Brentwood is a well-established residential suburb in the City of Melville, sitting about 12 kilometres south of the Perth CBD. With its leafy streets, proximity to quality schools, and strong property values, it's no surprise that homeowners here are investing in solid coverage for their most valuable asset. This article breaks down a real home and contents insurance quote for a free standing home in Brentwood — and helps you understand whether you're paying a fair price, or leaving money on the table.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The quote in question comes to $2,432 per year (or $233/month) for combined home and contents cover, with a building sum insured of $1,157,000 and contents valued at $109,000. Both the building and contents excess are set at $1,000.
Our price rating for this quote is FAIR — Around Average. That assessment holds up well when you dig into the numbers. The premium sits comfortably below the WA state average of $2,811/year, and is significantly lower than the national average of $5,347/year. When you factor in the high sum insured — over $1.1 million for the building alone — paying $2,432 annually represents reasonable value for the level of cover provided.
That said, "fair" doesn't mean you can't do better. Insurance pricing varies considerably between providers, and even a modest saving of 10–15% on this premium could put $240–$365 back in your pocket each year.
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How Brentwood Compares
Understanding where your premium sits relative to local, state, and national benchmarks is one of the most useful tools a homeowner has. Here's how this quote stacks up:
| Benchmark | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| This Quote | $2,432 |
| LGA (Melville) Average | $1,826 |
| WA State Median | $2,127 |
| WA State Average | $2,811 |
| National Median | $2,764 |
| National Average | $5,347 |
A few things stand out here. The quote is notably higher than the Melville LGA average of $1,826/year, which likely reflects the above-average sum insured and premium fittings quality associated with this particular property. Homes with top-of-the-range finishes and higher rebuild costs will naturally attract higher premiums.
Compared to WA state figures, this quote sits above the median ($2,127) but below the average ($2,811), placing it in the middle band of what Western Australians typically pay. Against national benchmarks, the premium looks very competitive — the national average of $5,347 is more than double this quote, largely driven by high-risk areas in Queensland and Northern Australia where cyclone and flood exposure pushes premiums sky-high.
For Brentwood specifically, the absence of cyclone risk is a meaningful advantage. Suburbs in Perth's southern corridor don't face the same catastrophic weather exposure as coastal and northern WA communities, and that's reflected in more moderate pricing.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Every property has a unique risk profile, and insurers weigh up a range of construction and location factors when calculating your premium. Here's how the features of this Brentwood home come into play:
Double Brick Construction Double brick is widely regarded as one of the most resilient building methods in Australia. It offers excellent fire resistance, structural integrity, and durability — all qualities that insurers reward with lower risk assessments. Homes built with double brick typically attract more favourable premiums compared to timber or lightweight cladding alternatives.
Tiled Roof Concrete or terracotta tiles are a popular and durable roofing choice in Perth. They perform well against ember attack during bushfire conditions and generally have a long lifespan. Insurers view tiled roofs favourably, particularly when the property is well-maintained.
Slab Foundation A concrete slab foundation is standard for Perth homes and is considered low-risk from an insurance perspective. It eliminates the concerns associated with subfloor moisture and pest damage that can affect older raised foundations.
Built in 2013 At just over a decade old, this home sits in a sweet spot for insurers. It's recent enough to comply with modern building codes (including updated bushfire and energy standards) but old enough that any initial construction defects would likely have surfaced by now. Newer builds generally attract lower premiums than ageing properties with deferred maintenance.
Top-of-the-Range Fittings This is one of the more significant premium drivers for this property. High-end finishes — think stone benchtops, custom cabinetry, premium flooring, and designer fixtures — increase the cost to rebuild or repair the home to its original standard. This is why the building sum insured sits at $1,157,000, which is higher than many comparable-sized homes in the area.
Solar Panels Solar panels add value to the property but also introduce a specific insurance consideration. Panels on the roof can be damaged by storms, hail, or falling debris, and most insurers will cover them as part of the building. It's worth confirming with your insurer exactly how solar panels are covered under your policy — some require them to be specifically listed.
Ducted Climate Control Ducted air conditioning is a significant fixed asset and forms part of the building's insured value. Its inclusion is appropriately reflected in the sum insured.
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Tips for Homeowners in Brentwood
1. Review your sum insured regularly Building costs in Perth have risen sharply over the past few years due to labour shortages and material price increases. If your sum insured hasn't been reviewed recently, there's a real risk of being underinsured. Use a building cost calculator or speak with a quantity surveyor to ensure your coverage reflects current rebuild costs — not what you paid for the home.
2. Confirm your solar panels are covered As noted above, solar panels aren't always automatically included in standard building cover. Check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) carefully to confirm panels are listed and that the coverage includes accidental damage, not just storm events.
3. Don't over-insure your contents Contents insurance of $109,000 is a reasonable figure for a well-appointed home, but it's worth doing a proper home inventory to make sure you're not paying for more coverage than you need — or less. Apps and spreadsheets can make this process straightforward, and it's a worthwhile exercise every couple of years.
4. Compare quotes before renewal Loyalty doesn't always pay in insurance. Many providers offer their best rates to new customers, meaning long-standing policyholders can end up paying more over time. Use a comparison platform like CoverClub to benchmark your renewal quote against the broader market before automatically renewing.
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Ready to Find a Better Deal?
Whether you're buying your first home in Brentwood or reviewing your existing cover, comparing quotes is the single most effective way to ensure you're getting value for money. CoverClub makes it easy to see what multiple insurers would charge for your specific property — in minutes, not hours.