Pot plants rank among Australians' most treasured household possessions
New research by ING reveals pot plants are the second Australians’ most valuable treasured household possessions ranking second with an average value of $13,198 in homes where they’re cherished.
Artwork topped the list with an average value of $13,787.
The research also found VHS tapes and DVDs are the most sought after collectable items for thieves with 753,000 Aussies having had these items stolen from their home.
A pricey loss given, on average, Aussies value their treasured VHS tapes and DVD collections at $4,363.
Most valuable treasured household possessions
Item | Average value per household |
Artwork | $13,787 |
Pot plants | $13,189 |
Watches/ jewellery | $8,787 |
Designer goods and clothing | $7,793 |
Special collectables/ antiques | $7,914 |
Most sought after collectable items for thieves
Item | Number of Aussies that have had item stolen from their home |
VHS or DVD collections | 753,000 |
Stamp collections | 527,000 |
Musical instruments | 659,000 |
Family portraiture/ vinyl collection/ vintage clothing/ early edition books and comics | 517,000 (have had at least one of these items stolen from their home) |
ING’s head of Insurance, Cathy Duncan says people need to consider the value of their home and contents.
“When you’re trying to estimate the value of your home and contents most of us probably think about the costs of rebuilding and the value of our big ticket items like furniture, electronics and jewellery,” said Duncan.
“What this research tells us is that it’s actually just as important to remember to consider the collective value of smaller items too. For example, the accumulative costs of all the pot plants in and around your house and your entire DVD collection. These things can really add up.”
More than a quarter (26%) of Australians have had their home broken into at least once, one in three (32%) say they’ve had items stolen, and overall, 11% say at least one rare or collectable item was stolen from their home.
“It’s so easy to think that just because something hasn’t happened to you it won’t,” said Duncan.
“That’s probably why almost a quarter (24%) of Australians (according to the research) do not currently have any form of home and or contents insurance.
“But the reality, according to this research, is that there’s a one in four chance your home could be broken into.”