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Property
Household items you might forget to insure
From smart watches to exercise equipment, clothing and glasses, here are some common household items you might forget to cover adequately with insurance.
Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, ensuring that you have suitable home and contents insurance coverage in place can be a good idea, especially when the cost of replacing items can quickly add up in the event of an unexpected event such as a fire, storm or burglary.
It is important to make sure you are not underinsured when you will need your home and contents cover policy the most.
Here are some common household items that can be insured, so consider whether you need to add them to your policy.
Do you have adequate contents insurance in place for these household items?
Laptops, computers and tablets
Technology items such laptops, home office computers and tablets certainly don't come cheap. Whether your devices are for work, study, kids’ school use or entertainment, check that the current value of these essentials is covered on your contents insurance policy.
You may even wish to add portable items cover or accidental damage insurance coverage for these expensive items.
Home office equipment
The way we work has changed post pandemic and as consequence many Victorians have set up new home workspaces – investing considerable money in new equipment in the process.
The cost of ergonomic office chairs, stand up desks, computer monitors, printers and headphones can add up to thousands of dollars if they need replacing due to an unexpected event.
Adding the value of these items to your cover will help provide protection for your items to be repaired or replaced if they are damaged during an unexpected insured event.
Many households have more than one laptop or tablet, which can cost thousands to replace. Image: Getty.
Clothing, shoes and accessories
You might be shocked at how much money you’ve spent on clothing, shoes and accessories in recent years. The average Australian spends $2,000 on fashion each year alone, which means there’s potentially tens of thousands of dollars of apparel sitting in your household.
Consider whether you need to update your insurance policy to cover the current value of your favourite clothes, shoes and acessories.
Garden tools and power tools
The value of gardening and home improvement tools can quickly accumulate in the garage or shed, particularly after a major renovation or garden project.
Taking stock of this equipment and checking whether you have adequate insurance coverage in place, may save you some hip-pocket pain in the event of something unexpected.
Smart watches and fitness wearables
Smart watches and fitness trackers play a key role in the day-to-day life of tech lovers, fitness casuals, semi-professional athletes, and anyone wanting to track their heart rate, calories, sleep and other health metrics.
Popular models can range in the hundreds and thousands, so consider whether you have appropriate home and contents insurance in place to cover these items inside the home, as well as portable items cover for when you’re out and about in public.
Smart watches and other wearables are items commonly left off insurance policies. Image: Getty.
Exercise equipment and bikes
Many Australians have ditched the gym membership in recent years in favour of home gyms featuring spin bikes, weight training machines, treadmills and rowing machines.
Check whether your current insurance policy covers sports equipment and update it accordingly, while portable contents insurance cover can safeguard your precious set of wheels in public.^
Glasses and contact lenses, hearing aids, and other special needs devices
Everyday items such as eyeglasses, sunglasses, hearing aids and other devices are needed for many on a day-to-day basis. If these are worth a considerable amount, it may be worth enquiring with your provider as to what can be covered on your contents insurance policy, as well as portable items cover for when you leave the home with these items on you.
Jewellery and watches
Damage or loss to jewellery items can actually be covered under some home and contents policies, but limits typically apply. If you are looking to make sure your jewellery is covered when leaving the home, or if it is worth more than the standard policy cover level, you may wish to consider optional extras on your precious jewellery items, like portable items cover or valuable items cover.
White goods
Did you know items like your fridge, washing machine, dryer and coffee machine can be including on your home and contents policy? These are items many households use every day, yet many don’t think to add these everyday appliances to their insurance.
Whether it is unintentional fire damage, theft, or another unexpected insured event, getting cover for these items can help with the headache later.
You may also wish to consider extra over for accidental damage inside the home.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au.
As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s)issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
^Bicycles are not covered while being used in a competitive race or time trial.
Portable items are also not covered for the following:
• if you scratch or dent an item
• items being cleaned, repaired or restored
• fishing and sporting equipment, musical instruments or firearms while someone is using them
