Spring Clean Your Insurance Covers
Published Date: 09/15/2025
Source: Aon South Africa
Time to dust off and refresh your policies
Spring has sprung and many of us are taking on the annual ritual of spring cleaning our homes and gardens. While you’re decluttering and sprucing up your living space, it’s also the perfect time to review your insurance policies and asset register.
“Reviewing your homeowners and asset insurance annually is one of the simplest ways to protect your wealth,” says Michael Whitehead from Aon South Africa insurance brokers and risk advisors. “Your life changes: you renovate, add security, buy devices, install solar or replace appliances. If your insurance policy and asset register don’t keep pace, you risk underinsurance, exclusions or missing specified items - problems that often only surface at claims time. Use the Spring motivation to make sure all your hard-earned assets are properly covered, and at the same time, that you’re not paying for cover on assets you no longer own.”
Tips for Reviewing Your Insurance
- Update your asset register: Keep your asset register current with new purchases like electronics, jewellery, clothing or furniture, and remove items you no longer own. A current asset register (with values, serial numbers, photos, and invoices) is your evidence trail. In the event of a burglary, fire, or flood, it speeds up loss assessment, proves ownership, and helps you recover the full, correct amount. Annual reviews also catch inflation gaps, new risks (like outbuildings or home offices), warranty/maintenance conditions, and excesses that may be out of step with your budget. Make sure these improvements/changes to your assets are reflected and covered in your policy.
- Check insured values: Rising building and replacement costs mean your home could be underinsured. Review your cover to ensure it accounts for today’s rebuilding expenses – including demolition, rubble removal, architectural fees, fire brigade charges and compliance with public authority requirements.
- Review security requirements: Confirm that your home meets the minimum security standards listed in your policy, such as burglar bars or security gates, and that any new features are included.
- Understand your cover: Policies differ – some are comprehensive, others cover specified perils only. Work with a broker to ensure there are no surprises at claims stage, for example, in cases of power-outage-related break-ins, hail, or flooding.
- Stay on top of maintenance: Spring cleaning is a great time to identify potential problems. Keep in mind that damage caused due to poor maintenance, such as blocked gutters or rising damp issues, is not covered under insurance. Insurers expect homeowners to take reasonable precautions to prevent loss.
- Reduce fire risks: Clear out clutter, check wiring and electricity connections, trim back overhanging branches, and test smoke detectors. Service fire extinguishers if necessary and ensure burglar bars include a fire escape option.
- Cover all your buildings: If you own multiple structures on one property, such as a flatlet, ensure each is listed and insured separately for both structure and contents.
- Avoid underinsurance: Insure all your household contents – not just high-theft items. If you’re underinsured and you suffer a burglary, insurers apply the “average formula,” meaning you’ll only receive a partial payout in the event of a claim.
- Special items need special cover: Art, antiques and collectables often require specialised insurance. Get regular valuations and work with your broker to ensure they are correctly insured.
- Review all-risks cover: Items you take outside the home – laptops, cameras, bicycles, jewellery – should be specified under the all-risks section of your policy. Jewellery valuations should be updated at least every two years and take note of any insurance requirements for safekeeping of such jewellery when not worn.
The Value of Expert Guidance
Insurance policies can be complex, with clauses, warranties and regular updates that may alter the terms of your cover. Keeping track of these changes is essential to avoid misunderstandings at claims stage.
“Working with a professional insurance broker brings real peace of mind. Brokers translate policy fine print, recommend the right sums insured and cover types, compare insurers and ensure high-value items are properly specified. Just as importantly, they act as your advocate at claims stage - organising documentation, negotiating with insurers on your behalf and shortening the path from loss to payout and recovery,” Michael explains.
“With the guidance and advice of a professional broker, you can be confident that you’re fully protected, and your cover works exactly as intended, when you need it most,” Michael concludes.
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