Autumn home and contents insurance checklist

Rain, leaves, and mushrooms: Autumn in Australia is certainly a mood. But cooler weather also means new hazards for our homes and valuables.

So in the interest of getting the most value out of home insurance, let’s run our properties down this seasonal checklist.

Thankfully, this year the South Pacific patterns are in neutral, neither in the flooding mood of La Niña nor the drought devastation of El Niño. However, autumn rainfall remains a threat to homeowners who live in flood-prone areas, so it’s always good to keep your home’s emergency flood plan up to date. 

Renters can also benefit from having a flood preparedness plan, as contents won’t be covered by landlord insurance.

Leaves! Leaves everywhere! Like with bushfire season, it’s important to clear your gutters of sticks, leaves, and debris in autumn. Clogged gutters can result in costly water damage during storms, and because it’s a maintenance issue, your home insurance won’t cover the repairs.

Rising damp, or mould, is often the result of poor ventilation. As we start to close our windows and temperatures cool, moisture can accumulate easily behind furniture and in bathrooms. Keep air moving through your home and wipe down surfaces prone to dampness.

As trees grow and the ground absorbs water, foundations can sometimes shift – again, a gradual problem not covered by home insurance.

Keep an eye on your home’s foundation, or if you can, get an expert to check it regularly. If you notice a crack, it’s essential to fix it sooner rather than later.

Overhanging branches are home hazards during autumn winds and storms, so be sure to keep them in good nick! 

However, be aware that if you damage your property or belongings while doing the landscaping yourself, your home insurance policy likely won’t cover it. Consider bringing in professionals to do the dirty work for you.

Underinsurance continues to be a plague upon policyholders, especially since providers have upped their premiums by massive margins in the last year due to repeated natural disasters. If you’ve renewed your home insurance policy recently, or plan to renew, check your sum insured value and ask yourself if it’s really enough to cover the cost of rebuilding your home and replacing your valuables. You might be surprised! 

If you find yourself underinsured, reach out to your provider. They may be able to help you revise your policy and get it back to a good value. However, if the cost of properly insuring your home proves too high, it may be time to compare home insurance policies. You can get started in the table below.

Don’t forget to read the product disclosure statement (PDS)!

Head to our best home insurance page for award-winning and editor’s pick policies.