If you own a free standing home in The Entrance, NSW 2261, you've probably noticed that insurance premiums can vary wildly depending on who you ask. This article breaks down a real home and contents insurance quote for a three-bedroom property in the area — $1,532 per year — and puts it into context against local, state, and national benchmarks so you can make a more informed decision at renewal time.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The short answer: yes, this quote is fair — but with an important nuance.
At $1,532 per year (or around $148 per month), this quote sits right at the 25th percentile for The Entrance suburb. That means roughly 75% of comparable quotes in the area come in higher, and only about 25% are cheaper. Our price rating for this quote is Fair (Around Average), which reflects that it's competitive without being a standout bargain.
For a home and contents policy covering a $385,000 building sum insured and $76,000 in contents, this works out to be reasonable value — particularly given the property's characteristics (more on those below). The building excess sits at $2,000 and the contents excess at $1,000, which are fairly standard settings that help keep the annual premium in check.
It's worth noting that "fair" doesn't mean you couldn't do better. Shopping around — even when your current quote looks reasonable — can sometimes uncover savings of hundreds of dollars a year.
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How The Entrance Compares
Context is everything when it comes to insurance pricing. Here's how this quote stacks up across different geographic benchmarks:
| Benchmark | Average Premium | Median Premium |
|---|---|---|
| The Entrance (NSW 2261) | $2,056/yr | $2,037/yr |
| New South Wales | $3,801/yr | $3,410/yr |
| National (Australia) | $2,965/yr | $2,716/yr |
| Central Coast LGA | $4,412/yr | — |
At $1,532/yr, this quote is:
- 25% below the suburb average of $2,056
- 60% below the NSW state average of $3,801
- 48% below the national average of $2,965
- 65% below the Central Coast LGA average of $4,412
That last figure is particularly striking. The Central Coast LGA average of $4,412 is one of the higher regional benchmarks in NSW, which suggests that insurers are pricing coastal and semi-coastal properties in this area with a fair degree of caution. The fact that this particular quote lands well below those averages is a positive sign.
You can explore more local data on the The Entrance suburb insurance stats page, compare it against the NSW state overview, or see where it sits on the national insurance stats dashboard.
> Note: The suburb sample size for this analysis is 26 quotes, which provides a reasonable snapshot but may not capture the full range of pricing available in the market.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Every property is different, and insurers weigh up a range of factors when calculating your premium. Here's how the specific features of this home are likely influencing its price:
Fibro Asbestos Walls
This is arguably the most significant risk factor for this property. Homes built with fibro asbestos cladding — common in Australian homes constructed before the 1980s — are more expensive to repair or rebuild due to the specialist handling and disposal requirements for asbestos-containing materials. The 1965 construction year places this home squarely in the era when fibro was widely used. Insurers factor this in, and it's one reason why getting the building sum insured right is so important: at $385,000, the cover needs to account for those elevated rebuild costs.
Stump Foundation
Homes on stumps (also called pier or post foundations) are common in coastal NSW and Queensland. They offer good ventilation and can be advantageous in flood-prone areas, but they also introduce specific risks around subfloor maintenance, termite access, and structural movement. Insurers are generally familiar with this construction type in the region.
Steel / Colorbond Roof
Good news here — Colorbond roofing is generally viewed favourably by insurers. It's durable, fire-resistant, and performs well in high-wind conditions. Compared to older tile or terracotta roofs, a steel roof can actually work in your favour at premium time.
Swimming Pool
The presence of a pool adds both value and liability to a property. From an insurance perspective, pools can increase the contents and liability components of a policy, and they introduce additional maintenance obligations. Ensuring your policy explicitly covers pool-related liability is worth checking with your insurer.
Timber / Laminate Flooring & Standard Fittings
These are mid-range features that don't significantly push premiums up or down. Standard fittings mean you're not over-insuring for high-end finishes, which keeps the contents sum insured at a sensible $76,000.
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Tips for Homeowners in The Entrance
Whether you're reviewing your current policy or shopping for the first time, here are four practical tips tailored to property owners in this area:
- Get an accurate asbestos rebuild estimate. If your home has fibro asbestos walls, a standard online calculator may underestimate your true rebuild cost. Consider engaging a quantity surveyor or builder familiar with asbestos remediation to validate your building sum insured. Being underinsured with an asbestos home can leave you seriously out of pocket after a claim.
- Review your pool liability cover. Check that your policy includes adequate public liability coverage related to your pool. Most home and contents policies include a liability component, but limits and exclusions vary. Confirm that incidents involving guests or neighbouring properties are covered.
- Maintain your stumps regularly. Insurers may decline or limit claims where damage is attributed to lack of maintenance. Have your subfloor and stumps inspected periodically for rot, termite activity, or movement — and keep records of any work done.
- Compare quotes at renewal, not just when you first buy. The Entrance suburb average sits at $2,056/yr, but this quote came in at $1,532 — a $524 annual difference. That gap exists because different insurers price the same property very differently. Setting a reminder to compare quotes each year could save you a meaningful amount over time.
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Ready to Compare Your Options?
Whether you're a long-time local or new to The Entrance, it pays to know what the market looks like before you commit to a policy. CoverClub makes it easy to get a home insurance quote and see how different insurers price your specific property — so you're not leaving money on the table at renewal time.
