Insurance while moving
1. Check to see if your possessions are covered by your contents insurance while in transit. If not, get your policy extended for an additional premium.
2. Check the small print of your coverage - ideally you will have 'all risks' insurance that covers loss and damage, including accidental breakages. Your policy could be limited to goods that are professionally packed - check before you help or go DIY.
3. If your possessions are going to be in transit overnight or held for a time at the removal firm's storage depot, make sure this is covered by your policy.
4. If you've arranged insurance through the removal firm, check on the limitations of coverage carefully.

Household insurance
Household insurance is split between buildings insurance and contents insurance. Buildings insurance covers the structure of your home and permanent fixtures and fittings. Contents insurance covers your personal possessions inside the home.

Buildings insurance
1. Most mortgage lenders insist on buildings insurance that starts from the moment you complete, so that they are guaranteed to get their money back if disaster strikes. But since there can be delays, do your research in advance so you're prepared to have all insurance cover activated as soon as the contracts are exchanged.
2. Shop around. Getting quotes from a range of insurers could result in substantial savings.
Some mortgage lenders make the mortgage offer conditional on arranging cover through them, but it's not always the best deal. Get other quotes if you can, but if you are stuck, arrange to switch cover after the expiration date of the initial policy.
4. If you are selling, keep the insurance active on your current property until completion has taken place. Then cancel it and claim any unused premium.
5. Insure your new property not for the market value but for the 'reinstatement cost' - the cost of rebuilding if it were to be destroyed completely. Your mortgage valuation should give a figure.
6. If you're buying a leasehold make sure you're not over-insuring - your landlord may already have insurance in place.