Broadband comparison checklist: 10 things to compare before you switch

First confirm the exact property. Second identify the access technology: full fibre, copper-based fibre or another network. An attractive national deal is irrelevant if the property cannot receive it, and technology can affect installation as well as speed.

Check the expected download speed for everyday use and the upload estimate for video calls, cloud storage and sending large files. Use the provider's address-specific information rather than assuming the package headline is a guaranteed speed at every home.

Write down the starting monthly charge and any known change during the minimum term. Then add setup, activation, router and delivery charges. Looking at the total cost over the period you expect to stay exposes differences that a headline monthly figure can hide.

A fixed minimum term and a rolling monthly option solve different problems. Compare the notice period, early termination rules and what happens if you move home. Do not buy flexibility you do not need, but do not give it up without understanding the trade-off.

Ask whether an engineer visit is needed, which router is supplied, whether you may use your own equipment and what a digital home-phone service adds. If keeping a landline number matters, confirm number transfer before the order is submitted.

Find out how faults are reported, which support channels exist and where service-status information is published. You are buying an ongoing service, not only a speed figure. A provider that communicates clearly during installation and faults can be worth more than a small headline saving.