Craigie is a well-established residential suburb in Perth's northern corridor, sitting within the City of Joondalup. Known for its leafy streets, solid brick homes, and proximity to Craigie Leisure Centre and Yellagonga Regional Park, it's a popular choice for families seeking space and convenience. If you own a free-standing home here, understanding what you should be paying for home and contents insurance — and why — can make a real difference to your household budget.
This article breaks down a recent home and contents insurance quote for a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom free-standing home in Craigie, examining whether the premium stacks up against local and national benchmarks.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The annual premium for this property came in at $1,962 per year (or $188/month), covering both building (sum insured: $608,000) and contents ($50,000), each with a $1,000 excess.
Our price rating for this quote is Expensive — Above Average.
To put that in context: the suburb average for Craigie sits at $1,472/yr, with a median of $1,176/yr. This quote lands well above both figures — and even above the suburb's 75th percentile of $1,837/yr. In other words, roughly 75% of comparable quotes in the 6025 postcode come in cheaper than this one.
That said, "expensive" is relative. The quote is notably below the WA state average of $2,811/yr and well under the national average of $5,347/yr. So while this premium is on the higher end for Craigie specifically, it's actually quite competitive when viewed through a broader lens.
The key takeaway: this homeowner is paying more than most of their neighbours, but significantly less than the typical Western Australian or Australian homeowner. Whether that represents fair value depends on the specific features of the property — which we'll explore below.
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How Craigie Compares
Here's a snapshot of how this quote sits across different benchmarks:
| Benchmark | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| This Quote | $1,962 |
| Craigie Suburb Average | $1,472 |
| Craigie Suburb Median | $1,176 |
| Craigie 25th Percentile | $930 |
| Craigie 75th Percentile | $1,837 |
| City of Joondalup (LGA) Average | $2,112 |
| WA State Average | $2,811 |
| National Average | $5,347 |
A few things stand out here. First, the spread within Craigie itself is quite wide — from $930 at the lower end to $1,837 at the 75th percentile — suggesting that property-specific factors play a significant role in determining premiums locally. Second, the City of Joondalup LGA average of $2,112/yr actually exceeds this quote, hinting that some nearby suburbs carry higher risk profiles. Third, the dramatic gap between WA and national averages reflects just how expensive home insurance has become in high-risk states like Queensland and New South Wales, where cyclones, floods, and bushfires drive premiums skyward.
For deeper suburb-level data, visit the Craigie insurance stats page or explore WA-wide trends.
> Note: The suburb sample size for Craigie is 15 quotes, so these figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive. A larger dataset would provide greater statistical confidence.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this particular home are worth examining through an insurance lens.
Double Brick Construction (1979)
Double brick is generally viewed favourably by insurers — it's durable, fire-resistant, and structurally robust. Homes built in the 1970s in Perth's northern suburbs were commonly constructed to a high standard, and double brick has aged well. However, older homes can attract slightly higher premiums due to the increased cost of sourcing matching materials and the potential for hidden wear in plumbing and electrical systems.
Steel/Colorbond Roof
Colorbond roofing is a strong choice in the Australian climate. It's lightweight, resistant to corrosion, and performs well in high-wind events. Insurers generally view it positively compared to older tile roofs, which can crack or dislodge more easily. This feature likely works in the homeowner's favour.
Slab Foundation & Timber/Laminate Flooring
A concrete slab foundation is standard for Perth homes of this era and carries no particular premium penalty. Timber and laminate flooring can be a factor in contents or building claims — timber in particular can be costly to repair or match — but it's unlikely to be a significant driver of the overall premium.
Above-Average Fittings Quality
This is a meaningful factor. Above-average fittings — think stone benchtops, quality cabinetry, premium fixtures — increase the cost to rebuild or repair, which is reflected in both the sum insured and the premium. A $608,000 building sum insured for a 105 sqm home implies a high per-square-metre rebuild cost, consistent with quality fittings.
Solar Panels
Solar panels add value but also complexity. They increase the replacement cost of the roof and can be a source of claims if damaged by hail or storm. Some insurers cover solar panels under the building policy automatically; others treat them as an optional extra. It's worth confirming exactly what's covered under this policy.
Ducted Climate Control
Ducted air conditioning systems are expensive to replace — often $10,000–$20,000 or more — and are typically covered under building insurance. Their presence contributes to a higher sum insured and, by extension, a higher premium.
No Pool, No Cyclone Risk
The absence of a pool removes a common liability and maintenance concern for insurers. And while Perth does experience strong storms, Craigie falls outside designated cyclone risk zones, which keeps premiums meaningfully lower than properties in northern WA.
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Tips for Homeowners in Craigie
1. Review your sum insured carefully A $608,000 building sum insured for a 105 sqm home works out to roughly $5,790 per square metre — which is on the higher end, even accounting for above-average fittings. Use a reputable building cost calculator (such as the Cordell Sum Sure tool) to verify this figure. Being over-insured means paying unnecessarily high premiums; being under-insured can leave you exposed at claim time.
2. Compare quotes annually The insurance market in Australia is competitive and pricing can shift significantly year to year. Given this quote sits above the suburb average, it's worth shopping around at renewal time. Get a comparison quote through CoverClub to see what other insurers are offering for the same level of cover.
3. Consider a higher excess to reduce your premium Both the building and contents excess on this policy are set at $1,000. Increasing the excess — say, to $2,000 or $2,500 — can meaningfully reduce the annual premium. This strategy works well if you have sufficient savings to cover the excess in the event of a claim and you're primarily seeking protection against major losses rather than minor incidents.
4. Confirm solar panel coverage With solar panels on the roof, it's worth calling your insurer to confirm exactly how they're covered. Ask whether storm and hail damage is included, whether there's a separate sub-limit, and whether the panels are covered during installation or maintenance. Gaps in solar cover are a common surprise at claim time.
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Compare Your Home Insurance Today
Whether you're renewing your policy or shopping for the first time, comparing quotes is the single most effective way to ensure you're getting fair value. CoverClub makes it easy to see how your premium stacks up against real data from your suburb, your LGA, and across Australia.
Get a home insurance quote now and find out if you're paying too much for your Craigie home.