White goods and Brown Goods
an excellent deal on your House Insurance
White goods and Brown Goods
For many people their brown and white goods represent some of the most expensive single items in our homes, with the notable exception of jewellery. When it comes to your home insurance you should make sure that your estimates of your home contents includes everything that you would take with you when you move, and in many cases this includes electrical entertainment and domestic utility equipment.
What are 'brown goods'?
So called brown goods are essentially domestic electronic equipment that you have for use solely in the home.
This includes:
- TV's
- Video recorders
- DVD equipment
- Home cinema kit
- Home stereo equipment
- Home computers
- Radios
- Home PC equipment including printers
The name 'brown goods' is an anachronism dating from the period when equipment like TV's came with a wooden surround, and the term is used to distinguish from the other class of home electrical equipment that is used for utility, rather than entertainment, purposes which are known as 'white goods'.
It is important when insuring your home that the correct value of these items is included on the contents insurance sum insured - their combined value can be deceptively high. In the event of a claim many insurance companies will choose to actually provide you with a replacement piece of kit, rather than a cash alternative, because this represents a lower cost to them. Because insurance firms have to replace so many items of electrical equipment they often can buy them direct from manufacturers at significant discounts - so don't expect a cheque from you insurer. They should provide you with equipment of at least the same level of quality and functionality, although as technology tends to move quickly in this area it may be that you actually end up with a more modern equivalent of the kit that was claimed for. Procedures for claims settlement in this regard vary by insurer, and indeed can be expected to vary on a case by case basis.
What are 'white goods'?
'White goods' is a phrase used to describe what would be seen as domestic utility equipment.
Examples of white goods would include:
- Fridges
- Freezers
- Ovens
- Microwave ovens
- Washing machines
- Tumble driers
The phrase obviously originates from the white enamel finish commonly used on this type of equipment. While these items are commonly taken for granted within the home they do represent a significant investment, and as such they should be factored into your home insurance sums insured. As with brown goods, in the event of an approved claim many home insurance companies will actually provide you with replacement goods rather than a cheque for the value of the machine - this is because the home insurance companies buy so much of this type of equipment that they can get significant discounts from the manufacturers and wholesalers - in fact some insurance companies operate a sales division just to sell their discounted products direct to the consumer. Given that this equipment is very expensive, and frankly not that exciting to most people, why not buy it online? Most suppliers offer significant discounts if you buy online rather than using a high street type retailer, buy online using the links below, but don't forget to include the value of your white goods in your house insurance sums insured…
Buy Online
By purchasing your brown and white goods online you can normally get a significant discount over the traditional high street style retailers - check out some prices online here: