Butler is a modern residential suburb in Perth's northern corridor, sitting within the City of Wanneroo and roughly 40 kilometres north of the CBD. It's a popular choice for families, thanks to its relatively affordable housing, good schools, and easy freeway access. This article takes a close look at a real home and contents insurance quote for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom free standing home in Butler (postcode 6036) — and unpacks whether the premium is reasonable given the property's features and the broader market context.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The quote in question comes in at $2,398 per year (or $230 per month), covering both building and contents. The building is insured for $858,000 and contents for $181,000, with a $1,000 excess on each.
Our price rating for this quote is EXPENSIVE — Above Average.
To put that in perspective: the suburb average for Butler (6036) sits at just $1,512 per year, with a median of $1,622. This quote is roughly 58% above the suburb average and sits well above the 75th percentile of $1,903 — meaning it's more expensive than at least three-quarters of comparable quotes in the area.
That said, it's worth noting that the sum insured here is substantial. A building replacement value of $858,000 is on the higher end for a 139 sqm home, and the contents cover of $181,000 is also generous. Higher insured values naturally push premiums upward, so some of the price gap is attributable to the coverage levels chosen rather than the insurer simply charging more for the same product.
Still, if you're paying above the 75th percentile, it's worth shopping around to see whether another insurer can offer comparable coverage at a more competitive rate.
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How Butler Compares
Understanding where Butler sits relative to broader benchmarks helps frame whether this suburb is inherently expensive to insure — or whether this particular quote is an outlier.
| Benchmark | Average Premium | Median Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Butler (6036) | $1,512/yr | $1,622/yr |
| LGA (Wanneroo) | $1,550/yr | — |
| Western Australia | $2,811/yr | $2,127/yr |
| National | $5,347/yr | $2,764/yr |
A few things stand out here. First, Butler is notably cheaper to insure than the WA state average, which itself is well below the national average. This reflects the relatively low natural hazard risk profile of Perth's northern suburbs — no cyclone rating, low flood exposure, and minimal bushfire risk compared to regional WA or other states.
The WA state average of $2,811 per year is dragged upward by higher-risk regions across the state, so Butler homeowners are generally in a favourable position. Nationally, the picture is even starker — Australia's average home insurance premium of $5,347 reflects the significant exposure many parts of the country face from cyclones, floods, and bushfires.
For Butler residents, the local market is relatively affordable — which makes it all the more important to ensure you're not overpaying within that already competitive pool.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this property influence what insurers charge — for better and for worse.
Double Brick Construction Double brick is widely regarded as one of the most resilient wall materials available in Australia. It offers excellent structural integrity, fire resistance, and thermal performance. Insurers generally view double brick favourably, and it can contribute to lower premiums compared to brick veneer or weatherboard homes.
Tiled Roof Concrete or terracotta tiles are a durable roofing choice and are standard across much of Perth's newer housing stock. Tiles are well-regarded by insurers for their longevity and resistance to ember attack, though they can be more costly to repair than Colorbond in some scenarios.
Slab Foundation & Tiled Flooring A concrete slab foundation is the norm for homes built in Perth's northern suburbs during the 2000s. Combined with tiled flooring throughout, this reduces the risk of damage from moisture and pests — both factors that can affect insurance risk assessments.
Swimming Pool A pool adds value to the property but also introduces liability considerations. Most home and contents policies include some public liability cover, but homeowners should confirm their policy adequately covers pool-related incidents, particularly if children visit the property.
Solar Panels The home features a rooftop solar system, which needs to be factored into the building sum insured. Solar panels can be expensive to replace, and not all standard policies cover them automatically — it's worth checking the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to confirm solar is included under your building cover.
Ducted Climate Control Ducted air conditioning is a fixed installation and should be included in the building sum insured. Given the Perth climate, this is a significant asset — and one that can be costly to repair or replace if damaged by storm or electrical fault.
Construction Year: 2007 A home built in 2007 is relatively modern and benefits from building codes that were already well-developed by that point. This generally translates to lower risk in insurers' eyes compared to older homes with potentially outdated wiring or plumbing.
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Tips for Homeowners in Butler
1. Review your sum insured carefully A building replacement value of $858,000 for a 139 sqm home is worth scrutinising. Use a building cost calculator (many insurers provide one) to confirm this figure reflects current construction costs in Perth — over-insuring inflates your premium without adding real benefit, while under-insuring can leave you exposed at claim time.
2. Confirm solar panels and pool equipment are covered Check your PDS to ensure both your solar system and pool equipment (pumps, filters, heating) are explicitly covered under your building policy. Some insurers treat these as standard inclusions; others require endorsements or have sublimits.
3. Compare at least three quotes before renewing Given this quote sits above the 75th percentile for Butler, there's a reasonable chance a comparable policy is available at a lower price. Use CoverClub's quote comparison tool to benchmark your current premium against the market — it takes just a few minutes and could save you hundreds.
4. Consider your excess strategy Both the building and contents excess are set at $1,000. Opting for a higher excess (say, $2,000) can meaningfully reduce your annual premium. If you have an emergency fund and are unlikely to make small claims, a higher excess is often a smart trade-off.
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Compare Your Home Insurance Today
Whether you're a first-time buyer in Butler or a long-term homeowner reviewing your renewal, it pays to know where your premium sits relative to the market. CoverClub makes it easy to see real quotes side by side, so you can make a confident, informed decision.
Get a home insurance quote now and find out if you could be paying less for the same level of cover.