The AA has warned that home insurance premiums are continuing to rise at a time when very few homeowners are well-placed to cope with the soaring cost of bills.

The AA have revealed that over the past year, combined buildings and contents insurance premiums have risen sharply, and the bad news is that the trend is only set to continue during the closing months of 2011, and maybe even beyond.

Buildings insurance is now costing the average homeowner around £152, according to the AA, while contents insurance is weighing in at a slightly more conservative figure of £77. It is thought that claims relating to bad weather over the past 12 months have resulted in the increase in premiums for buildings household insurance. Wind damage, damage from lightning strikes (and even tornadoes!), and the traditional damage resulting from broken or frozen pipes and roof tanks are thought to have been the biggest offenders in this respect.

With news of a harsh winter on its way for Brits still coping with the short-lived summer, insurance companies have also been urging homeowners to carry out pre-winter checks on their homes in order to safeguard against having to make a claim around the festive season. The usual advice applies, so make sure you check your pipes, climb onto the roof to check for any loose tiles or fixtures around the chimney, and put that emergency kit into the cupboard under the stairs just in case!

One ray of light in the insurance news for consumers did come in the form of car insurance premiums remaining fairly steady, but this won’t come as music to the ears of young motorists who have already been hit hard by the biggest-ever rises in premiums over the past two years or so.

Recent research conducted by the independent financial research company Defaqto has shown that around 85% of consumers feel happy and safe researching and purchasing their home insurance policy online without seeking professional advice via other channels, such as the telephone, beforehand.

The increase in popularity of price comparison sites, driven largely by aggressive TV advertising campaigns in recent years from a number of companies, means that many consumers believe, even subconsciously, that there is no viable or realistic alternative to purchasing home insurance through the internet.

When you take into account the ease with which internet purchasing can be carried out, compared to telephone purchasing for example, it seems clear why the percentage uncovered by the recent research is so high.

However, a spokesperson for Defaqto was keen to point out the potential drawbacks of purchasing and researching insurance online. For starters, the process means that consumers need a solid awareness of all of the features included within each policy, and we all know how confusing the jargon associated with insurance can be at times.

Furthermore, optional extras can sometimes confuse homeowners, who aren’t sure whether they need accidental damage cover, valuables insurance, and home emergency cover.

Ultimately, as long as consumers research any confusing terms thoroughly, read up on the home insurance provider to see what other people think of their policies, and check any exclusions and terms and conditions, the process of buying home insurance online should be a safe and convenient one for all involved. One final tip, though, is not to automatically opt for the cheapest option that comes up in the results of price comparison sites; you could end up paying far, far more in the long-term!