Tips to help reduce the cost of your home insurance

05 Oct 2018

If you’re looking to save on your home and contents insurance, it’s helpful to understand a couple of ways to reduce your overall risk, which may have flow on effects to the cost of your premium.

With no such ‘one size fits all’ policy for home and contents, striking the right balance of coverage and price is critical, says QBE National Householders Product Manager, Angelo Colosimo.

Here are four tips that may help reduce your risk and therefore positively impact the cost of your home and contents insurance:

1. Value your contents accurately

“Many people over-estimate the value of their home and contents by rounding up the price, but it’s important to understand that this means the premium may increase too,” Colosimo says.

2, Install a security system

If you have an alarm system in place some insurers may offer a lower premium for your contents insurance. Always check what minimum standard is needed by your insurance provider for the alarm system.

3. Opt for a higher excess

An excess is the amount you may need to contribute when you make a claim. If you increase your excess, it will lower the cost of your premium. However, it’s always good to think about the impact a higher excess may have on your financial situation in the event you need to make a claim. You need to make sure the excess you choose is manageable for you and your family in the event of an emergency or a claim.

Home insurance

4. Continually review your home and contents insurance policy

It’s easy to simply roll over your home and contents insurance policy when it comes to the renewal period, but it’s critical you remember to review the allocated value of your home and personal possessions and ensure you’re comfortable with your sum insured.

“Some items may have reduced in value over the years - accordingly adjusting your insurance cover may lower your premium,” Colosimo says.

Alternatively, you may have obtained new items that are not covered and need to adjust your contents coverage to allow for these new items.

This advice is general in nature and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be right for you. You must decide whether or not it is appropriate, in light of your own circumstances, to act on this advice. To decide if QBE’s products are right for you, please ensure you obtain and consider the Policy Wording or Product Disclosure Statements and Target Market Determinations, available online at QBE.com/au. Insurance issued and underwritten by QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited (ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239545).