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Home and contents insurance is available as individual policies, but homeowners and landlords also have the option of combining these into one policy. This is designed to safeguard both your home and your belongings. It can provide homeowners and landlords with financial protection should they need to claim for scenarios like certain natural disasters, theft, accidental damage and destruction.

When taking out a combined home and contents insurance policy, you may have the choice between:

  • Total replacement cover. Should your home be severely damaged or destroyed by an insurable event (e.g. fire or storm), total replacement cover usually reimburses the full cost of rebuilding your home to the condition it was in before the event.
  • Sum insured cover. This is a more common option for home and contents insurance policies, covering you up to a predetermined amount required to repair or rebuild your home. This amount is usually referred to as the sum insured.

There is also a range of optional extras your insurer might offer you to add to your home and contents policy. These extras commonly include:

Just keep in mind that any extra coverage you add to your policy will influence your premium, along with a number of other factors. Be sure to read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of any policy before you buy, as this will outline the inclusions and exclusions of your specific cover.

Couple moving into new home

Why should I get home and contents insurance?

Household insurance should be a big priority for Australian homeowners, particularly given the risk of natural disasters and unpredictable weather in this country. A home and contents policy provides you with financial protection if an accident or other unforeseen event damages your property. Besides, having peace of mind about your home and your possessions may be worth an additional expense.

As a homeowner or landlord, we know that you’ve invested a lot of time and effort into securing your home. For that reason, we cannot stress enough the importance of ensuring a financial safety net for your property against potential damage or destruction.

Bear in mind that standard home and contents insurance policies might not cover you in all circumstances. However, you can choose from a range of extras to combine with your policy, and we are delighted to point you in the right direction for those.

Stephen Zeller, General Manager

Top tips from Stephen Zeller, General Manager of General Insurance at Compare the Market

  • If you choose the sum insured option for your insurance, make sure that you decide on an amount that’s enough to rebuild your home should it be wrecked. Don’t forget to include any sheds or other outbuildings on your property.
  • Have you got an awesome collection of memorabilia or a stash of precious valuables? Make sure you check your policy’s PDS for any limits that may apply to items like these.
  • If you have a significant amount of fencing on your property, it’s worth checking your PDS to see how much your insurer will cover; some insurers may only cover you up to a specified length.
  • Let your insurer know if you’re going away for an extended period. Many insurers will only cover vacant properties for a specific period, and they will likely reject any claims made beyond that.

How we can help you

We can help you save time, money and stress by helping you compare home and contents insurance policies from a range of trusted Australian providers, all in one convenient place. But, best of all, you can do it all for free! So, why not compare today?

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