Insuring house before exchange can happen?

[doglover]

Is it as simple as phoning your existing home insurance company and asking for new house to be put on insurance? Our solicitor said we need insurance before exchange can happen but I'm not quite sure what needs to be done.

Please advise!

You are supposed to insure the house from the date of exchange so I suppose you can arrange insurance from the date you expect it to happen. You could phone your existing household insurer but I don't think they'd insure 2 houses on one policy so they are just going to give you a new quotation like anyone else. Personally I'd use the comparison websites, put in the new house details and see what you get, and then maybe phone the company you want to use and explain the circumstances and take out insurance with them. But remember not to cancel insurance on the old house until completion if you are selling too.

I went on a price comparison website and then took out insurance straight after exchange was confirmed.

We did exactly what jan49 suggests when we moved. There was no problem once I explained over the phone that we didn't actually own it yet.

Thanks everyone. I'll add it to my list for tomorrow