When it comes to buying real estate, an up-to-date report shows Hunter residents will weather any storm.

Despite predictions of more cyclones, fires and floods throughout the country this summer, only 46% of Australian home buyers gave any thought to the impact of natural disasters when purchasing their new home in the past year.

In fact of the 27% who entertained the idea of moving house during COVID, less than half failed to factor in whether or not our residence was storm-safe.

Closeness to family and friends, climate, and escaping the rate race were the main drivers of Australians seeking to relocate to another state or region.

The inaugural Suncorp Resilient Home Report found lifestyle factors far outweighed fears of destructive weather patterns.

Alarmingly almost half 46% said they didn’t take into consideration the increasing risks of extreme weather when deciding on where to live, and even more 52% didn’t consider the impacts when selecting the type of home to live in.

Suncorp Insurance executive manager Bernadette Norrie says Australians may need to rethink their property research priorities.

“As an insurer, we’re on the frontline helping people and communities most impacted by weather disasters,” she said.

“It’s not just property damage that Aussies face in the wake of a natural disaster, it’s the mental toll of severe weather events that many people fail to realise and properly consider.

“Once a disaster strikes, the lives of those affected can be upended completely. Many families can be displaced from their homes while repairs happen, people lose irreplaceable possessions, and are left with the emotional scars of what they’ve endured.

“Identifying the natural hazards of where you plan to live as well as the type of structure that can best defend your family against a bushfire, flood or storm needs to be an essential part of property research,” Ms Norrie added.

Suncorp research also found that one in five did not consider the frequency or severity of natural disasters before making their sea/ tree change.

The Suncorp Resilient Home Report revealed over half of Australians (52 per cent) believe they live in an area with some form of risk – the most common being severe storms (30%) followed by bushfires (29%).

More than two thirds (64%) admit that extreme weather events in recent years have made them more aware of the risks, however only one in four have made modifications to their home to protect against natural disasters.

“Getting ready for extreme weather is more than just checking gutters for leaves and trees and tying down backyard furniture, it’s about making your home more resilient, so you are better protected from the impacts of Mother Nature.” Ms Norrie said.

Do it yourself: Make simple changes to your new or existing home.

• Installing fixed and operable high-performance mesh screens will help slow down flame spread during a bushfire.

• Installing a dual tank system of two galvanised water tanks: one for firefighting so if the home is ever disconnected from its main water source, occupants could extinguish flames on site; the second a back-up water supply, ensuring occupants always have drinkable water.

• PVC plastic gutter fixings. In the event of a fire, fixings melt, and gutters become ‘sacrificial’ and safely fall away from the house. This helps protect the home from embers and reduces the likelihood of embers entering the back-up water supply, affecting its quality.

• Installing electrical wiring in the roof to prevent loss of power during a flood event.

• Installing power points and switches at least one metre above floor level to reduce the risk of electrical issues during flooding.

• Considering a roof shape that will minimise unnecessary junctions which are prone to wear and can allow embers into the home.

• Installing glazed windows and doors – which prevents water from entering the home and evenly distributes heat load over the glass, helping to prevent cracking.

For more stories like this:

• Bushfire season has started Oct 2021
• Pool owners warned of risks post floods
• Things to remember when planting trees

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