Bedford is a well-established suburb sitting just 7 kilometres north-east of Perth's CBD, known for its leafy streets, post-war character homes, and a strong sense of community. If you own a free standing home in Bedford — particularly one of the classic double brick builds that define the area — understanding what you should be paying for home and contents insurance is an important part of protecting your investment. This article breaks down a real insurance quote for a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom free standing home in Bedford WA 6062, and puts it in context against local, state, and national benchmarks.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The annual premium for this property came in at $1,825 per year (or roughly $175 per month), covering both building and contents. The building is insured for $600,000 with contents valued at $70,000, and both the building and contents excess are set at a reasonable $500.
Our pricing engine rates this quote as CHEAP — below average for the area. That's a positive outcome for the homeowner, and it's worth understanding why.
Several factors likely work in this property's favour. Double brick construction is highly regarded by insurers — it's durable, fire-resistant, and less susceptible to storm damage than timber-framed alternatives. A tiled roof similarly signals longevity and resilience. The home sits outside a designated cyclone risk zone, which removes one of the more significant premium loading factors that affect properties in northern WA. Taken together, these characteristics paint a picture of a structurally sound, lower-risk property.
At $1,825 annually, this is a competitive result — but as always, the right price depends on adequate coverage, not just a low number. It's worth confirming the building sum insured reflects current rebuild costs, particularly given ongoing construction price inflation across Perth.
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How Bedford Compares
Putting this quote in a broader context helps illustrate just how competitive it is:
| Benchmark | Premium |
|---|---|
| This Quote | $1,825/yr |
| LGA (Bayswater) Average | $1,514/yr |
| WA State Median | $2,127/yr |
| WA State Average | $2,811/yr |
| National Median | $2,764/yr |
| National Average | $5,347/yr |
This quote sits above the Bayswater LGA average of $1,514/yr, which is expected given the higher sum insured — $600,000 for building alone is above many comparable properties. However, it comes in well below both the WA state average of $2,811/yr and the national average of $5,347/yr, which is a strong result.
The national average is significantly elevated by high-risk regions — coastal Queensland, cyclone-prone northern WA, and flood-affected areas in NSW and Victoria all push that figure up considerably. Bedford, by contrast, benefits from Perth's relatively benign risk profile: no cyclone exposure, low flood risk in most parts, and a dry Mediterranean climate that reduces the likelihood of storm-related claims.
For homeowners in Bedford, the takeaway is clear: if you're currently paying significantly more than $1,825–$2,100 per year for a comparable property, it may be time to shop around.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Every property is different, and insurers weigh up a range of characteristics when calculating your premium. Here's how the features of this particular home play into the final price:
Double Brick Walls Double brick is one of the most insurer-friendly construction types in Australia. It offers superior fire resistance, excellent structural integrity, and holds up well in high-wind events. Many insurers apply lower risk ratings to double brick homes, which typically translates to lower premiums.
Tiled Roof Terracotta or concrete tiles are considered a durable roofing material. While they can crack under hail impact, they're generally more resilient than corrugated iron in fire scenarios and have a long service life. A well-maintained tiled roof is a positive signal to underwriters.
Construction Year: 1973 Homes built in the early 1970s are common across Bedford and the broader Bayswater area. While older homes can attract scrutiny around wiring, plumbing, and structural compliance, a well-maintained double brick home of this era is generally considered a good risk. It's worth ensuring any major systems (electrical, plumbing) have been updated, as aging infrastructure can affect both claims outcomes and premiums.
Solar Panels This property has solar panels installed, which is increasingly common across Perth. Solar panels add value to the property and should be factored into the building sum insured. Most home insurance policies cover rooftop solar as part of the building, but it's worth confirming this with your insurer — particularly for newer, higher-value systems.
Ducted Climate Control Ducted air conditioning is a significant fixed asset and contributes to the overall replacement value of the home. Its inclusion in the building sum insured is appropriate and helps ensure you're not underinsured in the event of a total loss.
No Pool The absence of a swimming pool removes a common source of liability and maintenance-related claims. This is a minor but positive factor in the risk assessment.
Standard Fittings With standard-quality fittings throughout, the home doesn't carry the premium loading associated with high-end finishes, custom joinery, or luxury appliances. This keeps the rebuild cost estimate — and therefore the premium — more straightforward to calculate.
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Tips for Homeowners in Bedford
1. Review Your Building Sum Insured Annually Construction costs in Perth have risen sharply over the past few years. A sum insured of $600,000 may be appropriate today, but it's worth recalculating your estimated rebuild cost each year at renewal. Underinsurance is one of the most common — and costly — mistakes homeowners make.
2. Confirm Solar Panels Are Covered If you've recently upgraded your solar system or added battery storage, make sure your policy reflects the current replacement value. Some policies have caps on solar coverage, so read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) carefully or ask your insurer directly.
3. Consider Your Excess Strategy Both the building and contents excess on this policy are set at $500. Opting for a higher voluntary excess (say, $1,000 or $2,500) can meaningfully reduce your annual premium — particularly useful if you have a good claims history and are comfortable absorbing smaller losses out of pocket.
4. Don't Auto-Renew Without Comparing Even a quote rated "cheap" today may not be the best available option at renewal. Insurers regularly adjust their pricing models, and new entrants to the market can offer competitive rates. Taking 15 minutes to compare quotes annually could save you hundreds of dollars — especially as your property's value and risk profile evolve over time.
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Find Your Best Rate with CoverClub
Whether you're a long-time Bedford resident or you've recently purchased in the area, comparing home and contents insurance quotes is one of the simplest ways to ensure you're getting genuine value. CoverClub makes it easy to see how your current premium stacks up against the market — and to find a better deal if one exists. Get a quote today at CoverClub and take the guesswork out of home insurance.