Valuation & Advisory Services

Residential Insurance Cost Estimates

Ensure your home is properly protected with accurate, independent insurance cost estimates assessment from New Zealand’s most trusted property experts.

Is Your Home Truly Insured? Navigate Under insurance Risks with Confidence

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Need an insurance cost estimates assessment? Share a few details about your requirements and connect with a local registered valuer.

Your home is likely your most significant financial asset - but is it insured for what it would actually cost to rebuild?

Many New Zealand homeowners are unknowingly under insured, relying on online calculators or outdated estimates that miss critical details like custom finishes, complex site access, and regional construction cost variations. If disaster strikes, this could leave you hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket.

That’s where we come in. At CBRE New Zealand, we provide independent residential insurance valuations that calculate your property’s true replacement cost - giving you the clarity and confidence to set the right sum insured and avoid costly shortfalls.

As New Zealand’s largest residential valuation provider, we complete over 850+ valuations every month across 21 locations nationwide. Our reports are trusted by all major insurers and banks, and are tailored to your home’s unique design, location, and features - delivered promptly by experienced Registered Valuers.

Why do insurance cost estimates matter?

Most New Zealand homeowners have house insurance – but many are unknowingly under-insured. After the Canterbury earthquakes, insurers changed to a “sum insured” model, meaning you must estimate your home’s rebuild cost. Unfortunately, generic estimates or outdated figures can leave a big gap. Construction costs have surged in recent years, and features like custom finishes or extensive landscaping are often overlooked in online calculators. The result? If disaster strikes (fire, earthquake, flood), your policy payout might not cover the full rebuild. In fact, industry surveys suggest over half of Kiwi homes may be under insured, sometimes by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This is where we come in – as independent valuation experts (not insurance sellers), we calculate that rebuild cost for you so you can insure your home for the right amount. Accurate insurance cost estimates give you peace of mind knowing no matter what happens, you can rebuild your home to the same standard without financial stress. For homeowners, it protects your biggest asset and family home. For professionals like mortgage or insurance brokers advising clients, it ensures those clients are properly covered, avoiding future disputes or shortfalls. In short, registered, independent insurance cost estimates are the most reliable way to get your house insurance right.

What’s Included in Our Service?

Our comprehensive insurance cost estimates covers every aspect needed to rebuild your home. When you engage us, we will provide:
  • On-site inspection: A thorough examination of your property, inside and out, by a Registered Valuer. We measure all areas, note construction materials and finishes, and identify special features or high-value items (e.g. custom kitchen, imported fixtures).
  • Structural rebuild costs: Calculation of all building costs for your home – from foundation to roof – using current local construction rates. We account for your home’s specific size, design, and quality of materials (no one-size-fits-all estimates).
  • Other structures & site works: We include outbuildings (garage, shed), external features like decks and pergolas, hard landscaping, soft landscaping (planting, metal driveways etc), fences, driveways, pools, retaining walls – anything on your property that would need rebuilding or replacing after a total loss.
  • Demolition & debris removal: In a total loss, the remains of the old structure must be cleared. We estimate demolition costs and debris removal to prepare the site for rebuilding.
  • Professional fees & consents: Rebuilding involves architects, engineers, council building consents, and inspections. Our assessment adds these necessary costs so you’re covered for design and compliance in the rebuild.
  • Inflation allowance: We factor in an allowance for cost inflation. Insurance is often arranged for a year ahead; we ensure your sum insured includes a margin so that rising material or labour costs over the policy period won’t leave you short.
  • Detailed report & certificate: You receive a full insurance cost estimates report breaking down the rebuild cost and a formal certificate signed by our registered valuer. This document can be sent to your insurer as evidence of the correct sum insured.
  • Indemnity value (if required): If your insurer needs it, we also calculate the indemnity value – the current depreciated value of your home. This can be relevant for certain policy calculations (like fire service levies or partial loss settlements).
Everything is covered. In the end, you get a single recommended Sum Insured figure that reflects the true cost to rebuild your home to the same standard.

Why choose CBRE New Zealand?

Choosing the right valuation partner is crucial. Here’s why CBRE is the best choice to safeguard your home with an independent insurance cost assessment:

  • Independence & Integrity: We are completely independent. As Registered Valuers, our duty is to you, the homeowner – not to any insurance company. We don’t sell insurance or receive commissions; our sole focus is providing objective valuations. CBRE is a globally trusted name in property advisory, known for integrity and high professional standards. When we assess your home, you can be confident the figure is unbiased and in your best interest.
  • Experienced Local Experts: Our team brings decades of combined experience in the New Zealand property and construction market. We’ve valued thousands of homes across New Zealand, with our reach extending from Cape Reinga to Bluff, West Coast to Akaroa, Taranaki to Gisborne, and everywhere in between. This deep expertise means we understand local building methods, council requirements, and cost nuances specific to different regions and home types. Whether your property is a modern city townhouse or a 1900s villa, we have the knowledge to value it accurately.
  • Accuracy & Attention to Detail: We pride ourselves on meticulous detail. Unlike rough online calculators, we delve into the specifics of your property. Complex architectural design? High-end materials? Unusual site layout? We account for it all. Our rigorous process often uncovers cost factors that generic estimates miss – ensuring your cover is neither too low nor unnecessarily high. The result is a fair assessment that you (and your insurer) can trust to be spot-on.
  • Recognised by Insurers & Banks: Our insurance cost estimate reports are widely accepted by all major insurance providers in New Zealand. Insurance brokers and banks regularly rely on CBRE’s assessments for their clients’ policies and mortgage requirements. Presenting a CBRE valuation certificate to your insurer carries weight – it’s an authoritative basis for setting your sum insured. This can streamline adjustments to your policy, as the figures come from a respected independent source.
  • Fast, Professional Service: We understand you may have deadlines, like an upcoming policy renewal or a new home purchase requiring updated insurance. Our team works quickly without sacrificing quality – typically delivering the valuation report within 5–7 business days of the site visit (often faster). Throughout the process, we communicate clearly and courteously. If you have questions at any stage, we’re here to help. Our goal is to make the process smooth and worry-free for you.
  • Client-Centered Approach: Dealing with insurance details can be daunting, so we focus on making it easy. Our valuers take time to explain the results in plain language – no jargon overload. We’ll walk you through the report and highlight anything important. If something is unclear, we encourage you to ask. We want you to feel confident and informed. Many of our clients come via word-of-mouth referrals, a testament to the personal care and trust we build. Your peace of mind is our priority.

With CBRE New Zealand, you’re choosing a proven partner who will treat your home insurance cost estimates with the utmost care and professionalism. We don’t provide insurance or financial advice – what we provide is the accurate, independent information you need to make the right decisions with your insurer.

Our Process - How it Works

Getting insurance cost estimates with us is straightforward and hassle-free. Here’s what you can expect:

  1. Request a Quote: Get started by clicking “Request a Valuation” or giving us a call. We’ll ask a few basic details about your property (address, house size, type of construction, etc.) and then provide you with a free, no-obligation quote for the cost estimates assessment. This quote outlines the fee for our service, which depends on factors like your property’s size and location. Fees typically range from $700 to over $2,000, depending on complexity - a worthwhile investment that could save you tens of thousands by ensuring your insurance cover is accurate. You’ll know the cost upfront, so you can decide if you wish to proceed.
  2. On-Site Inspection: Once you approve the quote, we schedule an on-site visit at a time that works for you. One of our friendly registered valuers will come to your property to conduct a thorough inspection. What happens during the visit: We’ll measure the building, note construction details (materials, finishes, special features), and take photographs for our records. We look at everything from the roof type to floor coverings, and from the landscaping to any unique features like a designer kitchen or solar power system. If you have original building plans or previous valuations, we can review those too. The inspection for an average home typically takes about an hour. You’re welcome to accompany the valuer and point out any details you think are important. Our aim is to capture a complete picture of your property.
  3. Analysis & Cost Estimates: After the site visit, our valuer gets to work on calculating the rebuild cost. We use the data collected, along with up-to-date construction cost databases and our in-house valuation software, to determine the total replacement value. We consider current market prices for materials and labor, regional construction trends, and any complexities of your property. For example, if your home is on a slope or has custom architectural elements, we factor in those cost implications. We also include estimates for demolition, professional fees, and consents as discussed. This rigorous analysis is what sets a professional residential insurance cost estimates apart from a quick guess.
  4. Report Delivery: Within a few days of the inspection (often 3–5 business days), we compile and send you the insurance cost estimates report. You’ll receive a digital copy (PDF) via email; a hard copy can be provided upon request. The report starts with an explanation of what is covered and terms for insurance valuations, followed by property details and then the Insurance Certificate with a table breakdown the cost elements. It itemises the build cost, external works, allowances for fees, etc., so you can see the components. We write the report in clear language, and we include definitions for any technical terms. Along with the report, you get the official Insurance Cost Estimates Certificate, which is a one-page summary on our letterhead, signed by the valuer, that your insurer can use. After sending the report, we will follow up to confirm you’ve received it and answer any questions. We encourage you to review it and reach out if anything needs clarification.
  5. Support & Next Steps: We don’t just drop off the report and disappear – we’re here to support you in using it. If your insurance broker or company has any questions about the report, we’re available to help explain the methodology or details (with your permission, we can speak directly with them to address any queries). The goal is to make sure the residential insurance cost estimates report is understood and successfully applied to adjust your policy. Once you have our report in hand, you can work with your insurer to update your Sum Insured on your policy. Many of our clients send the certificate to their insurance provider and get their coverage adjusted within a day or two. Finally, we’ll remind you that this residential insurance cost estimates assessment reflects costs at the current date. We recommend updating your insurance cost estimates every 2–3 years, or sooner if you make significant improvements to your property. Building costs change over time, so keeping the assessment updated ensures you stay fully covered. We can set a reminder to contact you in a couple of years for a refresh, so you don’t have to remember.

Throughout the process, our aim is to make it easy and transparent for you. We handle the technical work, while keeping you informed. By the end, you’ll have a solid document in hand and the confidence to know your home can be properly insured.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Request A Valuation

If you’re looking for a property valuation, share a few details about your request to get a free quote and get in contact with a local registered valuer.

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