Everyone knows the importance of home insurance. However few people realise you need to be contacting your home insurer or broker before you even exchange on the property.

Once you have exchanged you are legally contracted to buy the house if something were to happen (fire, subsidence etc) there's a chance you could end up moving into a damaged house. Your seller should keep their home insurance running and put right any damage that happens before you move in. However if they don't advise you of damage and you move in then your probably going to have a long and expensive legal battle with them to recoup your losses.

All this is avoided by you obtaining your own home insurance from the day of exchange. This way should the worst happen you are covered by your own insurance.