Buying your first home? Let’s make insurance easy.

Hi, I’m Ashleigh!

I lead the personal lines team here at SHARE General and I spend my days helping people just like you get their insurance sorted as they step into their first home.

It can feel like a lot, new terms, decisions, and “what ifs” — but that’s exactly what we’re here for. I’ll walk you through this first home buyers guide, explain things simply, and make sure you feel confident discussing your insurance with your broker.

What Is Home & Contents Insurance?

Home Insurance

Covers the physical structure of your home, things like walls, roof, and permanent fixtures. It protects you against events like fire, storms, or accidental damage.

Contents Insurance

Covers the things you own inside your home, furniture, clothes, electronics, even your kitchen bits and pieces. Basically, everything you’d take with you if you moved.

Most first home buyers have both but you’re broker will help you figure out what’s right for your situation.

How our advice process works

Your broker’s job is to make things simple and make sure you’re set up properly — not just quickly.

We’ll take the time to understand your home and your situation, then compare options and explain them in plain English so you can make a confident decision.

There’s no pressure — just clear advice, tailored to you, and support whenever you need it.

  • I get a feel for your home, your situation, and what matters to you.

  • I compare options and explain them clearly (no jargon).

  • Together, we land on cover that suits you — not just a one-size-fits-all policy.

  • Including what your bank needs before settlement.

  • Your broker will be there to review and adjust your policy as you need and if you ever need to make a claim our fabulous claims team will support you.

Lets Learn The Basics

  • What is a "Sum Insured"

    This is the amount your home is insured for — essentially, what it would cost to rebuild your home if it was badly damaged or destroyed. The rebuild costs include things like materials, labour, demolition, and professional fees, not just the visible parts of the home.

    It’s not the same as what you paid for the house or its market value — it’s about the cost to rebuild it from scratch.

    Getting this right is really important, and I’ll help guide you through it so you’re not under or over insured.

  • What is an excess?

    This is the amount you contribute if you make a claim.

    For example, if your excess is $500 and a claim costs $5,000, you pay the first $500 and the insurer covers the rest.

    The level of excess you choose will impact the premium component of your insurances.

    Increasing your excess can help manage the overall cost of your insurance.

  • What items do I need to specify?

    Most of your home and contents are covered automatically, but some higher-value or unique items need to be listed separately on your policy (this is called “specifying” them).

    For your home, this can include things like swimming pools, large retaining walls, or other features that go beyond the standard dwelling.

    For your contents, this often applies to higher-value items like jewellery, watches, artwork, bikes, or sports equipment.

    We’ll talk this through with you and help identify anything that should be listed, so you know exactly where you stand

  • Showing the bank your insurances

    If you’re buying with a mortgage, your bank will require your home to be insured before settlement.

    This is to protect both you and them (since the house is the security for your loan).

    As part of the settlement, they’ll require a Certificate of Currency, this is simply a document that confirms your insurance is in place — your bank, lawyer or mortgage broker may request this is the weeks ahead of your settlement.

  • What is NHI Cover

    In New Zealand, most home insurance policies include NHI Cover (through the Natural Hazards Commission).

    This provides a level of cover for certain natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic activity, and some types of landslips. NHI Cover sits underneath your private insurance.

    In the event of certain natural disasters, NHI Cover usually pays first (up to its limits), and then your insurer may cover anything above that.

  • What about covering the land?

    NHI Cover can also include some cover for the land around your home — which is something many people don’t realise.

    This can include:

    • Land under your house

    • Certain retaining walls

    • Some areas close to the home (within set limits)

    Land cover is quite specific and has limits, it doesn’t cover all land or every scenario.

    That’s why it’s important to understand how your full insurance package works together.

  • What are NHI and FENZ Levies

    As part of your home insurance, there are a few government levies included in your premium.

    In New Zealand, these help fund things like natural disaster cover (through NHI Cover) and emergency services such as Fire and Emergency NZ.

    They’re not set by the insurer and apply across all policies — so you’ll see them included regardless of who you’re insured with.

    You’re broker will always show you a full breakdown of your premium so you can see exactly what you’re paying and why.

  • Paying my insurance

    Paying your insurance annually (in one go) is usually the most cost-effective option.

    Most Insurers or Premium Funders add a small loading (typically around 10%) if you choose to pay monthly.

    A Premium Funder oftent offers the best % rate based and can group together multiple insurers into one single easy to manage payment

    You’re broker will always show you the annual price first so you can see the true cost — then you can choose the payment option that works best for you

Understanding NHI Cover

NHI Cover can be complex to understand so we’ve added a simple overview from the Natural Hazards Commission of how Natural Hazard Insurance (NHI) works and what it covers in New Zealand. It also explains how it fits alongside your home insurance, so you know how you’re protected.

Find out more about NHI Cover

A few extra things worth knowing

  • If you’re planning to renovate, upgrade, or even make small improvements to your home, it’s important to let me know.

    Changes to your home can affect your cover or the amount it should be insured for — I’ll help make sure everything stays up to date so you’re properly protected.

  • Insurance is designed to cover sudden and accidental damage — not wear and tear or issues that happen slowly over time.

    Things like leaks, rot, or damage from lack of maintenance are generally not covered, so keeping on top of upkeep is really important. If you’re ever unsure, just ask — your broker will be happy to talk it through

  • If something does happen, you won’t be dealing with it alone — I’ll be here to guide you through the claims process and advocate for you.

    That support is often the part people value most.

  • Your insurance isn’t “set and forget.”

    I’ll check in with you over time to make sure everything still fits as your life and home evolve.