As Christmas fast approaches, more and more of us are out shopping buying expensive gifts for loved ones, but unfortunately for some people it’s not just Santa that might be paying an unexpected visit. It is sad to say but thieves are hard at work at Christmas time, full in the knowledge that many homes will be full of expensive presents which are easy to steal. Many insurers are now warning that homeowners need to check the fine print of their home insurance policy to make sure that if thieves where to strike the people who matter most don’t lose out in the long run.

Norwich and Peterborough spokesman Steve Kendall said: "It's an important time of year to check the small print of your insurance policy. The key to a successful Christmas is preparation. Accidents happen, but it's having the right measures in place to deal with them that counts."

In addition to the added threat of thieves some insurers are also pointing out that your fridge and freezer will be full of expensive food brought for the holiday season and if that was to break down hundreds of pounds worth of food could be ruined. So what do homeowners have to look out for, so you can have a Christmas where all you have to worry about id the turkey in the oven?

To avoid losing out on all your present’s it is important to check that your home has contents cover against theft. This is a standard cover for most home insurance policies but it is doubly important to check this over the Christmas period. If you do discover that you don’t have theft contents cover it is worth getting it not just for the holiday season, as your home can be burgled any time of the year not just at Christmas. Many reports have been suggesting of late that people are forgoing home insurance to save money (possibly for Christmas), yet the simple fact is if your home is broken into the cost to replace the items will far outweigh any insurance premiums.

Now you are safe in the knowledge that your contents are covered in your home insurance policy, it is also important to make sure you have any breakdown cover for any appliances which are essential for the Christmas period. Some home insurance policies will include break down cover for certain appliances which is brilliant if the oven was to stop working a week before Christmas. Admittedly this kind of cover is not deemed ‘essential’ but it can be extremely valuable to have. If your Christmas hinges on how well the turkey is cooked, then just for peace of mind it might be well worth it to looking into getting some form of breakdown cover.

So with Christmas fast approaching and a million and one things to do before the big day arrives, certain types of home insurance cover can often be forgotten. A simple check can help insure that if the worst was to happen you can still have a merry Christmas with the ones you love.