Spring clean your insurance? You bet!

While the exact origin of the term 'spring cleaning' isn't clear, what is known is that the practice of cleansing homes after the long winter is rooted in cultures around the world. All the customs share the same idea of dusting off the old to make way for the new as the season of spring begins.

In South Africa, spring is traditionally marked on 1 September, as the days grow warmer and longer from this point onwards - definitely a good time to throw doors and windows open, and clean out the cobwebs of winter!

But this is why September is also a good month to spring clean your personal insurance, because your insurance needs could have changed during the year, and you could well be paying for things you no longer need.

Here are our top 5 tips for spring cleaning your short-term insurance:

Clean up your inventory

If you bought big ticket items like TVs or digital devices during the year, or were gifted expensive items like jewellery, you need to update your home contents inventory. Likewise, if items you don't even own anymore are still on your list of insured items, take them off! You're paying for unnecessary insurance cover.

Brush up on your insurance terms and conditions

Do you know how much your excess is in case of a robbery? Or to replace your windscreen? Do you have full roadside assistance on your policy or just access to a towing service? It's too late when it comes time to claim to check on the terms and conditions of your policy, and 'I thought I was covered...' doesn't help either. Check your policies and know what they include (and what they don't).

Get spring cleaning - for real

During winter, leaves and debris build up in gutters, and wind loosens tree branches that can be a hazard if they break and fall off. Use the warmer weather to check on your home maintenance before the spring and summer storms come. Clean up areas that pose fire or flood risks. Check electric fences and test the alarm. Check burglar bars and gates, and test your house alarm.

Give your car a check-up

Vehicle maintenance is something we only think about after a problem arises. Book your car in for its annual service, and have tyres and brakes checked. If there's a noise that's niggling you, get it seen to before it becomes an expensive repair. While you're at it, check that the drivers listed on your vehicle insurance policy are still accurate.

Review all your insurance policies

Annual reviews of your policies are important, and traditionally done on the anniversary of your policy. However, it's not uncommon to have changed jobs, or to have new contact details and forget to tell your insurer. Are you still happy with the debit order for your premiums? Let them know if you need that changed, and don't forget to ask your current insurer first for any additional insurance you need before looking elsewhere. You could get a preferential rate.

Happy spring cleaning!