Step 1: Understand what house insurance covers

Before you check quotes for house insurance, it's important to understand the key parts of home insurance.

• Rebuild costs: This is the money needed to fix your home. It pays for building materials and workers’ time.

• Temporary accommodation: If you can't live in your home, this helps pay for where you will stay. For instance, it might cover $20,000 for a year.

• Natural disaster coverage: Many plans pay for damage caused by earthquakes or floods. This is really important in places like Christchurch or Napier.

• Liability cover: This keeps you safe if your property harms someone else's property.

• Exclusions: Things like regular wear and tear or changes made without permission are usually not part of most plans.

Pro Tip: Quashed lets you easily compare online home insurance quotes, ensuring your policy aligns with your home’s unique needs. For details, check out our guide to house insurance.

Step 2: Key factors to compare

When checking home insurance quotes, look at the value and not just the cost. Here are the important things to consider:

• Sum insured: Ensure your policy covers the full cost to rebuild your home.

• Add-ons: Consider options like coverage for gradual damage or protection for retaining walls. These can save you money later.

• Natural disaster coverage: Verify if the policy includes earthquakes, floods, or other important risks in NZ.

• Excess amounts: Choose an excess that is easy for you to pay and makes claiming simple.

For practical ways to save while maximising your cover, read our blog 8 budget hacks for house insurance.

Step 3: Use Quashed to compare real-time quotes

Let Quashed do the heavy lifting when it comes to comparing policies. It offers features designed for Kiwi homeowners:

• Real-time quotes: Instantly see multiple options for quote insurance home side by side.

• Adjustable variables: Experiment with excess levels or sum insured amounts to find the best balance of coverage and cost.

• Policy insights: Understand features like gradual damage limits or liability cover without digging through jargon-filled documents.

So, what makes Quashed different?

Platforms like MoneyHub provide helpful reviews and guides but don’t offer real-time or personalised comparison features. Quashed takes it a step further by letting you adjust variables like excess and rebuild costs, showing how these changes affect your premiums straight away. It’s a time-saving, tailored approach that makes managing your house insurance a breeze. Pro tip: For an easy guide to comparisons, read our blog on comparing insurance.

Step 4: Tailor policies to your needs

Every home is special. So, change your search for home insurance quotes to match your needs.

• New Buyers: Consider getting house and contents insurance together. This could help you save money.

• Renovated homes: Ensure that any updates, like a new deck or solar panels, are part of your policy's rebuild value.

• High-Risk Areas: If you live in a flood zone, make sure your natural disaster coverage includes floods and landslides.

• Landlords: Check out policies that cover tenants and protect your rental income.

First-time buyer? See our guide for first-time home buyers. Insuring a rental property? Read our blog Landlord Insurance: The Ins and Outs of Insuring Your Rental.

Step 5: Evaluate cost versus value

When you search for house insurance quotes online, remember that the cheapest home insurance policies might not suit you best. You need to balance cost with value. Think about specific issues in New Zealand, particularly the natural disaster risk associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity that could damage your home. Understanding these risks can help you get a lower premium for your home insurance policy.

• Monthly premiums: Can you pay for it?

• Policy features: Does the plan include important coverage like liability and gradual damage?

• Discount opportunities: Ask about discounts if you have several policies or loyalty rewards.

Curious about costs? Read our blog the average cost of house insurance in NZ for recent insights.

Want to know why costs are rising? Check out Why Are House Insurance Premiums Increasing.

Be the boss of your insurance

Take control of your house insurance with Quashed. You can compare home insurance quotes easily. Adjust the policies for your needs. Make sure to estimate the sum insured for your home correctly to get the best estimate of your rebuild costs. This will help you get the best cost for rebuilding when you need to claim. It also covers costs for debris removal and makes sure you have the right balance of cost and coverage. Finally, use the Cordell Sum Sure Calculator Calculator to assist you. Sign up now to start comparing!

FAQs

How does house insurance work?

House insurance protects your home against risks like fire, floods, or earthquakes. It typically covers rebuild costs, temporary accommodation, and liability for damage caused to others.

What does house insurance cover?

Most policies cover - rebuild costs for insured events like fire or storms, temporary accommodation during repairs and optional add-ons like gradual damage or retaining wall coverage.

How much does house insurance cost?

The average cost of house insurance hit $2,702 per year—or $225 a month in Q3 2024. Read our blog to find out more about the costs of house insurance.

How can you obtain house insurance quotes?

To obtain house insurance quotes and gain peace of mind, you can contact insurance companies directly, work with an insurance broker, or use online comparison tools like Quashed. Quashed simplifies the process by allowing you to compare multiple policies side by side in minutes, helping you find tailored coverage that fits your needs. With Quashed, you can:

• Save time: Skip the hassle of contacting multiple insurers and view quotes from various providers in one place.

• Customise your options: Adjust coverage levels, excess amounts, and additional features to suit your situation.

• Make informed decisions: Access clear, jargon-free explanations of policy details, so you know exactly what you're getting.

By using Quashed, you can ensure you’re not only getting competitive quotes but also coverage that provides protection for major events like natural disasters, accidental damage, and temporary accommodation costs. Accurate information about your house and coverage needs will help Quashed deliver quotes tailored to your specific requirements.

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