As fixed-line broadband is becoming increasingly common around the country, either through initiatives run by telecoms companies or locally funded schemes in rural areas, getting connected to the UK's communication infrastructure has never been a more exciting prospect. To entice new customers, many companies are now offer home phone packages that includes free or cheap landline installation if you agree to sign up to extra services, such as broadband or digital TV, so having a good look through the deals available in your local area is vital to ensure you sign up to a home phone package that suits your pocket and your needs.

It is recommended you visit a price comparison site to browse landline deals where you live. By just entering your postcode and hitting 'search', you will be presented with all the home phone packages that are on offer from a variety of providers, each broken down into easy to understand headings. If you want to look at deals that include free phone line installation, you can sort the results by this heading. If you want to see which packages gives you the cheapest line rental charges, that is possible too.

One of the most useful- but often overlooked- services these comparison sites provide are the reviews that customers on each package leave. It is always worth reading reviews before committing to a contract, as you can find out about the reliability of each service, how helpful the technical support is and how long you can expect to wait to speak to a customer service representative. It is worth looking for reviews that cover billing issues as well as you do not want to sign up with a provider that regularly overcharges or accidentally bills for services you do not use. Avoid reviews written in capitals or that forego paragraphing, as the writer may not have been thinking clearly or rationally when they left their feedback.

A price comparison can also help you find out what times each company refers to as on or off peak. 6 or 7pm is often the start of off peak charging but it is worth being certain. Many providers also offer packages that give customers free evening and weekend calls. If you are currently reliant on a mobile phone and find yourself paying extra each month, a free call landline deal could actually save you money as well as giving you an access point for super-fast broadband services.

If you want to sign up to broadband services when you get your home phone connected, many providers offer bundle packages, giving you multiple services for a discounted monthly rate. The more services you sign up to, the bigger the discount.

A price comparison search can help you wade through the jargon and find the right deal for you.