Going the Extra Mile: Urgent cover secured for high-value property exchange

Delivering urgent insurance against the clock

In the fast-paced world of property transactions, timing is everything - especially when high-value assets and tight deadlines are involved. This case study highlights how our Private Client team responded swiftly and decisively to secure urgent buildings insurance for a client facing a last-minute exchange on a £13 million property. Through strong insurer relationships and a commitment to going above and beyond, we ensured the client’s needs were met and the sale went ahead smoothly.

Client profile

High-net-worth individual referred by an estate agent, requiring immediate buildings insurance to facilitate a property exchange on a £13 million home.

The Challenge

The client was due to exchange contracts the following day on a high-value property.  When higher sums insured are involved the standard turnaround times for insurer quotes typically exceed 48 hours. However, for this particular case time was critical, and the risk of losing the sale was increasing.

Our response

At 3:00pm we contacted one of our insurer partners to discuss the case and its urgency. During the call, we secured indicative terms and were advised that quote documents would follow shortly. As the property exchange was expected the next day, we followed up at 4:00pm to ensure everything was on track.

Unexpectedly, at 5:15pm, the estate agent called: the seller was now pushing for exchange by 6:00pm that evening and was threatening to collapse the sale if not completed. Despite the insurer’s office hours having ended, our connections enabled us to reach out to our contacts to secure the documents.

At 5.30pm the quote documents were sent. We quickly drafted the quote presentation and sent it to the client. The client agreed to proceed immediately, and we incepted the policy just in time for the exchange to go ahead.

The Outcome

• The client was able to exchange on their new home without delay.
• The estate agent was extremely grateful and impressed by our commitment and speed.
• Our team demonstrated responsiveness, dedication, and a client-first approach.
• The client has since confirmed that they will be taking out a contents policy with us in the near future

Key Takeaway

This case exemplifies our Private Client team's agility and the value of our insurer relationships. Combined, this enables us to deliver under pressure and protect our clients' interests.