Instead of looking at different deals, they simply sign up for the policy offered by their mortgage lender. "Unfortunately, many of those people are paying more than they need," says Philip da Silva, managing director of insurance brokers People's Choice When they shop around people find they can save. "We can save home-owners on average £68 a year," he says.Peter Wright, director of insurance at brokers Berry Birch & Noble, says that in eight out of ten cases his brokerage can turn up cheaper insurance for those who are covered through their building society.Often, those who take the contents insurance offered by their mortgage lender are not even aware of the amount they pay. It is only two years later that they consider getting another quote, he says.But whichever company your home contents are insured with, brokers recommend you review the policy annually. An insurance broker will save you the legwork of getting direct quotes from the companies, and there is no fee. Brokers usually take commission from the insurance companies, but they say the policies they sell are no more expensive than those sold directly to the public.However, if you favour particular insurers, it could be worth spending the time phoning around for direct quotes.

Brokers usually have a panel of major insurance companies they use - typically between seven and 15.This makes their business more efficient, but it could mean that they are leaving out firms that you may have found to be easy and pleasant to deal with. When choosing an insurer, look for the GISC (General Insurance Standards Council) logo. This is the new regulatory body for insurance - and all reputable insurance companies should be members, says Stuart Cliffe of the consumer watchdog, the National Association of Banking and Insurance Customers.And beware of buying insurance on the Net. The company you buy cover from may not be based in the UK, so would not be covered by the Ombudsman scheme. The Association of British Insurers is the insurance companies' trade body and it has a list of UK members.But is there a case for sticking with one insurer? Though many people believe they will be rewarded for their loyalty with lower premiums, brokers warn this is not the case. "Every company will ask you if you have made previous claims and rate you accordingly, although they won't ask for formal proof as with motor insurance," says da Silva.In areas of the country that have suffered from the severe recent flooding, for example, some insurers have put up their premiums for household contents insurance in response to the increased number of claims. For people in these areas, a broker can check out a range of insurers, and find one which has not raised its prices, says da Silva.What features should you look for when taking out household insurance?The maximum cover offered by the policy is vital.

Make a careful estimate of how much it would cost to replace all the contents of your home if they were destroyed in a fire or flood, for example.If you have some very valuable items - such as paintings or rare antiques - make sure they are covered, as the maximum paid out for any one object can be as low as £1,000. Sometimes these items can be specified separately, or there are policies available that are specifically designed to cover art and antiques."Don't underestimate the value of things," says Mr Cliffe. "If you pay a premium on something based on a £1,000 value, but it is really worth £2,000, you'll only get a settlement based on the lower value if it is lost or damaged."Consider whether you need cover for valuables which you take out of the home, such as jewellery, clothing and portable computers. In insurance policies these are termed "personal possessions" or "all risks".

Also, you may want to be covered for cash or credit cards lost away from home. Policies that insure you against accidental damage to your possessions would come into their own when, for example, you sit on your Calvin Klein sunglasses or spill white gloss paint all over your new living-room carpet.Check to see whether a policy covers the contents of outbuildings as well as those in the main house.Mr Cliffe warns against policies where the insurer says it will replace damaged goods for you. If your sofa is ruined, you may not have a choice about its replacement - you'll just get a new "similar" sofa, he says. Many insurers require you to have a certain level of security against burglary in your home before covering you.

You often need to have five-lever mortice locks fitted to all outside doors and key-operated window locks.Where this is not a requirement, you may receive a discount of between 15 and 20 per cent on your premiums if your home has these features, says da Silva.Frequent travellers and those insuring a second home should make sure that their policy covers them while the house is empty for long periods.As a rule, low-cost policies are only valid if the property is vacant for no more than 60 days a year, says Wright."Most insurance policies are similar, but they've all got little quirks," he adds.Berry Birch & Noble: 0800 854074Peoples' Choice: 0800 112233Swinton: 0800 600700National Association of Banking and Insurance Customers: 0291 430009Association of British Insurers: 020 7600 3333. When buying anything from a holiday to a house, worrying about insurance comes at the bottom of the list for most. However, the evidence is growing that you can save substantial sums by avoiding so-called "tie-in" deals and shopping around for your insurance instead. When buying anything from a holiday to a house, worrying about insurance comes at the bottom of the list for most.