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Does "guaranteed replacement cost" even exist for homeowner's insurance?04/28/07Does "guaranteed replacement cost" even exist for homeowner's insurance?Dave Ramsey recommends that you get "guaranteed replacement cost" coverage on your home in case construction costs jump up right at the time that your house burns down, and I found this text at the MOAA website:
However, I can't find ANY company willing to sell me such a policy!! Do they even exist any more?
UPDATE: I was wrong. My AAA policy is just for 25% over the coverage amount, just like everyone else. Stinker. The odd part is that even though they only insure to the coverage amount, they won't let me choose the coverage amount. UPDATE: In the end, I went with AllState. This will save me about $250/year on home owners insurance, and $100/year on car insurance, and $80 in auto club membership. They will cover the cost of rebuilding the house in the event of a total loss, up to 120% of the stated value. So I'll just have to watch that value very closely from year to year and make sure that it is high enough. At least they will let me change the value up or down if I think that their calculated amount is off. Several of the insurance quotes I got were just for the tax assessment, which is $20k less than I paid for the house, and definitely not what I would want the insurance to be for. Shameful really, but it made for some really cheap quotes! Comments, Pingbacks:
The replacement cost is calculated by a number of factors. You generally can purchase more coverage but not less than the calculated amount determined by the insurance company's calculation method. I am an Allstate agent in CA and we allow the insured to increase the dwelling coverage and, depending on the policy, we offer 150% of replacement cost. Guaranteed Replacement Cost Coverage doesn't exist; at least with Allstate in CA it doesn't.
Comment from: arizona home owner insurance [Visitor]
There are a handful of companies that give unlimited guaranteed replacement. Most offer 120%, 125% or 150%.
Comment from: gary [Visitor] · http://www.arizonahomeownerinsurance.biz
If a company only offers 125% and not unlimited, simply ask your agent to increase your dwelling limit amount. Insurers don't mind increasing coverage, usually.
Comment from: arizona auto insurance [Visitor] · http://www.arizonaautoinsurance.cc
I work auto and home. I don't find the guaranteed issue to be a big deal. If you insure a home properly up front, then monitor it at the anniversary you should be ok.
Comment from: John [Visitor]
I write ARIZONA HOME OWNER INSURANCE. The biggest issue for me is making sure each home is insured properly at their renewals. You just never know exactly how much building materials/labor is going up so you need to stay on top of that. Due to the wildfires in past years home owners were caught underinsured and as agents we need to do our job to make sure they are not.
Comment from: Brigette [Visitor]
Metlife Auto & Home offers guaranteed replacement in Arizona.
Comment from: Brooke [Visitor]
COUNTRY Financial offers GUARANTEED REPLACEMENT COST on homes 30 years or newer. It also has strong industry ratings and superior claims service. I would highly recommend checking them out.
Comment from: Jon Daley [Visitor] · http://jon.limedaley.com/
Came to this site in a fairly roundabout way (jeremiahgrossman.blogspot.com -> 0x0000000.com -> 0xdeadbeef.com -> deadbeef.com, and no, there aren't any links between them - I guess that is how an engineer surfs the web...)
but thought it interesting that you are having trouble getting insurance high enough - all the places here (Pittsburgh, PA) want me to buy more insurance than I think is correct, and treat me like I am crazy for wanting to do a cost-basis, rather than full replacement coverage... Their estimates for "full replacement" are much higher than I would actually pay to replace a house. We actually had trouble getting insurance for our first house because the calculated replacement cost was 3 to 4 times the purchase price, and the computer wouldn't allow the agents (multiple companies) to quote a policy due to the difference - I gather the problem was that the temptation would be too high to burn down your own house and get a 400% return on your investment in 1 day. I am currently looking for policies for our second house, and again, they quoted a replacement coverage at 200% of the purchase price, and when I asked about getting less coverage, she said that I really should be covered for that much, who knows if it would burn down (then she remembered that it was a stone house), ... or, maybe a plane lands on it, you never know what might happen... I hadn't ever considered the possibility of a plane landing on my house before, particularly since it is 30 miles to the nearest airport, but I guess that is what insurance is for - to cover you for crazy things...
Comment from: Read Carter [Visitor]
There are a number of companies that stillll offer a guaranteed replacement cost; MetLife, Encompass, Fireman's Fund and Chubb Insurance to name a few. There is no percentage above the stated limit, it really is a guarantee.
I am in GA and taking Dave Ramsey class. I have home owners ins w/allstate. They only offer extened coverage of 25%. Does anyone know of a Co. in GA that offers Guarantee Relplacement Cost and it is stated in the policy using this wording?
Auto Club of Southern California (AAA) offers guaranteed replacement cost.
I am an independent agent in Illinois, and many of the companies we write for will allow you to choose actual replacement cost, increased replacement cost or guaranteed replacement cost. however, you cannot insure less than the actual replacement cost, unless you want to insure it at ACV (actual cash value), which I would not recommend on your home. The nice thing about being an independent agent is that we can offer insureds various options and companies rather than just one company.
to: Lisa Fraser - try finding an agent who writes for Auto Owners in Georgia. They are an A++ rated company and will allow you to write guaranteed replacement cost for an additional premium.
Comment from: Claude [Visitor]
Country Insurance covers Homes in Kansas and Missouri and other states at Gtd Replacement cost. No cap... Unlimited. A+ Superior Company also. However, There are certain qualifications.
For example the Home must be less than 30 years of age, Previous claims within the last 5 years are also taken into account for qualification puposes.
Comment from: Laurie [Visitor]
Check with an independent agent who writes for many companies. I am independent, and several of our companies offer the endorsement for guaranteed RC. I have it on my home and wouldn't have it any other way. My house is properly insured, however, if there is a CAT loss or a hurricane,etc.. material and labor costs can spike up quickly. The guaranteed RC offers that peace of mind.
I am in the process of looking for a new combined policy (home,auto). I had so many questions and just googled them. My search brought me here and I just wanted to say thanks to all who posted. Your discussions have made a lot of my confusions clear. Great job!
Comment from: Sige [Visitor]
I hate insurance companies. They're always finding ways of getting out of paying up.
Comment from: AMBER WEYGANDT [Visitor]
AMERICAN FAIMLY INSURANCE offers GUARANTEED REPLACEMENT COST. It also has strong industry ratings and superior claims service. I would highly recommend checking them out!!
Plenty of companies still offer 100% true guaranteed Replacement cost without the cap. Yep 120% is a capped policy. Im not sure that the biggest investment you'll likely make is worth saving $250 to downgrade your coverage. Strikes me as illogical.
Im not sure what state you are in, because whether the coverage exists and by whom, varies state to state. Searching for home insurance on the internet is your first mistake. they never tell you everything and they mislead you into thinking that the coverage is all the same when its not. Auto insurance offers a slim variance between companies, but when it comes to home insurance, the differences can be staggering. Guaranteed Replacement cost is the first thing you need to get. Do not settle for anything less.
As for the guy in Pittsburgh, my hometown, insurance is based on the cost to build. My guess is that you must be looking at purchasing a home in an area with depressed home values. What you paid for a house is irrelavent, and only matters in determining moral hazzards as you've mentioned. home value doesn't matter. Case in point, if you buy a house in Homewood, in perfect condition, it may cost $90,000. But if you took that same house and moved it to Mt. Lebanon, it would be probably 3 times that, but yet the price to build would be the same,essentially. (There are some mark ups for locale). So market value matters not. Only cost to build. ACV policies are garbage unless you do not want to rebuild, but walk away. Regardless, they tend to be more expensive and the coverage is worthless in comparison.
My advice is to suck it up, if everyone tells you the same thing, maybe there is smoke. Smoke= fire. Insure your house right, and reduce your price by the deductible. Clearly you don't care about your coverage, and you just want to save. So do it there way and take a high deductible.
Oh, and back to internet shopping, its okay as long as you also go and visit an independant broker. Have them show you multiple quotes and then tell you why they selected it. Set price aside and see what you are getting. most people hate insurance becasue they fail to ask questions.
As Bridgette mentioned, MetLife Auto&Home offers unlimited replacement coverage for homeowners in most states. This coverage endorsement is called "Coverage A Plus". You can contact any MetLife Auto&Home agent to find out more information.
There probably is a few companies that offer guaranteed replacement cost. The one I am aware of is erie insurance. HOWEVER, this is not an opening to underinsure your home! It is important to remember that at the time the policy is taken out the home must be insured for 100% replacement cost. Also, you must notify your agent if you have done any additions so that the replacement cost estimate can be adjusted. Insurance companies have clauses in the contract that void the guaranteed replacement cost provision or even the additional 25% above the home coverage if you do not comply with the policy provisions to insure your home for its replacemtnt cost. You should check every few years with your agent to make sure your home is insured for replacement cost unless you want to risk being very unhappy in the event of a claim. You could end up with a settlement that includes depreciation for your loss, which may be substantial.
erik, nice advertisment for metlife. everyone, read my earlier post. Any insurance company will have provisions in the contract that must be met to get a guarantee on replacement cost.
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