End-of-year entertaining is something most of us are contemplating, though many of us might be thinking that holding dinner parties at home will doubtless be cheaper than going to a restaurant. But is this true?
Melody Redman, general manager of Budget Insurance Brokers, says that there are hidden costs involved and although restaurants may well be insured for these, the average person generally isn’t.
Take breakages. A survey done by Sheila’s Wheels Insurance in the UK has shown that 77% of people surveyed claim to have caused dinner-party damage: broken glasses and crockery, watermarks, red wine stains, cigarette burn marks, blocked toilets, broken objects and other expensive mishaps might end up costing you, the host or hostess.
“A third of the respondents said they would rather lie to their host than own up to a mistake, which adds insult to injury,” says Redman. Two out of five people admit to hiding the damage and 28% have actually blamed their partners for a dinner-party mishap.
Redman offers the following tips to minimise damage:
- Have carpet shampoo on standby and paper towels ready to manage any red wine spillages.
- Supply coasters for drinks to prevent watermark damage.
- Serve up in the kitchen rather than at the table and avoid dishes where guests help themselves.
- Keep expensive items in another room when entertaining.
- Make sure your home contents insurance provides cover for loss or damage to household possessions — say, broken glass and mirrors, television sets, furniture, stoves or ovens. And what happens if your guests’ belongings are stolen during a party? Check if you are covered for that eventuality, too.
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