Allianz expert shares top tips for protecting your home during and after renovations

14 May 2018

It’s no secret that the rise in home renovation programs such as House Rules has driven a huge demand in DIY-style renovations across Australia. Over the past six years, the number of Allianz Australia customers advising that they’re undertaking renovations has more than doubled – and the DIY trend is here to stay.

With the growing cost of living and rising house prices helping to fuel the DIY renovation craze research indicates that one in three Aussies are considering renovating their property in the next five years.

According to Allianz Australia Property Assessing Manager, Geordie Elliott, despite the popularity of DIY, many Aussie’s dive head-first into renovations without proper planning, jeopardising the very thing they’re working so hard to perfect, their home.

“We all want the dream home, with the landscaped garden and the perfect paint job, but we’re forgetting to protect our home during the process – and beyond,” explains Geordie.

“Renovations aren’t just a financial commitment, they’re an emotional and physical one too – particularly if you opt for DIY. Yet, protecting our homes properly with insurance is often overlooked by many Aussie homeowners.”

While insurance may not be at the top of everyone’s renovation list, Geordie suggests four simple steps that Aussies can take to ensure their home is protected for years to come.

  1. Know your cover
    Many people diving head-first into renovations simply assume their current home and contents policy will offer protection during renovations. What some don’t realise is that there are certain elements to a renovation that can influence their cover. For example, if you opt to vacate your home during construction for more than 60 days, your policy may not be valid. There’s one simple way to avoid any surprises along the way, and that’s to follow step two.
  2. Pick up the phone 
    It’s a simple step that many Aussies forget to take – calling their insurance company to let them know they’re planning to renovate. There are no changes to the cover on your existing policy unless the renovations you are planning to do are going to cost more than what your policy limits allow, in which case you may need to explore an additional construction policy with your insurer to confirm you’re protected along the way.

    For many homeowners, a large scale renovation would usually involve a licensed builder with their own insurances – though it’s important to check these too, so you can rest easy during the build.
  3. Details, not just decorations
    While a throw cushion and a fresh lick of paint are fabulous finishing touches, it’s the details and not just the decorations which are important to address in every renovation, regardless of the scale of work that you’re doing.

    Use the renovations as an opportunity to replace loose roof tiles or timeworn guttering and do a simple check of old taps and flexi hoses (a plumbing connection from the water main to major appliances, sinks and toilets that is one of the top reasons for water damage to a home). The cost to do so is often less than your excess in the unfortunate event that you need to make a claim. By being proactive about the smaller details through the renovation process, you can protect yourself from the hassle, cost and emotional toll of a major insurance claim down the track.
  4. Protect the prize
    You’ve wrapped the renovation and are planning the house warming party, now’s the time to protect all your hard work. Whether you’ve invested $5,000 or $500,000 into your modern home upgrade, it’s important to review and update your home and contents insurance cover to ensure you wouldn’t be out of pocket in a claim by relying on your old policy.

By using the simple online home and contents calculators on the Allianz website, you may be able to determine what your cover should be. A simple call is then all it takes to update your policy so you can get on planning that party.

For more information on protecting your home during a renovation, or to determine what your current rebuild and contents policy should be, visit Allianz Home Insurance.

For any media enquiries, journalists can contact our Media team.
Allianz Australia has been securing the future of our customers in Australia since 1914. We deliver a wide range of personal and commercial insurance products and services to more than 4 million policyholders. We also provide support for workers' compensation insurance to around 25% of the top 200 ASX companies, making us one of the leading workers' compensation insurers in Australia.

Allianz Australia Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the worldwide Allianz Group. The Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurers and asset managers with corporate customers in more than 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life, and health insurance to assistance services, credit insurance and global business insurance. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
This article has been prepared by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFSL234708 (“Allianz”). In some cases, information has been provided to us by third parties and while that information is believed to be accurate and reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed in any way.

Any opinions expressed constitute our views at the time of issue and are subject to change. Neither Allianz, nor its employees or directors give any warranty of accuracy or accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in this article.
Allianz acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work across Australia. We pay our respect to First Nations Elders past and present.



Any advice here does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions apply. Before making a decision about this insurance, consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)/Policy Wording and Supplementary PDS (if applicable). Where applicable, the PDS/Policy Wording, Supplementary PDS and Target Market Determination (TMD) for this insurance are available on this website. We do not provide any form of advice if you call us to enquire about or purchase a product.

Allianz Australia Insurance Limited ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence No. 234708 is the insurer of any general insurance products offered, and Allianz Australia Life Insurance Limited ABN 27 076 033 782 AFS Licence No. 296559 is the insurer of any life insurance products offered. Each entity is responsible for any statements and representations made about its products, on this website.