Getting covered when it seems impossible

While owner builder insurance is becoming easier to obtain, there are still a number of stumbling blocks.

Alternative Building Materials

...

Why you need it but don't have it

We all love a challenge. So why move, when you can renovate? It's the Australian way. And if there was any doubt about that, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics verify that renovating accounts for nearly half the total value of construction work across the country eac...

Why owner builders need more than just 'workers compensation' insurance.

Planning an owner builder project is an all-consuming process. It's exciting and sometimes even a little scary. Owner builders can find themselves putting all their energy into planning for the building process and sometimes forget ...

Home Warranty insurance covers the risk of the owner builder disappearing or going bankrupt, and being unable to fix defects in the sold house.

It is absolutely not required when building, owner builders only need to buy the insurance when selling in the prescribed period, and even then o...

Getting Insured ... and getting it right

Owner building is a financially and mentally rewarding way to pass a year or so of your time. As long as you remember to think of yourself as a 'builder,' and to approach all matters involving your project with that particular mind-set, the risks can be managed in such a ...

Don't Worry, Mate, I'm "Fully Insured"

What does someone mean by that? What does "fully insured" actually mean?

... Not much, I'm sorry to say.

What is Tradesman Insurance?

Most tradesmen have...

... because there are lots of things that can go wrong on any project.

Public Liability

Covers your legal liability to pay compensation to others for personal injury or property damage arising from your project.

For example, this co...

For an owner builder, the existing structures are any buildings on the property prior to the period of insurance.

This means that existing structures could be:

The home you're renovating; or

Outb...

There's actually no right or wrong answer to this question - the right amount of insurance is the amount you need depends on how much financial risk you're willing to take on your project.

Common types of insurance

Owner builders typically consider insuring:

Things can go wrong on even the most meticulous of owner builder projects, and that's why you should have comprehensive owner builder insurance.

Damage from theft or vandalism is possibly the most heartbreaking, but (other than Public Liability claims) storm damage is one of the most costly things to go wrong.