HOME & PROPERTY

The Details Here Help You Estimate How Much Home Insurance Coverage You May Need

Your home may be the biggest investment you’ll ever make. If you’re serious about protecting that investment, here’s some important information to consider when determining how much home insurance coverage you need.

Get a Homeowners Quote

Insure Your Home for at least 100% of Estimated Replacement Cost

First get an estimate of the replacement cost of your home, then select the coverage amount that best fits your needs. We recommend you purchase home insurance coverage at least equal to your home’s estimated replacement cost. But the choice is yours. Determining your home’s estimated replacement cost is important because it ultimately determines which policy options are available to you. Since it’s impossible to predict today what the exact cost will be to replace your home in the future, it’s important to have enough home insurance coverage to account for unforeseen circumstances.

Know the Difference between Market Value and Replacement Cost

Market value is the amount a buyer would pay for a home, including the land, regardless of how much it would cost to rebuild the home. Replacement cost is the rebuilding cost necessary to repair or replace the entire home. Replacement cost IS NOT:

• The market value of the home
• The home’s purchase price or the cost of the land
• The outstanding amount of any mortgage loan

Obtain a Replacement Cost Estimate

Before you purchase a new home, make sure you determine the appropriate amount of home insurance coverage needed. Building contractors or professional replacement cost appraisers are a good source for obtaining an estimated replacement cost. Estimates from these sources should reflect your home’s features, including any architectural details or unique building materials:

• Upgraded bathrooms or kitchen (including cabinets)
• Finished or partially finished basement
• Additional rooms or living space
• Custom molding or arched windows
• Other unique features

If you’re unable to obtain a detailed estimate from a contractor or professional appraiser, your  agent can discuss other options for estimating the replacement cost of your home.

Review Your Home Insurance Coverage Annually

Have you recently remodeled or improved your home?

When you upgrade or improve your home, you may increase its estimated replacement cost. Your agent will help you adjust your policy to meet your home insurance coverage needs. As part of your policy’s provisions, you have 90 days to notify your insurance company of any remodeling or additions to your home that increase its value by $5,000 or more.

Has the rate of inflation risen since your last appraisal?

Home insurance coverage that automatically adjusts each year in an effort to compensate for increases in construction costs in your area. However, certain conditions such as severe weather can increase the demand for labor and materials and raise costs beyond normal inflation. It’s important to update your home insurance coverage amount each year to keep up with the changing economy.

What influences building costs in your area?

Market conditions may affect what it would cost to rebuild your home if you experience a loss. Replacement cost estimates are influenced by supply of labor, demand for labor, and the cost of construction materials. Keeping up with current market conditions in your area and changing your home insurance coverage amount accordingly will help you maintain comprehensive coverage at least equal to 100 percent of your home’s estimated replacement cost.