Attadale is one of Perth's most desirable riverside suburbs, sitting within the City of Melville just 10 kilometres south of the CBD. Its leafy streets are lined with generous family homes — many of them substantial double brick properties that have stood for decades. If you own a large free standing home here, understanding what drives your insurance premium is essential to making sure you're getting value for money.
This article breaks down a real home and contents insurance quote for a 6-bedroom free standing home in Attadale (WA 6156), compares it against local, state and national benchmarks, and offers practical tips to help you manage your cover costs.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The quote in question sits at $4,804 per year (or $460/month), covering both building and contents with a $1,000 excess on each. Our price rating for this quote is Expensive — Above Average.
To understand why, it helps to look at the numbers in context. The suburb average for Attadale sits at just $2,449/year, with a median of $2,425. That means this quote is running at nearly double the typical premium paid by other homeowners in the same postcode — a significant gap that warrants a closer look.
That said, it's important not to compare apples with oranges. This is a large, high-value property with a building sum insured of $2,001,000 and contents cover of $200,000 — a total insured value of $2.2 million. Most homes in the suburb sample are likely insured for considerably less, which naturally brings their premiums down. The elevated sum insured is almost certainly the dominant factor pushing this quote above the local average.
Still, "expensive" doesn't necessarily mean "wrong" — but it does mean it's worth shopping around.
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How Attadale Compares
Here's how the premium stacks up across different benchmarks:
| Benchmark | Average Premium | Median Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Attadale (WA 6156) | $2,449/yr | $2,425/yr |
| LGA (City of Melville) | $1,826/yr | — |
| Western Australia | $2,811/yr | $2,127/yr |
| National | $5,347/yr | $2,764/yr |
A few things stand out here. First, Attadale and the broader Melville LGA actually sit below the WA state average, suggesting this is a relatively affordable area to insure compared to other parts of Western Australia. Second, when viewed against the national average of $5,347/year, this quote is actually below the national mean — which puts the "expensive" rating in perspective. Nationally, premiums are being dragged upward by high-risk regions (cyclone zones, flood-prone areas), so Attadale homeowners are in a comparatively favourable position.
The WA state picture also tells an interesting story: the gap between the state average ($2,811) and median ($2,127) suggests a skewed distribution, with a handful of high-value or high-risk properties pulling the average up. This property, with its $2M+ building sum insured, would contribute to that kind of skew.
The suburb sample size of 19 quotes is relatively small, so the local averages should be treated as a guide rather than a definitive benchmark.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this property have a meaningful influence on what insurers charge:
Double Brick Construction Built in 1981, this home features double brick external walls — a construction type that insurers generally view favourably. Double brick is durable, fire-resistant, and holds up well over time. Compared to lightweight or timber-framed homes, it typically attracts lower premiums, all else being equal.
Tiled Roof Terracotta or concrete tiles are a common roofing material in Perth's established suburbs, and insurers tend to rate them positively. They're long-lasting and offer solid weather protection, though they can be more expensive to repair or replace than Colorbond if damaged.
Slab Foundation A concrete slab foundation is standard for homes of this era in WA and doesn't generally attract any premium loading. It provides a stable base and reduces the risk of subsidence-related claims.
Size and Sum Insured At 286 sqm and a building sum insured of $2,001,000, this is a substantial property. Rebuild costs in Perth have risen sharply in recent years due to labour shortages and elevated material costs, so a high sum insured is prudent — but it does directly increase your premium.
Solar Panels The presence of solar panels adds a modest amount to the insured value of the building. Panels can be damaged by hail or storms and are expensive to replace, so insurers factor this into their pricing.
Ducted Climate Control Ducted air conditioning is another above-average fitting that contributes to the overall replacement cost of the home. Together with the "above average" fittings quality rating, this signals to insurers that the internal fitout is high-end and costly to reinstate.
No Cyclone Risk Attadale is not classified as a cyclone risk area, which is a meaningful saving compared to properties in northern WA. This keeps the premium lower than it would be for equivalent homes in Broome, Karratha or the Kimberley.
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Tips for Homeowners in Attadale
1. Review your sum insured carefully A $2,001,000 building sum insured is significant — make sure it accurately reflects current rebuild costs (not market value). Overcovering your home means paying more than necessary, while undercovering leaves you exposed. Use a qualified quantity surveyor or an online rebuild calculator to check your figure.
2. Compare quotes annually Insurers adjust their pricing models regularly, and loyalty doesn't always pay. With a premium at this level, even a 10–15% saving represents several hundred dollars per year. Run a fresh comparison at CoverClub before your renewal date each year.
3. Consider your excess settings This policy carries a $1,000 excess on both building and contents. Opting for a higher excess (say, $2,000 or $2,500) can reduce your annual premium meaningfully — just make sure you're comfortable covering that amount out of pocket if you need to make a claim.
4. Bundle strategically Many insurers offer discounts when you combine building and contents cover under a single policy. This quote already does that, which is a good start — but it's worth confirming you're receiving the bundling discount and that it's been applied correctly.
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Ready to Find a Better Deal?
Whether this quote looks right for your situation or you suspect there's room to save, the smartest move is to compare. CoverClub makes it easy to see how your home insurance stacks up — just enter your address and get started. Compare home insurance quotes in Attadale today.