Do You Have Enough Coverage to Rebuild Your Home?

Imagine how devastating it would be to lose your home in a tornado or fire. Now imagine not being able to rebuild it completely because you didn’t have the correct amount of insurance. Selecting the proper amount of coverage is the single most important decision you can make with your Oklahoma Homeowners Insurance policy. Without it, you may not have enough coverage to rebuild after a total loss. This is called “insurance to value.” Below are some explanations and tips to help you make the right choices for your needs — and remember, if you need help, Statewide is just a phone call away! What is insurance to value? Insurance to value is the relationship between the amount of coverage selected (typically listed as “Coverage A” or “Dwelling Coverage” on your policy declarations page) and the amount required to rebuild your home. Insuring your home for anything less than 100% insurance to value could mean you wouldn’t have enough coverage to replace your home in the event of a total loss Why is the cost to rebuild different from the market value? A home’s market value reflects current economic conditions, taxes, school districts, the value of the land and location, and other factors unrelated to construction cost. The cost to rebuild your home is based only on the cost of materials and labor in your area. It is important that you insure your home based on its reconstruction cost, NOT its current market value Why is reconstruction more expensive than new construction? New-home builders typically build many homes at once, and solicit bids from various sub-contractors to receive the best pricing. Their business model is based on economies of scale. For example, they may purchase 20 bathtubs at once, securing a lower unit cost. These economies of scale don’t exist when building a single home. How can I make sure I have the correct amount of insurance? Work with your agent at time of purchase to be sure that you receive an accurate quote home insurance quote. Ask us about additional coverage options that may be available. Review your insurance to value calculation on a regular basis with your agent. Tell your agent about any changes or improvements that you make to your home. What if I don’t want to rebuild? Talk to your agent, many times market value home insurance policies cost less and make sense if you aren’t interested in going through the rebuilding process. Statewide Insurance Agency – Edmond, OK