Pagewood is a quiet, established suburb in Sydney's south-east, sitting within the Bayside local government area just a few kilometres from Botany Bay. It's a neighbourhood characterised by solid post-war homes on generous blocks — and the property we're analysing here is a textbook example. This four-bedroom, two-bathroom free standing home, built in 1953 and clad in double brick, represents the kind of sturdy, well-established dwelling that has defined this part of Sydney for decades. So how does its home and contents insurance quote stack up? Let's dig in.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The annual premium for this property comes in at $2,395 per year (or $239/month), covering both building (sum insured: $1,467,000) and contents ($50,000). CoverClub's pricing engine rates this as Fair — Around Average.
That rating holds up under scrutiny. Within Pagewood itself, the suburb average sits at $1,780/yr and the median at $1,449/yr, which puts this quote noticeably above the local midpoint. However, context matters enormously here. A building sum insured of $1,467,000 is substantial — it reflects the true replacement cost of a 214 sqm double brick home in Sydney, which is considerably more expensive to rebuild than a smaller or lighter-construction property. Higher insured values naturally attract higher premiums, so a direct comparison with the suburb median (which may include smaller or lower-value properties) isn't entirely apples-to-apples.
When you zoom out to the state and national picture, the quote actually looks quite competitive. The NSW average sits at $3,801/yr and the state median at $3,410/yr — both significantly higher than this quote. Against the national average of $2,965/yr and national median of $2,716/yr, this quote again comes in below the benchmark. For a property of this size and value in metropolitan Sydney, a "Fair" rating is arguably a solid result.
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How Pagewood Compares
Here's a snapshot of how this quote sits across different benchmarks:
| Benchmark | Premium |
|---|---|
| This Quote | $2,395/yr |
| Pagewood Suburb Average | $1,780/yr |
| Pagewood Suburb Median | $1,449/yr |
| Pagewood 25th Percentile | $1,066/yr |
| Pagewood 75th Percentile | $2,502/yr |
| Bayside LGA Average | $2,954/yr |
| NSW State Average | $3,801/yr |
| National Average | $2,965/yr |
One important caveat: the Pagewood suburb sample currently includes 10 quotes, so the local figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive. As more data comes in, those averages will sharpen. What's clear is that this quote sits comfortably within the suburb's 75th percentile ($2,502/yr) and well below both the NSW state average and the national average.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this property have a meaningful influence on the premium calculated:
Double Brick Construction Double brick is one of the most insurer-friendly wall types in Australia. It's fire-resistant, durable, and holds up well against storm damage. Compared to weatherboard or fibre cement, double brick homes typically attract lower premiums — a genuine advantage for this property.
Tiled Roof Terracotta or concrete tiles are considered a robust roofing material by insurers. They perform well in hail events (common in Sydney) and have a long lifespan, which generally keeps premiums in check compared to metal or older fibrous cement roofing.
Construction Year: 1953 Age is a double-edged sword in insurance. A 1953 build has proven its structural longevity — double brick homes from this era were built to last. That said, older properties can carry higher rebuild costs due to heritage-style features, and ageing plumbing or electrical systems may be a consideration for insurers. Keeping these systems up to date is important both for safety and insurability.
Elevated by at Least 1 Metre The property's elevated foundation is a meaningful risk-reduction feature. Elevation provides a natural buffer against surface water flooding and stormwater ingress — risks that are relevant in parts of Sydney's south-east. Insurers typically view elevated homes more favourably when assessing flood and water damage exposure.
Swimming Pool A pool adds to the insured value of the property and introduces some liability considerations, which can nudge the premium upward slightly. Ensuring the pool is properly fenced and maintained to NSW standards is both a legal requirement and good insurance practice.
Solar Panels Solar panels are increasingly common on Sydney homes, but they do add to the replacement cost of the building. Most policies cover rooftop solar as part of the building sum insured — it's worth confirming this is reflected accurately in the $1,467,000 building sum to avoid being underinsured.
Slab Foundation & Timber/Laminate Flooring A concrete slab foundation is standard and presents no particular risk concerns. Timber and laminate flooring, however, can be more susceptible to water damage than tiles, which is worth keeping in mind for contents and building claims involving water ingress.
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Tips for Homeowners in Pagewood
1. Review Your Building Sum Insured Carefully With a sum insured of $1,467,000, it's essential this figure accurately reflects the full cost of rebuilding — not the market value of the land. For a 214 sqm double brick home in Sydney, rebuild costs can be significant. Use a building cost calculator annually and adjust your sum insured to keep pace with rising construction costs. Underinsurance is one of the most common and costly mistakes Australian homeowners make.
2. Confirm Solar Panels Are Covered Check your policy wording to ensure rooftop solar panels are explicitly included under the building definition. Some policies cover them automatically; others require them to be listed separately. Given the replacement cost of a solar system, this is worth a quick call to your insurer.
3. Shop Around at Renewal Time A "Fair" rating means this quote is competitive, but the insurance market shifts constantly. Premiums can vary significantly between providers for the same property — sometimes by hundreds of dollars. Use a comparison tool like CoverClub at each renewal to make sure you're not paying more than you need to.
4. Maintain Your Pool to Minimise Liability Risk In NSW, pool owners have strict legal obligations around fencing and safety compliance. Beyond the legal requirement, a well-maintained, compliant pool can support your insurance position. Some insurers may ask about pool safety compliance as part of the underwriting process, and non-compliance could affect a claim outcome.
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Compare Your Own Quote
Whether you're renewing an existing policy or shopping for the first time, it pays to see what the market is offering. CoverClub makes it easy to compare home and contents insurance quotes across multiple providers — so you can be confident you're getting the right cover at a fair price. Get a quote today and see how your premium stacks up against your neighbours.