The results of a survey of 1500 first-time home buyers carried out by Co-operative Insurance has found that a third (31%) of those surveyed admitted to buying furniture before accurately measuring up their new dwellings.

Of these, one in four (25%) said it was a nightmare to get their furnishings into the property, 16% had to remove a window, and 7% actually caused damage to their new home by moving the furniture in.

The survey also found that one in five first time buyers between the ages of 25 and 34 are underinsuring their homes, leaving their property and belongings exposed, as they admit to purchasing only buildings or contents insurance, rather than the two combined. 19% did not have contents insurance in place before they moved in to a property. 

Caroline Hunter, head of home insurance at The Co-operative, says: “The research shows that there are a number of first time buyers who may be getting their priorities wrong when it comes to moving. Buying a property is a complex process and a lack of understanding means that many people are not adequately covered when it comes to insurance.