At Allsure Insurance, we know that your belongings can transform a house into your home. As a homeowner or renter, your household items are key assets that needs their value protected. Contents insurance covers the financial cost of repairing or replacing your personal possessions and fixtures, such as white goods, electrical appliances, jewellery and sporting equipment. This insurance covers household items that belong to you and to the family members who live with you. When considering the various contents insurance policies, you should also consider the value of your possessions, taking into account what you could afford to replace if something went wrong.

What does contents insurance typically cover?

A contents insurance policy protects your belongings against loss or damage from fires, flooding, vandalism, storms and theft. In these devastating situations, having the comfort of insurance cover can be a relief as your losses quickly add up and can lead to a heavy financial burden. Cover will typically include household items such as:

• Furniture – beds, sofas, wardrobes and dining tables
• Entertainment – video games, books, vinyl and DVDs
• Kitchenware – pots, pans, cutlery and appliances
• Furnishings – curtains, bedding, pillows, antiques and ornaments
• Electrical items – TVs, laptops, consoles and computers
• Personal items – clothing, watches and jewellery.

What is typically excluded in the cover?

Exclusions for contents insurance will differ depending on your provider and cover. Some insurance solutions will not cover you for items away from the home, such as those in storage, or transportable belongings. You often have the choice to include some items for an additional cost. For example, portable items like your handbag, camera, bike or mobile phone. Exclusions are also common with higher value items, such as expensive jewellery and special collectors’ items like artwork and stamps. You should also be aware of the conditions of the contents insurance–like keeping windows closed, doors locked or taps not left running—to make sure you’re covered in case of an incident.

Where do I start with contents insurance?

There are a few steps involved in starting the process to getting the right contents insurance. Typically, the process is as follows:

1. Calculate the value of your household items: You should work out what your belongings are worth to see how much cover you will need, as well as which items are worth insuring. Begin by making a list of how much each item would cost to replace, including as much detail as possible (how old the item is, photos, condition and cereal number). This contents calculator can be handy to have around while working out the worth of your items.
2. Consider separate insurance for high-value items: Some of your most valuable items may benefit from accidental damage cover, such as expensive antiques. This can ensure that you’re covered for mishaps. If you rent your home, renters’ insurance could be a good option.
3. Check limits for certain items: Some policies have maximum amounts on how much you are able to claim for certain items. For example, if you have a $1,000 limit for white goods, and a fire destroys your $2,000 state-of-the-art fridge, you’d end up paying the difference to replace it. Our policies on the other hand typically cover to a maximum sum insured, meaning even if your fridge (continuing the example above) cost $5,000 you’d likely be covered, as long as the contents sum insured in your policy was enough.
4. Check for exclusions: Some policies have exclusions, such as expensive collectors’ items. By having a detailed list of your items, we can find the best policy to meet your needs—and if you still need separate insurance for some specific items, we’ll help you find it.

Allsure contents insurance cover

At Allsure Insurance, we can help you find the right cover for your household items. We can assist in working out how much contents insurance you need, and tailoring a contents insurance solution. Contact us today to find out more.