As part of your MAS House Insurance application, we will ask you about your house’s build quality, slope of land, retaining walls, fencing, and paving. This page will help you to determine which category your house falls into for the various criteria.
It is important that you select the relevant category (of build quality, slope, retaining walls, fencing and paving) that most accurately reflects your property, as your selection will have an impact on both the cover under your policy and the premium you pay.
You should therefore consider the options below carefully before selecting the appropriate category for your cover. If you need advice or assistance in selecting the right category, don't hesitate to call 0800 800 627 or email us at info@mas.co.nz - we're here to help!
There are three categories for build quality; Standard, Quality and Prestige. Please use the following guidelines to determine the quality of the fixtures and fittings within your property.
Standard Build
- Standard design for the time it was built
- Laminated kitchen benchtops and cupboard doors
- Basic appliances and tapware
- Frames shower screens or over bath shower only
- Basic aluminium windows only
- Flush faced doors without skirtings
- Simple steel door handles, locks etc.
- Simple architraves and skirtings on the interior walls
- Plain ceilings and cornices
- Simple ceramic tiling
- Simple electrical features
Quality Build
- Architectural designer or custom builder design
- Granite or laminated timber kitchen benchtops
- Vinyl or polyurethane kitchen cupboard doors
- European appliances and tapware
- Semi-framed or frameless shower screens
- Timber or quality aluminium windows
- Some double glazing
- Feature doors
- European door furniture
- Larger architraves and skirtings
- Decorative ceilings and cornices
- Some porcelain tiling (floor to ceiling)
- Good standard of electrical facilities and fittings
- Underfloor heating in bathroom areas
Prestige Build
- Architectural design
- Special design features such as curved walls or speciality staircase
- Granite kitchen benchtops
- Polyurethane or solid timber kitchen cupboard doors
- European appliances and tapware
- Frameless shower screens
- Timber or improved aluminium windows
- Custom-made doors
- European door furniture
- Decorative ceilings and cornices
- Underfloor heating
- Stone tiling (floor to ceiling)
- Extensive electrical facilities
- Double glazing
What percentage (%) of the ground floor is covered by the upstairs roof?
Understanding the slope of the land
As part of your application, you'll need to give us an indication of the slope of your land.
Your house will fall into one of three categories: Flat/Gentle (less than 10 degrees), Moderate (10 to 25 degrees) or Steep (25 degrees or more).
To determine the slope of your property - where the property has been excavated and the house is on the flat piece of land which, if not excavated, would be sloping - imagine an invisible line from the highest point on the property to the lowest point, and then select either Moderate or Steep based on the angle of this line. If considering a large property, think of the area within about 20 metres of the house in any direction.
Retaining walls
When selecting one of the retaining wall options, us the following as a guide:
- Minimal: Choose this option if the total quantity of your retaining walls is up to approximately 10m². For example, this could be a 20m long x 0.5 high wall, or a 10m long x 1m high wall. It could also be multiple sections/walls on the property making up the total.
- Average: Choose this option if the total quantity of your retaining walls is up to approximately 20m². For example, this could be a 20m long x 1m high wall or a 40m long x 0.5m high wall.
- Extensive: Choose this option if the total quantity of your retaining walls is up to approximately 40m². For example, this could be a 20m long x 2m high wall or a 10m long x 2m high wall plus a 20m long x 1m high wall.
If your property has retaining walls totalling greater than 40m², please call us on 0800 800 627 to discuss your insurance options.
Fencing
When selecting one of the fencing options, use the following as a guide:
- Minimal: Select this option if your property has perimeter fencing around a small block of land of approximately 500m² or less.
- Average: Select this option if your property has perimeter fencing around a medium block of land of approximately 500m² to 750m².
- Extensive: Select this option if your property has perimeter fencing around a large block of land of approximately 750m² to 1000m².
If your property is larger than 1000m², please call us on 0800 800 627 or email info@mas.co.nz to discuss your insurance options.
Paving
When selecting one of the paving options, use the following as a guide:
- Minimal: Select this option if your property has paving less than 25m².
- Average: Select this option if your property has paving between 25m² and 50m².
- Extensive: Select this option if your property has paving between 50m² and 100m².
If your property has paving greater than 100m², please call us on 0800 800 627, or email info@mas.co.nz to discuss your insurance options.