s on fairly high ground so you can communicate with your drivers. Getting insurance Once you have a premises, you’ll also need to get insurance. The level of cover you need to get will depend on whether you own and insure your own vehicles or you hire owner drivers. If you insure your own vehicles then you’ll need to get a taxi insurance policy to cover them for road risks. You’ll also want to get cover for things such as liability claims. Hiring drivers Hiring good drivers is essential when running a taxi firm. Although there are many people out there who have a lot of driving experience, not everyone is suited to being a taxi driver. The best type of drivers to hire are those who are over the age of 30, have a good deal of driving experience (preferably in a professional capacity) and who do not have any criminal convictions. This will help to keep the cost of your insurance down.… Continue reading »

Fleet Insurance Explained

Fleet insurance is usually associated with businesses but it’s not only for commercial use. For example, families who have many cars to insure can cover them together by getting a family fleet insurance policy. Also if you have a personal car collection and want to insure your vehicles together then you can get a mini fleet policy. Of course countless types of businesses also get fleet insurance too, such as taxi firms, motor trade businesses, food delivery services, supermarkets etc. What types of fleet insurance are there? Below are the main types of fleet insurance – Road risks – Road risks are essential with any fleet policy. The lowest level of cover you can get in order to make your vehicles road legal is third party only – this will provide protection for other road users if one of your vehicles is involved in a collision. Liability claims – Liability claims can come at any time and often unexpectedly so it’s certainly wise to have liability cover included in a fleet insurance policy. Goods in transit – If the vehicles in your fleet are used for transporting goods then you should strongly consider getting goods in transit insurance. This will ensure that your goods are covered for theft and damage as well as spoiling, in the case of refrigerated trucks. Breakdown recovery – Having breakdown recovery is vital when you’re insuring many vehicles, particularly when they’re used for commercial reasons. You have this type of cover added to your policy for an additional cost. How to get quotes Getting a lot of quotes is one of the best ways to save money on fleet insurance so it’s important to do this rather than simply contacting one provider and taking out the first policy you’re offered. By far the best way to get fleet insurance quotes is by using an insurance comparison service. There are many insurance comparison services that you can use online where you simply fill out a quote form and receive quotes from different insurance providers.… Continue reading »

Protecting Your Business With The Right Type of Insurance

Running a business comes with a lot of risks, from damage to your premises to liability claims. This being the case you need to make sure that you get the right type of cover. Below are the most essential types of cover you’ll need to get when you run a business. Building insurance One of the most important types of cover you’ll need to get as a business owner is building insurance for your premises. Building insurance will cover the costs of any structural damage that might occur due to fire, flooding, accidents etc. You can also get contents cover added to a building insurance policy, which will cover you for damage and theft of your building’s contents. The cost of a building insurance policy will depend on a few different factors, such as the size of your premises, where it’s located and the type of business you run. Liability insurance Another extremely important type of cover you’ll need to get is liability insurance. There are two main types of liability insurance you can get. They are – Employer’s liability insurance – Employer’s liability insurance is a type of cover that will protect you from liability claims from your employees. You are legally obligated to take out employer’s liability insurance even if you only have one employee. Public liability insurance – Public liability insurance will protect you from liability claims from members of the public. How much risk you’re at of having a claim made against you will depend on the size of your company and the type of business you run. In any case it’s always highly recommended that you have this type of cover. Company fleet insurance If your company makes use of vehicles then it’s essential that you get them protected with fleet insurance.  Although you can get separate policies for the vehicles your company has, it’s usually considerably cheaper to get a fleet insurance policy. Having fleet insurance also makes it much easier to deal with paperwork and make a claim if you need to. There are many excellent comparison services where you can get company fleet insurance quotes online. Some of the main factors that will affect the cost of a policy include – The level of cover you take out How many vehicles you need to insure The type of vehicles you need to insure The value of your vehicles How secure the vehicles are How secure your premises is… Continue reading »

Working as a Private Hire Taxi Driver

There are thousands of private hire taxis in operation in the UK and no shortage of jobs for people who are looking to make a career switch. To help you get started, below is a guide to becoming a private hire taxi driver that covers everything from getting your licence to staying safe on the job. Getting a licence The first thing you’ll need to do before you can work as a private hire taxi driver is get a licence. The requirements for obtaining a private hire licence vary depending on the city you live in. Generally you’ll need to meet the following requirements – Be at least 21 Have a full UK driver’s licence Pass a medical taste Be of good character Pass a competence test Is your vehicle suitable? If you already have a vehicle then you might be wondering if it’s suitable for use a taxi. This will depend on a few factors. Firstly you want a vehicle that has adequate room for passengers. If you have a very small car or one that only has two seats, such as smart car, then this probably isn’t going to be suitable. Another thing to think about is the cost of insurance. The cost of taxi insurance is is different to regular car insurance, even for the same vehicle so this is something to bear in mind. Whether your vehicle is suitable will also depend on the company you’re working for. For example Uber require that their drivers have a vehicle registered in 2008 or after. Getting insurance To work as a private hire taxi driver you’ll need to get the right insurance. Private hire taxi insurance is available from a number of different insurance providers and getting quotes is a quick and easy process so it shouldn’t be too hard to find cover at an affordable rate. When looking for insurance it’s important to think about what level of cover you need/can afford. A third party policy will be cheaper than comprehensive cover but also provides less protection for your own vehicle. Staying safe A very important aspect of working as a private hire taxi driver is to take any precautions you can in order to stay safe on the job. Although private hire drivers are typically at less risk than public hire drivers, that doesn’t mean no risk is there. One of the best ways to make yourself more safe while working is to have CCTV installed inside your vehicle. This will act as a deterrent to passengers who might otherwise become aggressive or refuse to pay.… Continue reading »

Saving Money on Car Insurance When You Have a Criminal Conviction

If you have a criminal conviction then getting car insurance at a reasonable price can be a challenge. There are things you can do in order to lower the cost however. Below are some of the best ways you can save money on car insurance with a conviction – Go to a specialist provider If you’re looking for car insurance with a criminal conviction then going to a specialist provider is certainly recommended. Some mainstream insurance providers don’t offer cover to people with convictions since they consider them too high risk. A specialist provider will take your circumstances into account and be able to offer a policy that’s fairly priced based on the severity of your conviction. Limit cover options Another good way to save money on car insurance when you have a conviction is to get a basic policy. Third party only is the lowest level of cover you’ll need in order to make your car road legal. Third party insurance is considerably cheaper than a comprehensive policy so this is definitely worth considering. Pay annually If you can afford to pay for your policy on annual basis then you’ll be able to make a decent saving with the majority of insurance providers. If you do decide to pay annually then be sure to push for the best discount possible. Make your vehicle secure Making your vehicle secure is certainly a good way to lower the cost of car insurance. If your car doesn’t already have an alarm and immobiliser then you should definitely consider having them fitted. Using a steering wheel lock is another way to deter thieves. Taking these measures as well as having somewhere safe to park your car will help to keep costs down. Get a lot of quotes Getting quotes from as many providers as possible is one of the best ways you can save money on car insurance with you have a criminal conviction. The prices you’re quoted can vary quite a lot from one insurance provider to the next so it’s incredibly important to shop around and select a policy that you know is good value for money. Increase excess Last but not least is increasing the excess on your policy. Excess is what you would have to pay if you made a claim. Increasing excess is not necessarily the best way to lower costs since you would have to pay more when making a claim.… Continue reading »

Keeping Costs Down When You Have a Taxi Firm

Running a taxi firm comes with a lot of challenges. Not only do you have to stay competitive but you also need to think about your overheads and the best ways you can keep costs down. Below are some of the best ways to accomplish this when you run a taxi firm. Get the right office Getting the right office is key when you have a taxi firm. You want to pick a premises that’s practical and affordable. A taxi office generally doesn’t need to be that big since it’s mainly used for administrative purposes and to communicate with drivers. Hire the right drivers Hiring the right drivers is extremely important if you want to keep costs down. Experience drivers with a good background will be much cheaper to insure on a private hire policy for example. An example of a good driver is one who – Is over 25 – Age is always going to be a big factor that insurance providers consider when calculating the cost of a policy. Drivers who are under 25 cost considerably more to insure since they’re statistically more likely to be involved in accidents. Doesn’t have any convictions – Convictions, especially driving convictions, can hike the price of a taxi insurance policy up considerably. Has a clean driving licence – Having a licence with no points on it is another thing that makes for a good taxi driver to hire. Has experience driving a taxi – Experience driving a taxi for a living is always good when hiring drivers for your firm. The more experience they have, the less they’re likely to cost to insure. Get the right cover You may choose to hire owner drivers who have their own insurance but if you opt to insure your own vehicles then you’ll want to get the right taxi insurance. You can choose exactly what level of cover you want to get when taking out a taxi fleet policy. The cheapest option is to get third party only cover. This will not cover any of your own vehicles though if one of your drivers is involved in a collision and they’re to blame. For more protection you can add fire and theft to a third party policy; or get fully comprehensive cover. Make security a priority You should make security a priority both at your office and in your taxis. Making sure that your drivers are safe is very important and installing CCTV in their vehicles is a good way to do this.… Continue reading »

The Pros and Cons of Freelancing

Many people don’t consider a career as a freelancer but the truth is there’s never been more opportunity as far as freelancing goes. Below are some of the main pros and cons of working as a freelancer so you can decide if it’s the right move for you. Pros You have a lot more flexibility – One of the major benefits of working freelance as opposed to a regular job is that you have a lot more flexibility in your working hours. For example, if you have work to do, you don’t have to do it during traditional working hours and can instead make it fit your schedule. You can choose a career you’re passionate about – Another great benefit of working as a freelancer is that you’re able to do something that you’re passionate about. One of the most popular freelance paths is graphic design. However if you’re not interested in that there are many other things you can do i.e. web development, freelance writing, teaching etc. Cons Finding steady work can be tough – One of the major challenges that new freelancers face is finding enough work to support themselves. It’s certainly true that when you first start freelancing, finding clients can be tough, especially if you don’t have much experience or an established presence online. You need to be self-motivated – For a lot of people, this is the biggest challenge of freelancing. It’s easy to underestimate how much motivation you need in order to succeed as a freelancer. It’s not just completing the work that you have from home where there’s no boss looking over your shoulder; but also being motivated to grow your business and expand your client base. Conclusion Whether working as a freelancer is right for you will depend largely on your personality type. If you need a lot of stimulation and enjoy working around other people then it’s probably not the right choice for you. However if you’re self-motivated, can work to deadlines and don’t mind the challenge of finding new clients then working freelance can be a great way to gain financial independence.… Continue reading »

5 Tips to Find the Right Career Path For You

Finding the right career path is something a lot of people struggle with. In order to help you make the right decisions when it comes to your own career, below are 5 key tips to finding the right career path. There is also a great UK government site to help you decide on your career. 1. Know your strengths Knowing your strengths is one of the best ways to find the right career path. Everyone has things they’re naturally good at but people often don’t pay attention to them when thinking about their ideal career path, instead choosing something that’s practical or available. By knowing your strengths you can then work towards a career that you’d be ideally suited to. 2. Know your weaknesses Just as important as knowing your strengths is knowing your weaknesses. For example, if you’re easily bored and need a lot of stimulation then an office job where you’re stuck behind a desk for 8 hours a day probably isn’t the best choice of career for you. 3. Think about what you would enjoy doing This is something that so many people neglect when it comes to their career. Thanks to the internet and social media, people now have more choice than ever when it comes to careers. There are so many skills you can learn online, such as web design, graphic design, web development etc. that you no longer have to do something simply because it makes money. Think about what you would enjoy doing in the long term and aim towards that. 4. Make use of connections If you know people who are able to help your career then this is a huge advantage. Of course you want to be sure you’re suited to any particular role before going for it but having connections in a particular industry is something that can really boost your career. Think about practical considerations Sometimes it’s easy to like the idea of a career without really considering if it would be practical for you. For example, if you wanted to work as a courier then it’s not just about whether you’re able to drive but if you can afford the initial investment in a van and whether you’re fit enough to carry parcels around all day. Thinking about the practical everyday realities of a job will help you avoid those you’re not suited to.  … Continue reading »