Summary
This article explains the main differences between the home replacement cost and the market value including what the two calculations are used for and how they are determined.
Are you exploring insurance options for your home or investment property? If so, then it is important to be aware of the terms that insurance companies utilize and that may appear in your homeowners or landlord insurance policy. By understanding these terms, you will have a clearer understanding of the amount of coverage provided by a specific policy. This could include the replacement cost for your property.
What Is The Replacement Cost?
The replacement cost value (RCV) is used to calculate the dwelling coverage limit of your property. It is part of the homeowners insurance Coverage A which refers to the dwelling. This cost is the amount it would take to rebuild your home again in the event of a loss that is covered in your insurance policy. For example, this may include if your home is destroyed in a storm or fire.
It is the amount of dwelling coverage required in your homeowner’s policy to either rebuild the structure of the property to the same type of standard as before the covered loss.
What If The Rebuild Cost Is More Than The Dwelling Limit For Your Policy?
There are different types of insurance coverage that will provide you with additional peace of mind when considering what will happen if your property is damaged. For instance, there could be a terrible storm which destroys countless homes in your area. If this does occur, then the cost for both labor and materials to rebuild your home may rise. There may also be a quick bout of high inflation, similar to what we have witnessed post-Covid shutdowns. In these types of situations it could cost significantly more to rebuild your home than the amount you are covered for in your home insurance policy.
Insurance provides offer two options that may be beneficial in a circumstance like this:
- Extended replacement cost
- Guaranteed replacement cost
Extended replacement cost coverage will pay out 10% to 50% more than your policies dwelling limit (or Coverage A we referred to earlier). The exact percentage will depend on the insurer that you choose when exploring homeowners insurance policies.
Alternatively, guaranteed replacement coverage may cover you for the total amount to rebuild your home, regardless of the difference between the actual cost and the calculated cost in your policy. However, this again depends on the insurance provider. There will always be terms and conditions associated with options like this.
How Is The Replacement Cost Of Your Home Estimated?
The replacement cost of your home is calculated by assessing key details about your home. This could include:
- Location
- Square Footage
- Key features like flooring
This will then be combined with any data the insurer has on similar properties in your area. They will also take into account the cost of labor or materials that will be required to rebuild your home in the event of a total loss such as a fire.
Is Your Home Replacement Cost Fixed?
Your home replacement cost may change overtime, either due to market changes or changes that you have made to your home. If you make any renovations to your property, it’s important to contact your insurance provider. They will be able to help you determine whether your dwelling coverage limit is still deemed to be accurate.
What Is The Market Value?
The market value of your home refers to the amount you would receive from your property on the market if it was sold at the time when it was valued. Generally, the market value is influenced by factors that are not related or associated with the cost that would be required to rebuild your home. For instance, your market value could be impacted by an economic downturn impacting your local area that is leading to lower levels of demand at the time your home was valued. Your replacement cost value won’t be impacted by a factor like this
What Is The Difference Between Market Value And The Replacement Cost?
The replacement cost is often confused with the market value of a property by homeowners. However, it is important to be aware that the two calculations are indeed different. As mentioned, the home value is the price that you would get for the home if you sold it on the real estate market. This value includes the land that your property is built on and any surrounding area that you own. In contrast, replacement cost covers the amount that would be required to rebuild your property. The land that your home sits on is not included in these calculations.
Why Is This Difference Important?
If you are arranging insurance coverage for your property, then it is important to understand the figures that will be referenced by insurance companies. There could be a significant difference between the replacement cost for the property and the home value and all of this significantly impacts not only the premiums you pay but the dwelling coverage that you have in the event you need to rebuild.
For instance, you may be able to sell your home for at least $900,000. However, it could only cost $700,000 to rebuild the property in the event of a disaster. Again, this is because land is not included in the replacement cost calculation. And, in some cases, the opposite may hold true. The cost to rebuild your home may far exceed the market value, in some situations the difference can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. At Notable Risk, we are familiar with one home that has an approximate market value of $1,600,000, but the replacement cost value has been determined to be approximately $2,600,000 (a difference of $1,000,000). Undoubtedly a salient example of why it is so critical to understand the difference between replacement cost value and market value of your home or investment property.
Summary
Below is a table detailing the key points discussed in this article including the most significant differences between the home replacement cost and the market value for a property.
| Replacement Cost | Home Value | |
| How Is It Determined? | Insurer will ask details about the property, combined with data for comparable properties in the area | A realtor or appraiser will inspect your home and provide a valuation based on market data. |
| What Are They Used For? | Determines dwelling limit of a home/rental property |
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| Who Uses This Calculation? | Insurance Companies |
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| What Factors Impact This Calculation? |
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We hope this helps you understand everything that you need to be aware of about the home replacement cost that will be used for any homeowners policy or landlord insurance that you are exploring. Remember, if you are unsure of whether the cost has changed due to alterations you have made to your home or investment property, it’s important to contact your insurance provider. Take a closer look at your replacement cost value when you have a moment, it’s a critical task to make sure that you are property insured and protected as a homeowner or landlord.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this blog post is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be relied upon by any individual or party for any specific purpose. Additionally, the information contained herein is not regularly updated. Neither this blog post nor any of its content (express or implied) should be considered as legal, financial, health, or other professional advice. It is essential to consult with your own advisors regarding any matters discussed in this blog post or elsewhere. Notable Risk LLC and its owners, members, managers, directors, officers, partners, consultants and similar entities do not make any representation or warranty regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information presented in this blog post or elsewhere.
Notable Risk leverages 20+ years of expert risk-management experience (and MBA and Law Degrees) not often found at insurance agencies. Of course, we don’t provide any legal or financial advice of any kind and you must consult your own advisors,
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