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Though it seems like yesterday, 2012 was a very different time to today. Call Me Maybe was the most played song on our iPods. We were trying – and probably failing – to do that dance from Gangnam Style. We were ironically, but also a little seriously, scared that the world was going to end because of a Mayan calendar.
See? A lot has changed in 5 years. This was also the last time the average Australian updated their home & contents insurance, and just as we all (eventually) stopped saying “YOLO,” a lot about your life, home and lifestyle might have changed since 2012. You might have new possessions, a new partner, or new housemates.
With all of the ways your life might have changed, it’s important to take another look at your assets (an asset is anything of value) and your current policy to make sure your home & contents insurance has everything you need.
Valuing your assets
Over five years, it’s easy to lose track of how many possessions you have. When updating your policy you should value your current assets and check that your policy covers everything you own.
If you live with others, make it a team effort and allocate each member of your household a room to document the items in each.
Make a shared document with a program like Google Docs, which will allow all members of your house to contribute to it when they purchase a new item. The document will act as a living record for any items you want to keep track of.
When checking all of your items, nobody expects you to know the exact cost of your possessions off the top of your head. There are industry resources like The Insurance Council of Australia’s contents insurance calculator that can give you a heads up on the value.
There are also easier ways to keep track of your receipts. Apps like Smart Receipts allow you to snap a pic and store receipts digitally.
Assessing your coverage needs
What has changed in your life since 2012? New home upgrades or major purchases might fall outside of your current policy, meaning you will be underinsured and you might be out of pocket should an accident happen.
Have you started to travel more frequently? Some providers won’t cover events if your home is unoccupied for 60 days, so this is something you might want to see if your policy can accommodate. For instance, ING Insurance may provide cover while your home is unoccupied for an extended period (up to 180 days) if you advise beforehand and agree to certain conditions for the security and safekeeping of your home.
Have you recently gotten engaged, or received an extravagant gift? Some policies set a limit for valuable items like jewellery, so you may not be getting the coverage you need for them. ING does have jewellery as a default for Contents Insurance and there is an option to add specific items at a certain cost, but not all policies do.
So what do I do if I want to change?
If you decide your policy isn’t giving you the best cover anymore, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Have a clear idea of what you currently receive and what you would need to get from another provider.
- Make sure all new items you have since your last policy will be covered by the new policy you’re considering.
- Use ING’s online tool to get a quote in minutes and compare with your current policy.
Accidents are part of life. We saw that in 2012 when Call Me Maybe topped the charts. But before they happen, it’s important to know that you’re covered. Get an online quote for Home & Contents Insurance at ING and you could save up to 30%.
ING Home and Contents Insurance is issued by Auto & General Insurance Company Ltd ABN 42 111 586 353 AFSL 285571 as insurer. It is distributed by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd ABN 61 003 617 909 AFSL 241411 (AGS) and by ING Bank (Australia) Ltd ABN 24 000 893 292 as Authorised Representative 1247634 of AGS. ING is a business name of ING Bank (Australia) Ltd (ING). An ING Insurance policy issued does not represent a deposit with or liability of, and is not guaranteed or otherwise supported by, ING or its related bodies corporate. ING will receive a commission from AGS for each policy purchased which is a percentage of the base premium. For further details see the Financial Services Guide.
ING Home & Contents Insurance is subject to AGS’ underwriting and ING’s Customer Eligibility and Name-Screening Assessment. Home & Contents Insurance is not available in NT, North QLD or Northern WA.
This is general information only, and does not take into account your particular objectives, financial situation and needs and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you having regard to these factors before acting on it. Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination, Key Fact Sheets, Financial Services Guide and the ING Customer Eligibility and Name-Screening document available at ing.com.au and consider if an ING Home & Contents Insurance product is right for you before deciding to purchase or continue to hold the product.
The price we quote is at the insurer’s sole and unrestricted discretion. It is based on the profile of the risk to be covered and any other factors the insurer may choose. These factors may change at any time without notice, as may the prices. If the policy renews, the price may exceed the price paid for the previous policy. Base premiums are subject to change. You will be responsible for all applicable GST and other statutory charges.
DISCOUNTS: Discount applies to the first year’s base premium paid for a new ING Home & Contents Insurance policy obtained online for approved applicants only. Discounts do not apply to any renewal offer of insurance. Discounts are applied before government charges, taxes, levies and fees, including instalment processing fees (as applicable). The full extent of discounts may therefore be impacted. We reserve the right to change the offer without notice. The discount applies accordingly: ING Home and Contents Insurance: up to 30% discount on combined Home & Contents Insurance, up to 15% for Home only or Contents only policies.
The information is current as at publication. Any advice on this website does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. Deposit products, savings products, credit card and home loan products are issued by ING, a business name of ING Bank (Australia) Limited ABN 24 000 893 292, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 229823. ING Living Super (which is part of the ING Superannuation Fund ABN 13 355 603 448) is issued by Diversa Trustees Limited ABN 49 006 421 638, AFSL 235153 RSE L0000635. The insurance cover offered by ING Living Super is provided by Metlife Insurance Limited ABN 75 004 274 882, AFSL 238096. ING Insurance is issued by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited (AGIC) ABN 42 111 586 353 AFSL Licence No 285571 as insurer. It is distributed by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd (AGS) ABN 61 003 617 909 AFSL 241411 and by ING as an Authorised Representative AR 1247634 of AGS. All applications for credit are subject to ING’s credit approval criteria, and fees and charges apply. You should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination, Terms and Conditions, Fees and Limits Schedule, Financial Services Guide, Key Facts Sheet and Credit Guide available at ing.com.au when deciding whether to acquire, or to continue to hold, a product. Before interacting with us via our social media platforms, please take a minute to familiarise yourself with our Social Media User Terms https://www.ing.com.au/pdf/Social_Media_User_Terms.pdf.