Home contents top £44,000

A TYPICAL family home now contains £44,447 worth of goods, it has emerged. Upgrading electronic goods such as computers and mobile phones for the latest model is a major factor in pushing up the value of our possessions, according to an annual UK Home Contents Index.

It found values had risen by more than 50% in the past decade - up from £29,603 in 1994 - and possessions are now worth more than the cost of an average house in 1987.

The arrival of children puts the value of possessions up typically by £8,772, the report estimates. The contents of today's toy box alone could cost £850 to replace and even babies can significantly increase the value inside the home with baby equipment and nursery furniture adding £680.

Despite this nearly half of those questioned (49%) thought the their home contents were worth less than £20,000 and more than two thirds (68%) estimated their possessions to be worth less than £30,000.

Graham Hollebon, head of personal finance at insurer MORE TH@N which produced the index, said: 'As a nation we are filling our homes with more and more gadgets and entertainment systems.'