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Home insurance

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Home and contents insurance can help protect your home and belongings if they're damaged, lost or destroyed.

Understanding what your policy covers, how much insurance you need, and what to do if you need to make a claim can help you make informed decisions and avoid costly surprises.

Choosing home insurance. Learn how home building insurance works, what it covers, and how much insurance you may need. Find out what to check when comparing policies, including cover, exclusions, excesses and policy features, and how to review your cover over time.

Storm, flood and fire insurance. Understand how home and contents insurance typically covers storm, flood and fire damage. Learn about common exclusions, how disaster risks can affect your insurance, and what to check in your policy if you live in an area prone to natural disasters.

Contents insurance. Learn what contents insurance covers, how to work out the value of your belongings, and what to consider when choosing cover. Find out how to compare policies, understand cover limits and exclusions, and review your cover regularly to avoid being underinsured.

How to make a home insurance claim. Learn what to do after your home or belongings are damaged, from contacting your insurer and gathering evidence to understanding assessments, repair options and claim outcomes. Find out what to expect during the claims process and the steps you can take if you're unhappy with a decision.

Home underinsurance. Learn what underinsurance is, what causes it, and how it can affect insurance payouts. Find out how to estimate rebuilding and replacement costs, review your cover, and reduce the risk of being left out of pocket after a claim.

How home insurance cash settlements work. If your insurer offers a cash settlement instead of arranging repairs, it's important to understand what you're agreeing to. Learn how cash settlements work, the potential benefits and risks, what to check before accepting an offer, and what to do if you're unhappy with the amount offered.

Try the contents calculator and building calculator on the Insurance Council of Australia website, to get an idea of the amount of insurance you might need.