Why Your Business Needs Public Liability Insurance

When you run a business that operates in the public sphere in any capacity, public liability insurance is an integral piece of how it will run day to day. Whether you own a small one-man operation that sells small goods in a town centre, or are in charge of a huge building company that's constructing your city's newest skyscraper, there won't be any self-respecting businesses who are currently operating without the safety net of public liability insurance.

Although the specific details of each public liability insurance policy will vary from time to time, it is an absolutely essential part of business life. And you can gauge just how essential it is by considering the effects of not taking out liability insurance:

If a customer of yours bought one of your products and was injured, or was hurt on your premises - or perhaps if someone was accidentally wounded by your staff's negligence - you could be sued for damages. If the claimant was successful, then you'd be liable to pay, from your own pocket, their compensation - not to mention the legal fees which can sometimes dwarf the actual compensation settlement. Eve after a relatively innocuous accident, you may find yourself having to pay a six-figure sum. Is that a fee that your business could afford to pay? A small outlay every month or year will protect you against the worst happening, and giving you the peace of mind to continue providing your important service.

What's more, public liability insurance is often requested by clients before you start to work for them. Having a strong insurance policy in place will impress them, assuring them that you're a responsible company, and their significant investment in you is a safe one. What's more, if it's found that you didn't have a public liability insurance scheme in place when you should have, you'll be liable to even greater punishments.

In these days, when some companies do skirt the uncomfortable line between profit and loss, companies can't afford the dangerous consequences of a court case gone wrong. An insurance policy guards against that.

The good news is that it's easier than ever to find a flexible insurance policy that suits you down to the very last detail - and the prices are often cheaper than you think. Be sure to shop around and to use insurance comparison websites, who will often be able to get you more competitive quotes than would be possible if you went straight to them. And try looking at different times of the day; it's true that an insurance policy will vary in its fees throughout the day, and you may find a cheaper deal in the morning or late at night.

Quite simply, there's no choice to make between securing your business with a strong policy and not. Why not look today how much a public liability insurance policy would cost you?

At ConstructaQuote, you'll be able to find a wide range of public liability insurance policies, each of which can be fitted to suit your company's specific needs.

The Benefits of Getting Your Mortgage Through a Broker

A large mortgage is probably the biggest financial commitment you will ever make. If you are looking for a large mortgage it is important to get the most competitive rate and mortgage that suits your goals and requirements.

It's no surprise that borrowers are turning to professionally qualified intermediaries for advice on their borrowing requirements. If you are looking for a high value mortgage it makes sense to speak to an expert rather than applying online or by telephone where you're unlikely to benefit from independent, bespoke advice.

Technology firm Avelo have released data that shows that brokers are responsible for arranging six out of ten mortgages in the UK as opposed to the one in five that are arranged through a lender or branch network. Using a broker has many benefits and it is proven that they are most likely to succeed in getting the application to offer and complete. Avelo found that 75 per cent of all mortgage applications arranged through an intermediary went to offer. And, even more impressively, 85 per cent of mortgages offered via a broker went through to completion.

The research from Avelo also found that 27% of bank mortgages and less than one fifth (15 per cent) of mortgages arranged by mutuals are currently sold through their branch networks.

The research also found that there was a clear difference between banks and building societies as to where their mortgages come from. Mutuals were found to lean more heavily on the intermediary market with three quarters of their mortgages being arranged via a broker. In contrast, just 35 per cent of bank mortgages were arranged through a national or London mortgage advisor.

Further benefits to using a broker is the swiftness with which things get done. On average, just under one fifth (18 per cent) of mortgage offers were produced within five days, with banks higher at nearly one third (30 per cent) and mutuals lower, at just over one in 10 (12 per cent). Around three quarters of mortgage offers (73 per cent) were issued within 14 days.

Time to offer is seen by lenders, applicants and intermediaries as the key measure of efficiency and customer service. It will be extremely interesting to see what changes are put in place over the next 12 months and the impact these have on mortgage efficiency.

Not only will the offer itself be provided swiftly, but dealing with experts means that you will know pretty promptly what is and isn't possible and they know who to go to for what product. The relationship they have built up over time with lenders ensures that you get the best possible deal that perhaps another broker/individual would not be offered. Time and efficiency is key to high net worths' who are usually cash rich and time poor.

As well as providing bespoke large mortgage advice, an intermediary can also deal with the paperwork involved in the process. If you want to take the hassle out of applying for a mortgage, you should certainly consider speaking to a broker.