Get your quote here and now
Whether you are protecting your Brisbane home, managing a Queensland investment property or running a business vehicle, now is a good time to review your cover.
Use the quote option that applies to you:
Business Insurance Consulting is here to help you make a prepared, informed decision about your insurance needs.
For many Brisbane and Queensland households, insurance is one of those jobs that is easy to put off.
You may own the home you live in. You may have an investment property. You may also rely on a ute, van or car to keep your business moving.
Each situation has different risks. A policy that suits an owner-occupied home may not be suitable for a rental property. Personal motor cover may also not respond properly when a vehicle is used for business.
Business Insurance Consulting can help you review the details and request a quote for the type of cover you need.
Choose the quote that matches your situation
Home and contents insurance
Home and contents insurance is designed for people who own and live in their property.
Building cover generally relates to the physical home, including structures, fixtures and fittings. Contents cover generally relates to the belongings inside the property, such as furniture, appliances, clothing, electronics and household items.
You should consider whether your building sum insured reflects the likely cost to rebuild, rather than the property's market value. Rebuilding may involve demolition, debris removal, professional fees, materials, labour and improvements made over time.
Contents can also be difficult to value accurately. A room-by-room list can help you estimate what it would cost to replace your belongings at today's prices.
Landlord insurance
Landlord insurance is designed for owners who rent out a residential property.
It can be relevant for houses, units, townhouses and other residential investment properties. Depending on the policy, cover may include the building, landlord-owned contents, loss of rent and legal liability.
Loss of rent is particularly important to review. If a property becomes uninhabitable after an insured event, repairs may take weeks or months. The rent you rely on may stop while the property is being restored.
Some policies may also provide cover for certain tenant-related events. Conditions, exclusions, waiting periods and limits vary, so it is important to check the PDS before making a decision.
Landlord-owned contents might include:
- Carpets and curtains.
- Blinds and light fittings.
- Whitegoods supplied with the property.
- Furniture in a furnished rental.
- Appliances and other items owned by the landlord.
A tenant's personal belongings are generally a separate matter. Landlords should also review liability cover for risks connected with the property, including paths, stairs, balconies, pools and other features.
For more information about risk planning in Australia, read the Personal & Other Services Insurance Australia guide. While the guide focuses on service businesses, its preparedness principles also apply to property owners.
Commercial motor insurance
Commercial motor insurance is designed for vehicles used in connection with a business.
This may include:
- Work utes.
- Vans used to carry tools or equipment.
- Vehicles used for deliveries.
- Cars used for sales or client visits.
- Vehicles used by employees.
- Vehicles used to transport goods or materials.
- Small fleets operated by a business.
The most important point is to describe how the vehicle is actually used. A vehicle used to carry tools between Brisbane jobs may have a different exposure from one used for deliveries across Queensland.
You may need to provide information about:
- The make, model and year.
- The vehicle's registration details.
- Accessories and modifications.
- Where the vehicle is kept overnight.
- The usual driving area.
- Estimated annual kilometres.
- The number and type of regular drivers.
- Whether goods, tools, equipment or passengers are carried.
- Whether the vehicle tows anything.
- Whether the vehicle is used on worksites or unsealed roads.
- The value you want to insure.
Commercial motor policies can differ in how they respond to damage to your vehicle, theft, fire and liability to others. A vehicle's value may also be based on market value or an agreed amount, depending on the policy.
Business Insurance Consulting can help you consider commercial motor cover alongside wider business risks. You can also read the Transport & Logistics Insurance Australia guide for more information about vehicles, cargo, depots and business continuity.
Attention all investment & home owners: get your quote now
Choose the option that best matches your needs:
The quote forms are a useful starting point. Have your key details ready so the information you provide reflects your actual situation.
What to have ready before requesting a quote
A little preparation can make the process easier.
For a home and contents quote
Have these details available:
- The property address.
- Whether it is a house, unit or townhouse.
- The approximate year it was built.
- Construction and roofing materials.
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
- Garages, sheds, pools, solar panels or other improvements.
- Security features.
- Your preferred building sum insured.
- An estimate of your contents replacement value.
- Details of any previous claims.
- Whether you work from home or run a business from the property.
Do not rely only on the property's purchase price when considering building cover. Land value, location and market conditions do not necessarily reflect the cost of rebuilding.
For a landlord quote
Have these details ready:
- The property address and type.
- Whether it is a house, unit, townhouse or duplex.
- The current weekly or monthly rent.
- The lease type and lease term.
- Whether the property is furnished.
- Items owned by you and supplied to the tenant.
- The usual vacancy pattern.
- Any pool, balcony, stairs or shared access areas.
- Your preferred loss-of-rent period.
- Previous claims and relevant property issues.
Check that the proposed cover reflects the way the property is rented. Long-term residential leasing, furnished accommodation and short-stay arrangements can involve different considerations.
For a commercial motor quote
Prepare:
- Registration and vehicle details.
- Vehicle value and finance information, if relevant.
- A list of accessories and modifications.
- The business activities connected with the vehicle.
- The normal driving territory.
- Estimated kilometres.
- Regular driver details.
- The types of goods or equipment carried.
- Towing details.
- Where the vehicle is stored overnight.
- Any recent claims or driving history information requested in the form.
Be accurate about business use. If the vehicle is used for deliveries, carries tools or visits customer sites, those details matter.
Review these four areas before choosing cover
1. Sums insured
A sum insured is the maximum amount shown for a covered item or section of a policy, subject to the policy terms.
Underinsurance can create a serious gap after a major loss. Review building costs, contents, landlord-owned items and commercial vehicle values regularly. Renovations, new equipment and rising material costs can change the amount you need.
2. Loss of rent
Investment property owners should consider how long they could manage without rental income.
A major storm, fire or other insured event may leave a property unavailable while repairs are completed. Review the waiting period, maximum payment period, qualifying events and supporting documents required under the policy.
3. Liability
Homeowners, landlords and businesses can face claims if they are found responsible for injury or damage to someone else's property.
Pools, stairs, balconies, pets, uneven surfaces, customer visits and worksite activities can all affect the risk. Make sure the intended use of the property or vehicle is disclosed accurately.
4. Actual business needs
A commercial vehicle is only one part of a business risk plan.
If your vehicle is off the road, you may also need to think about tools, equipment, goods in transit, public liability and loss of income. The right approach depends on your business activities, contracts, assets and exposure.
Business Insurance Consulting can review these wider needs and explain the options in plain English. For businesses concerned about keeping operations running after an insured event, see the Business Interruption Insurance at a Glance guide.
A simple quote checklist
Before submitting your details, ask:
- Am I choosing the correct type of policy?
- Is the property owner-occupied or rented?
- Have I included realistic building and contents values?
- Have I included landlord-owned items?
- Is the loss-of-rent amount and period suitable?
- Have I described vehicle use accurately?
- Are all regular drivers included?
- Have I listed accessories, tools or modifications?
- Have I considered liability exposure?
- Have I reviewed exclusions, excesses, limits and conditions?
The cheapest option is not always the most suitable option. Compare the scope of cover, not just the premium.
Get started today
Whether you are protecting your Brisbane home, managing a Queensland investment property or running a business vehicle, now is a good time to review your cover.
Use the quote option that applies to you:
Business Insurance Consulting is here to help you make a prepared, informed decision about your insurance needs.
What would you review first: your home sum insured, loss-of-rent protection or commercial vehicle use? Leave a comment and let us know.
Disclaimer: This info is general advice only and doesn't consider your personal goals or financial situation. Before making a decision, please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD). Give us a shout if you need specific advice!
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Phone: 0412 212 099 | Email: craig@businco.com.au | Website: businessinsuranceconsulting.com.au
