Here is the link for Chartered Institute of Surveyors guide to rebuilding costs. [broken link removed] . In assessing home cover you should not only look at the quote but also the cover. Particularly accidental damage cover (ie when you knock the TV or the Waterford glass over). anf you should also check the excesses applicable to various sections as these can be substantial, and vary considerably between companies. There is no easy rough guide to contents, but it's easy enough to go around your home and do a rough tot (adding a bit more for items you might have missed/overlooked). You should also consider what items are to be specified outside the home. This is usually an expensive add'l cover for items like jewellery, bikes etc( and it's usually index linked) - if you don't need it get rid of it. If your lucky enough to have expensive items in the house, ie antiques, paintings etc that have a high value you should specify them on your policy. This doesn't usually involve add'l costs, but it will be neccessary if the items are to be fully covered. Err on the cautious side in this regard, if in doubt, ask the underwriter. Remember also that there are often discounts for smoke alarms, mortice deadlocks, and alarms that meet a certain standard, (used to be ISO 900 -not sure if that still applies), and if it's linked to a central station. If you are switching insurers you need to ensure you disclose everything relevant to them, ie previous claims etc. Failure to disclose could mean you will not be covered. There is a clause in insurance called utmost good faith which requires you to fully disclose all relevant information. And remember you are not tied to the insurer recommended by your mortgage provider but you must name them on any new policy you arrange. Personally I think it is well worth shopping around, brokers like AA Insurance ( who I use) or any other you prefer can often find you better deals and give you advice on the suitability of various cover types. If you do decide to switch do talk to someone in the broker /underwriter before you buy to make sure the cover is what you require.