Assign ownership and responsibility
Read the lease or ownership documents and identify who insures the structure, fittings and improvements. List the assets owned by the business separately from hired equipment and customer property. Ask the insurer which categories fit each policy section.
Use the right value for each category
Ask about the valuation basis before entering a sum on a proposal. A building’s sale value, a machine’s book value and the cost of replacing it can differ. Where valuation is complex, discuss a professional assessment rather than guessing from last year’s schedule.
Capture growth and seasonal changes
Give the inventory an owner and a review date. Record new equipment and peak stock levels, not only the quietest month. Ask how automatic increases or declaration arrangements work and whether there is a notification threshold that could otherwise be missed.
Take these questions to your provider
- Are values based on the policy’s rebuilding or replacement basis?
- Are assets at customer sites, in transit or at home within scope?
- Can the business meet alarm, security, maintenance and unoccupancy requirements?
- Is income lost during reinstatement insured under a separate interruption section?
Sources & further reading
Checked 26 September 2026. Policy terms and source ratings can change.