Insurance in Australia - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: law
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 05:06:04 am
content: Hey all,Does anyone have any recommendations for home insurance providers when running a manufacturing business from home?I have a small, low volume setup and it seems if I use the magic word manufacturing, the insurance providers run.Any thoughts?Thanks

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 05:14:54 am
content: Rather than name particular brands, I would suggest you seek a few quotes and read the PDS. You need to be absolutely sure that the policy will cover your home-based business, as many won't (at least, not by default) and there are other elements you might need to consider, such as professional liability insurance etc... It's also important that you declare it to your insurer. If you don't tell them you're running a business from home and something happens, you may not be covered at all.You might be better off speaking with a broker and run it through them.

author: law
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 05:31:57 am
content: Yeah, Im not having a great deal of luck with direct providers or brokers at the moment. I was hoping someone else has been in this situation and suggest someone they've had success with.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 05:33:03 am
content: You’ll have better luck with an insurance broker as they access policies that are never even advertised. It is possible to work through the consumer offerings but probably not worth your time.

author: law
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 05:56:40 am
content: Thanks, yeah I'm trying some brokers at the moment. If anyone can recommend any, I'm open to suggestions.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 05:58:27 am
content: Quote from: law on October 13, 2025, 05:31:57 amI can put you in touch with one who I know through my professional circle if you'd like? I can't speak to the insurance products her company offers, but she would be a good person to speak to as a starting point.

author: law
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 06:05:30 am
content: Sure thing

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 13, 2025, 06:09:03 am
content: Quote from: law on October 13, 2025, 06:05:30 amPM sent. Let us know how you get on. It might help others in similar situations.

author: law
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2025 02:36:51 am
content: Hey, I ended up going with Youi. They were a bit more expensive, but underwrite their own stuff so they could OK me pretty much straight away.I tried a number of other places, but really did not have any luck.Thanks all

author: Electrodynamic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2025 04:52:44 pm
content: lawQuoteFirst, what do you mean by home?. In your home or an external building?.I do lots of manufacturing and fabrication in my garage and shop. Since they are external buildings I just increased the insurable amount on the contents of the building. What I do in the buildings is none of there business imo.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2025 05:10:53 pm
content: Quote from: law on October 13, 2025, 05:06:04 amWhat is it what you want to insure exactly? Damages from manufacturing to your home? Theft of materials / products? Liability for product defects? Liability for damages (knocking over a vase)?In my experience insurers want to insure very little beyond accidental damages liability, fire and theft. I've seen plenty of policies for product liability which want a hefty premium but basically insure nothing at all. I noticed you want an insurance but if I where you, I'd read the policy very carefully because chances are you got an expensive insurance covering nothing.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2025 10:58:39 pm
content: Quote from: Electrodynamic onYesterdayat 04:52:44 pmYou should read your policies carefully, just picking the first random insurer in canada that came up (without adding business term to the search):https://www.morinelliott.ca/building_contents_specified_perils.pdfQuoteSuch terms are very common across insurance from the countries and policies I have seen.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2025 11:04:06 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico onYesterdayat 05:10:53 pmMost insurers in Australia will outright refuse to quote/provide any form of insurance on your personal dwelling/building/house/structure if there are business activities occurring at the premises, they want you to buy business insurance with a very different set of risk factors assessed and more flexible inclusions/exclusions. It is a plain binary, if you answer yes to business they will not provide you insurance (if you answer no and during a claim they find evidence of business activity they can void the contract).OP went with one of the few insurers in this country which will assess risks from business activities (additional questions beyond normal residential occupiers).

author: law
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: «Reply #13 on:Todayat 12:48:12 am »
content: QuoteI wanted to insure primarily my house structure against fire etc. I could take the hit on my stuff going up in flames. Yes I would be sad, but if the house itself had to be rebuilt I would be in trouble if I had no insurance cover.My previous house insurance was up for renewal and reading through the PDS suggested I wasn't actually covered if I ran a business from home. I called them and sure enough, running a manufacturing business from home, no matter the size invalidated my insurance. Its embarrassing to say, but I was probably not correctly covered for a little while.QuoteI encourage you to have another read through your insurance PDS and even call them up. If you are operating as a business you might not be covered.I called a number of insurance providers, both direct and brokers. All of them, except the one I went with (Youi) straight up refused to insure my house as I ran a *manufacturing* business. Some would insure if you ran other business types. Youi grilled me about my business activities and noted it in the quote etc. My business assets etc are not covered by this policy.I do wonder how many Esty sellers are out there making and selling stuff at home and unknowingly invalidating their home insurance....Thanks again

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: «Reply #14 on:Todayat 01:35:13 am »
content: Quote from: Electrodynamic onYesterdayat 04:52:44 pmI'm not suggesting that you can't do whatever you like in your own home, but if you're buying their product, you need to abide by their rules. It becomes their business if you make a claim.

author: Cyclotron
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: «Reply #15 on:Todayat 02:34:21 am »
content: I don't run a business out of my home, but I do a lot of hobbies, have welders, machine shop equipment, lots of things not found in the "normal" household.But it is relatively normal for farmers to have such things. So I use farm insurance, and it's economical and covers equipment and so on. Actually, by having it on my property/home and autos, it is cheap. Cheaper than traditional homeowners' and car insurance.I'm not sure how readily available it is internationally.