If you own a free standing home in Girrawheen, WA 6064, you've probably wondered whether your home insurance premium is reasonable — or whether you're quietly paying more than you should be. This article breaks down a real home and contents insurance quote for a four-bedroom, double brick home in this northern Perth suburb, and puts the numbers into context against local, state-wide, and national benchmarks.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The annual premium for this property came in at $2,050 per year (or around $196/month), covering a building sum insured of $566,000 and contents valued at $200,000, each with a $1,000 excess.
Our price rating for this quote is Expensive — above average for the Girrawheen area.
To understand why, it helps to look at what other homeowners nearby are paying. The suburb average premium in Girrawheen sits at just $1,019 per year, with a median of $940. That means this quote is roughly double the local median — a significant gap that's worth investigating before simply accepting the renewal.
That said, context matters. This quote covers a combined home and contents policy with a relatively high building sum insured of $566,000 and $200,000 in contents cover, which will naturally push the premium higher than a bare-bones building-only policy. Still, the gap is substantial enough to warrant shopping around.
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How Girrawheen Compares
Here's how the premium stacks up across different levels of comparison:
| Benchmark | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| This Quote | $2,050 |
| Girrawheen Suburb Average | $1,019 |
| Girrawheen Suburb Median | $940 |
| Girrawheen 25th Percentile | $761 |
| Girrawheen 75th Percentile | $1,295 |
| LGA (Wanneroo) Average | $1,550 |
| WA State Average | $2,811 |
| WA State Median | $2,127 |
| National Average | $5,347 |
| National Median | $2,764 |
A few things stand out here. While the quote looks expensive against the Girrawheen suburb average, it actually sits below both the WA state average ($2,811) and the national average ($5,347). Compared to the WA median of $2,127, this quote is only slightly above — which suggests the premium isn't wildly out of line from a state-wide perspective.
The local suburb figures are notably low, which could reflect a smaller sample size (just 10 quotes in our dataset) and potentially simpler or lower-value policies in the comparison pool. Homeowners comparing their premium should weigh the suburb data alongside the broader WA context for a more complete picture.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this property will directly influence what insurers charge. Here's how the key features play out:
Double Brick Construction Double brick is one of the most favoured wall types among Australian insurers. It's durable, fire-resistant, and holds up well in storms. Homes with double brick walls typically attract lower premiums than those built with timber or clad materials, so this works in the homeowner's favour.
Tiled Roof Terracotta or concrete tile roofs are considered low-to-moderate risk by most insurers. They perform well in fire conditions and are less susceptible to wind damage than corrugated iron in many scenarios. This is a neutral-to-positive factor for the premium.
Slab Foundation A concrete slab is a stable foundation type that generally doesn't attract additional loading from insurers, unlike homes on stumps or piers which can be more vulnerable to movement and moisture issues.
Construction Year: 1974 Homes built in the early-to-mid 1970s can attract slightly higher premiums due to older plumbing, electrical systems, and roofing materials that may be approaching end of life. Insurers often factor in the cost of bringing older homes up to current building codes following a claim — known as "by-law" costs — which can push up the sum insured and, in turn, the premium.
Solar Panels This property has solar panels installed, which adds to the replacement value of the home. Solar systems can cost $5,000–$15,000 or more to replace, and insurers typically include them under the building sum insured. This is likely contributing to the higher building cover figure of $566,000.
Ducted Climate Control Ducted air conditioning is a significant fixed asset and forms part of the building's insured value. Like solar panels, it adds to the overall replacement cost and is a legitimate reason for a higher sum insured compared to properties without these features.
Timber and Laminate Flooring Timber and laminate floors are more susceptible to water damage than tiles, which can increase the cost of claims related to leaks or flooding. Some insurers factor flooring type into their risk assessment, particularly for contents and internal damage scenarios.
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Tips for Homeowners in Girrawheen
1. Review your sum insured regularly At $566,000, the building sum insured on this policy is substantial. Make sure this figure accurately reflects the cost to rebuild — not the market value — of your home. Overinsuring means you're paying more premium than necessary, while underinsuring can leave you exposed. Tools like the Cordell Sum Sure Calculator can help you estimate rebuild costs.
2. Compare multiple quotes before renewing Given this quote is above the local suburb average, it's well worth comparing options. Premiums for the same property can vary by hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars between insurers. Get a comparison quote at CoverClub to see what else is available for your property.
3. Consider a higher excess to reduce your premium Both the building and contents excess on this policy are set at $1,000. Opting for a higher voluntary excess — say $2,500 or $5,000 — can meaningfully reduce your annual premium. This strategy works best if you have emergency savings to cover the excess in the event of a claim.
4. Check what's included for solar and climate control Make sure your policy explicitly covers your solar panel system and ducted air conditioning unit for accidental damage, storm damage, and mechanical breakdown (where applicable). Some policies exclude certain types of damage to these systems, so reading the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) carefully is essential.
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Ready to Find a Better Rate?
Whether you're a long-time Girrawheen resident or you've recently moved into the area, it pays to shop around. Home insurance premiums vary significantly between providers — even for identical properties — and the difference can easily add up to several hundred dollars a year.
Compare home and contents insurance quotes at CoverClub to see what you could be paying. It takes just a few minutes, and you might be surprised at the savings available.