If you own a four-bedroom free standing home in Rothwell, QLD 4022, you're probably wondering whether you're paying a fair price for home and contents insurance — or whether there's a better deal waiting. This article breaks down a real quote for a property in this Moreton Bay suburb, putting the numbers in context against local, state-wide, and national benchmarks so you can make a more informed decision.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The quote in question comes in at $2,340 per year (or $224/month) for combined home and contents cover, with a building sum insured of $670,000 and contents valued at $85,000. Both the building and contents excess are set at $2,000.
Our price rating for this quote is FAIR — Around Average. That's a reasonable outcome for a well-built brick veneer home in a stable suburban area, but "around average" doesn't necessarily mean you can't do better.
To put it plainly: this quote sits above the suburb average of $1,812/yr and above the suburb median of $2,018/yr, but well below the 75th percentile of $2,708/yr. In other words, roughly a quarter of comparable Rothwell properties are paying more than this quote — but the majority are paying less. There's room to explore.
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How Rothwell Compares
Understanding where Rothwell sits in the broader insurance landscape is key to evaluating any quote.
| Benchmark | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| This Quote | $2,340 |
| Suburb Average (Rothwell) | $1,812 |
| Suburb Median (Rothwell) | $2,018 |
| Suburb 25th Percentile | $788 |
| Suburb 75th Percentile | $2,708 |
| LGA Average (Moreton Bay) | $3,435 |
| QLD State Average | $9,129 |
| QLD State Median | $3,903 |
| National Average | $5,347 |
| National Median | $2,764 |
The contrast between Rothwell and the broader Queensland average is striking. The QLD state average premium sits at a hefty $9,129/yr — more than four times this quote. That figure is heavily skewed by high-risk areas in North Queensland, particularly cyclone-prone coastal regions. Rothwell, located on the southern Moreton Bay coastline near Redcliffe, is not classified as a cyclone risk area, which is a significant factor in keeping premiums more manageable here.
Compared to the national average of $5,347/yr, this quote looks quite competitive. Even against the national median of $2,764/yr, the $2,340 quote is modestly below — a positive sign.
Within the Moreton Bay LGA, the average is $3,435/yr, meaning this Rothwell property is tracking well below the broader council area average. You can explore more localised data on the Rothwell suburb stats page.
It's worth noting that the suburb sample size here is 23 quotes — a relatively small dataset. While useful as a guide, averages based on small samples can shift considerably with just a few outliers.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this property directly influence the cost of cover. Here's how they stack up:
Brick Veneer Walls & Tiled Roof This is one of the most insurer-friendly construction combinations in Australia. Brick veneer is considered low-risk for fire and structural damage, and tiled roofs are durable and widely accepted across all major insurers. Compared to properties with timber weatherboard or Colorbond roofing, this combination typically attracts lower premiums and broader policy options.
Concrete Slab Foundation A slab foundation is standard for homes built in this era and region, and it's generally viewed favourably by underwriters. It reduces the risk of subsidence and termite damage to structural elements, both of which can drive claims costs higher.
Built in 2003 At just over 20 years old, this home sits in a comfortable middle ground — modern enough to meet contemporary building codes, but not so new that it carries the premium associated with high-end finishes or custom builds. The 214 sqm floor area is a solid size for a four-bedroom home, and the $670,000 building sum insured reflects a reasonable replacement cost for a property of this specification.
Swimming Pool Pools add to the insured value of a property and can also introduce liability considerations. Most home insurance policies cover the pool structure under the building component, but it's worth confirming your policy includes this and checking whether you have adequate liability cover if someone is injured on your property.
Solar Panels Solar panels are increasingly common across South East Queensland, and most standard home insurance policies now include them as part of the building sum insured. However, it's important to confirm this with your insurer — some policies treat panels as optional extras or have sub-limits. With energy prices as they are, replacing a solar system out of pocket would be a costly exercise.
Ducted Climate Control Ducted air conditioning is a significant fixed asset, typically covered under the building sum insured rather than contents. Make sure the $670,000 building figure accounts for the full replacement cost of this system, as ducted systems can cost $10,000–$20,000 or more to replace.
Standard Fittings Standard-quality fittings keep replacement costs predictable and help avoid the premium loading that often comes with high-end or imported fixtures. This is a neutral-to-positive factor for pricing.
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Tips for Homeowners in Rothwell
1. Review your sum insured regularly Construction costs have risen significantly across Queensland in recent years. A building sum insured that was accurate in 2021 may now be materially underinsured. Use a building cost calculator or speak to a quantity surveyor to ensure your $670,000 figure still reflects true replacement cost — particularly given the solar panels, ducted air conditioning, and pool.
2. Confirm solar panels and pool are explicitly covered Don't assume — check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to confirm that both the solar system and pool structure are covered under your building policy, and note any sub-limits that might apply. Some insurers cap solar panel cover at a fixed dollar amount.
3. Consider your excess strategically Both the building and contents excess on this quote are set at $2,000. Opting for a higher excess is one of the most straightforward ways to reduce your annual premium. If you have the financial buffer to cover a larger out-of-pocket cost in the event of a claim, bumping the excess up could save you meaningful money each year.
4. Compare quotes at renewal time Insurance loyalty rarely pays off. Insurers frequently offer better rates to new customers than to existing policyholders. Given this quote is rated as "around average," there's a reasonable chance that shopping around — particularly with a property profile as low-risk as this one — could yield a more competitive premium without sacrificing cover quality.
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Compare Your Options with CoverClub
Whether you're renewing your current policy or shopping for the first time, it pays to compare. CoverClub makes it easy to see how your quote stacks up and find better value cover for your Rothwell home. Get a quote today and see what's available for your property — it only takes a few minutes.