Think you've got enough cover on your home?
We hate to be the bearers of bad news but according to the Insurance Council of Australia, 83% of Aussies don't have enough insurance cover for their combined home and contents. This is known as underinsurance and it can be almost as bad as not having insurance at all.
Let's say your home and everything in it was worth $2 million and a fire destroyed it all. Having your stuff insured for half that would help, but you'd still be reeling.
Here are some tips to help you avoid this fate:
- Do the maths. Be as detailed as possible in your calculations. There are plenty of online calculators to help you.
- Don't cut corners. Don't insure something important for lower than what it's worth, and don't pass on extras you know you might need (like flood cover when you're on a flood plain). You might save a few bucks on your premium but find yourself on the hook for thousands if you ever need to claim.
- Details, details, details. Sometimes the devil is in the detail. For example, your contents protection might give you $50,000 worth of cover but cap your payout at $2,000 per item. If your $10,000 wedding ring gets stolen, a $2,000 payout probably won't cheer you up much. In this instance, you'd need to declare the ring separately.
- Review early, review often. There's a good chance the value of your stuff will change over time. Property values never stay the same, and you'll always be bringing new gadgets into your house. If the value of everything changes, adjust your cover as necessary.

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My daughter is POA for her brother whose house needs insurance. Can you please advise if this is enough authority for her to act on his behalf. Thank you.
Hi Jane,
It depends on the specific terms of the POA document. It must specifically grant your daughter the authority to manage his financial and property affairs, including the power to purchase insurance on his behalf. Your best bet is to contact an insurer directly to see what your options are. Best of luck!
i want home contents insurance for a $213000 cover $200 excess villa north nowra nsw 2541no prior claims
Hi Garry,
You’ll need to collect some quotes to see which providers can offer you cover and what policy best suits your needs. Have a look through the different features and once you’re ready, click ‘Get Quote’. You’ll be prompted to answer some questions on the provider’s site and then you’ll get a quote.
Hope this helps.
Who covers home and contents landslip insurance
Hi Monique, Unfortunately, most insurers won’t cover damage as a result of a landslip.
Who insures homes in over 55 villages?
Hi Dave,
APIA and MHIA are insurers that can provide insurance for over 55 markets.
Hope this helps!
If you have an existing home and contents policy and you want to cancel the home policy and just keep the contents side of the policy, if you’re moving house, can this be done? Isn’t it breaking a policy contract?
Hi Paul,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
I suggest that you contact your insurer on this matter as they may provide you a more accurate info on changing your cover or level of cover.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni