Ways to lower your Home Insurance Costs

Here's How to Save Without Sacrificing Cover

This post was published on Jul 9, 2025 | Updated on Aug 13, 2025


Times are tough, and many households are looking for ways to cut costs. It’s no surprise that insurance premiums often come under the microscope when reviewing monthly expenses. While reassessing your policies is a wise move, one area you should never compromise on is your home insurance. Cancelling it altogether can leave you financially vulnerable when you least expect it, because disasters don’t wait for better economic times. Instead of cancelling, here are practical and effective ways to help you save on home insurance while keeping your valuables protection intact.




1. Increase Your Excess

One of the quickest ways to reduce your monthly premium is by increasing your excess: the amount you're responsible for paying when making a claim. The higher the excess, the lower your premium. Below is a table showing the premiums quoted for a 42-year-old married male living in a five-bedroom house located in a residential area, without an alarm system, and insuring the property for R500,000.00. The table outlines the differences in premiums based on various excess options:


Premium:Excess:
R 392.78pmR 2,350.00
R 350.36pmR 5,000.00
R 298.99pmR 10,000.00
R 268.79pmR 15, 000.00


Disclaimer: Please note that all premiums are dependent on the risk profile, and the excesses shown above do not necessarily reflect those available at iWYZE.


2. Boost Your Home Security

Investing in home security not only protects your property and loved ones, but can also lead to significant savings on your insurance premiums.


Here are some security upgrades insurers value:

  • Burglar bars and security gates
  • An alarm system linked to an armed response service
  • Deadbolt locks on doors and windows
  • Security cameras and motion sensor lighting


Insurers often reward proactive risk reducing individuals, additionally, you’ll gain peace of mind knowing your home is safer from break-ins.



3. Avoid Claims for Minor Incidents

While it’s tempting to claim for every loss, it may cost you more in the long run. Frequent claims normally result in higher premiums and could even lead to policy exclusions when your policy goes for an annual review, which normally happens on the anniversary month of your cover.


Instead, consider handling smaller repairs or losses out-of-pocket. Many insurers reward claim-free years with premium discounts or cashback bonuses. Reserve your claims for significant losses or emergencies.



4. Ask About Available Discounts

Insurers often have discounts available, but you may have to ask for them. For example, at iWYZE we offer discounts when you bundle home and car insurance.


Other possible discounts to inquire about:

  • Discounts for retirees or pensioners


Always speak to your insurer to explore your options.



5. Review and Adjust Your Cover

Sometimes, you may be paying for cover you don’t actually need. Reviewing your policy regularly can help you trim unnecessary add-ons while ensuring you’re covered where it matters most.


There are two key parts to home insurance:

  • Home contents insurance: Covers the belongings inside your home, such as furniture, appliances, clothing, and personal valuables. There is also coverage for portable possessions, which primarily provides protection for items typically taken outside the home. These include your cellphones, wristwatches, and laptops. These items are specified separately because they are exposed to a much higher risk of theft or loss. When listed on the policy, they are covered worldwide without territorial limits, unlike home contents, which are only covered for theft if taken from the insured address during a break-in.
  • Structural (building) insurance: Covers the physical structure of your home, including walls, roofing, plumbing, and electrical systems.


How much structural cover do you need?

Your building insurance should be based on the full replacement cost of your home, not its current market value. Consider inflation, rising building material costs, and labour when estimating what it would cost to rebuild your home completely after a disaster.



6. Include Other Structures on Your Property

Make sure your policy covers all relevant buildings on your property, not just your main house. This includes:

  • Detached garages
  • Storage sheds
  • Wendy houses
  • Staff quarters


If these aren’t included in your current policy, you may need to adjust your cover to reflect the full value of your property.


Beyond making sure all buildings on your property are covered under your policy, it’s equally important to maintain them. Regular upkeep not only extends the life of your home but also reduces the risk of damage and costly claims. To help you stay on top of this, Kreban Govender, Claims Investigator at iWYZE has shared a practical maintenance checklist you can use throughout the year.


iWYZE Home Maintenance Checklist

This post was published on Jul 1, 2025 | Updated on Aug 13, 2025



Following this checklist can help keep your home in top condition and may even improve your insurability. By combining regular maintenance with adequate cover, you can protect your property — and your wallet — from preventable disasters.



7. Update Your Personal Items Cover

Your home contents policy should cover valuable personal items like:

  • Jewellery when not worn but must be securely locked in a wall or floor mounted safe.
  • Designer clothing or accessories
  • Collectibles


Take inventory of your valuable items regularly. If you’ve sold, lost, or given away high-value items, remove them from your policy. Similarly, if you've made new purchases, add them to ensure full protection from a financial loss.

To bring this point to life, we asked Matsidiso — a homeowner and policyholder who recently updated her own cover — to share her experience. Her story shows how small habits can make a big difference when it comes to keeping your insurance aligned with your real needs.


“I recently moved into a new place, and during the packing and unpacking process, I ended up giving away or discarding quite a few items. At the same time, I treated myself to some new appliances and furniture to make the space feel more like home — both functional and aesthetically pleasing. To stay organized, I made a point of photographing all my receipts and emailing them to myself. I also saved them in a dedicated folder I keep for insurance purposes — it’s a small habit that really pays off when you need to prove ownership. It wasn’t until a few weeks later that it dawned on me: I needed to update my home inventory. Between what I’d let go of and what I’d added, my cover was no longer accurate. It also gave me a chance to review the items I carry with me regularly — like the contents of my gym bag — and make sure they’re properly insured too. Absolutely spot on — insurance isn’t just about adding new items; it’s about keeping your policy aligned with your current lifestyle. Keeping it updated not only ensures accurate cover but also makes the claims process smoother. It helps avoid the stress and delays of trying to prove ownership after the fact — especially when the item is no longer around. ”
Matsidiso Mpini, Claims Relationship Manager: Claims Support & Supplier Management

Matsidiso’s experience is a great reminder: your home contents policy is only as accurate as the information you keep on it. Keeping your inventory up to date can prevent costly coverage gaps and ensure a hassle-free claims process.



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#wyzemove: Keep receipts, valuations, and photographs of your valuable belongings. This documentation can make your claims process faster and more reliable.


Home insurance is one of the most important safety nets you can have — offering protection from financial losses as a result fires, theft, natural disasters, and more. Instead of cancelling it, take a smarter approach: review, revise, and reduce where you can, without exposing yourself to unnecessary risk.


Being proactive with your policy, making smart upgrades, and avoiding unnecessary claims can help you maintain strong cover and still enjoy some much-needed savings. In uncertain times, keeping your home protected is one decision you won’t regret.

Terms and conditions apply. Please note that the content displayed on this site is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice or replace our policies’ terms and conditions. The policy wording supersedes any marketing material. Any claim will be considered against the terms and conditions that apply at the time of claim and as set out in our customers’ policy documentation.


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