How can you quote insurance for my property without asking questions?
At initio, we don’t ask you 30 questions to get a house insurance quote. We simply ask one – what’s your property address?
We can do this because we use verified property data instead of manual forms. By entering your address, our system pulls key details automatically, letting you see a quote in seconds.
While many insurance providers rely on long application forms and manual inputs, our system does all of this heavy lifting for you behind the scenes. In a few clicks, you’ll see a quick quote – no fuss, no obligations.
How does initio know about my property?
A quick quote is the starting point for your house insurance policy. It’s based on verified property data from sources like LINZ and local councils – things like the size of the home, its construction, and whether it sits in a flood or earthquake zone.
Let’s dive into this a bit more.
Why we don’t need you to answer a lot of questions
Because our quoting engine already knows the answers. And if we see something missing, our underwriting team steps in to review it with you.
Behind the scenes is Locatio, initio’s in-house property risk scoring platform. It checks things like:
- The age of your house
- The floor area in square metres
- Whether you’re on town or tank water
- If the home sits in a natural hazard zone (like floodplains or seismic areas)
This lets us assess risk instantly and provide a quote without needing to quiz you first.
Fun fact: When we first launched our quoting system, it was so fast that people thought it hadn’t worked properly. We had to add a loading screen just to provide confidence it was doing something.
We keep it up to date by regularly refreshing the data and adapting it to new hazard insights across New Zealand. That means what you see on screen is backed by real-time information and market-leading risk modelling.
Why we built Locatio
It was built by our in-house development team in response to one of insurance’s biggest pain points: slow and confusing quote processes. By building an innovative platform to minimise a pain point in the industry, we can power thousands of quotes every month for almost every property in New Zealand, in seconds.
Does this affect my cover or my ability to choose?
No, initio’s quoting tool allows you to view at glance what you could be paying. Once you have viewed your quote, you can tailor your cover by adjusting the sum insured, choosing your excess, and adding any extras. It’s simple, clear, and takes minutes, not hours.
When we might still ask for more information
Sometimes our quoting system may not be able to find or pull data for your address. Because Locatio relies on council and LINZ data, there may be occasions where this information isn’t available. If that happens, we may need to ask you for a few extra details.
Things like new builds, title changes, multi-unit properties or subdivisions can cause the information to be unavailable due to the council records or data not being updated as of recent. Sometimes our quoting tool may not be able to pull one piece of information that is missing.
When this does happen, you will be reverted back to the property information and asked to manually add it in. While this may cause an inconvenience, it is important we have this information so we are able to calculate the risk at hand.
So what does this actually mean for you?
All of this clever tech is there for one simple reason: to make getting house insurance easier, faster, and less frustrating.
For you, that means:
- You don’t have to hunt down paperwork or guess details about your home
- You can get a quote in minutes, not hours
- You can see a price upfront without pressure or obligation
- You’re less likely to get surprises later, because the quote is based on real property data, not assumptions
By using verified information from the start, we reduce back and forth, delays, and confusion. You stay in control, with clearer information and fewer hoops to jump through.
In short, less admin for you. More confidence in what you’re looking at.
Our technology doesn’t stop at the quote
The same thinking behind our quoting tool runs through everything we do.
If your situation is straightforward and uncomplicated, you can:
- Get a quote
- Tailor your cover
- Set up your policy
- Become a customer
All in just a few minutes, online.
That tech-first approach also carries through to claims. Lodging a claim is designed to be simple and clear, with digital tools that guide you through the process and keep things moving. No unnecessary steps, no guesswork about what happens next.
We use technology where it genuinely helps, and people where it matters. That balance is what allows us to move quickly without losing the human side of insurance.
Summary
What began as a simple solution to a common problem has grown into an award-winning innovation. But the real benefit isn’t the awards. It’s the time saved, the clarity gained, and the confidence customers feel when organising their house insurance online.
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Written by Natasha Arnett
Natasha has been with initio since 2023. In her first year, she worked closely with the support and marketing teams before moving into digital marketing.
She has studied with ANZIIF and holds a qualification in Understanding General Insurance Products and Policies. She also completed a Bachelor of Business at the University of Waikato, majoring in Strategic Management and Marketing.