Monday, January 28, 2013

Don't Settle for Less Than the Replacement Cost

By Mats Sumellin


When obtaining a home insurance, you have the choice to select which type of replacement policy suits you. There are two types of policies namely, replacement cost policy and actual cost value policy. It is important to comprehend the difference between the two policies so that you will be sure in getting the coverage that is going to fit into your personal budget and offer you with sufficient coverage for your home and personal property.

The majority of advisors will suggest that you must ensure that your home has insurance with an estimated replacement cost for at least 100%. So that you can determine the amount of your homeowner's insurance coverage, try to get the estimate of your home's replacement cost and pick the coverage figure which best fit your needs. It is recommended that you purchase an amount of coverage at least equal to the estimated replacement cost. But the choice is yours.

Ascertaining the estimated replacement cost of your home is significant because this will subsequently determine the available policy options for you. Since it is not possible to guess the exact cost of the replacement in the future, it is very important to get sufficient coverage in order to account for unexpected circumstances such as the increase of building expenses and the contest for labor.

What do we mean by Replacement Cost?

Replacement cost means that, if there is damage to the belongings, the price of replacement materials to be used is equivalent to the price of new materials with the same quality and the same purpose. In other words, there will be no reduction in the value relative to the depreciation of the objects to be replaced. The actual price in order to replace damaged objects must be greater than or equal to the limit established by the insurance company. Choosing the replacement cost is more preferable, but the cost of the policy will reveal this. Coverage like this will pay the retail cost of replacing lost, ruined or stolen possessions. Depending on quantity of valuables you have, it may be worth it to pay the extra price to get an upgrade.

Details of the Actual Cost Value

An actual cost value policy covers the cost to replace damaged items at their depreciation value. In other words, if you paid $1,000 for a computer you bought 2 years ago, but it was only worth $150 at the time of your insurance claim, the insurance company would only cover $150 as opposed to the actual cost to replace the computer. Of course, a number of factors will be considered in order to determine the depreciated value of the property or object.

The majority of standard insurance home insurance policies include the contents of your home on the basis of actual cash value. Furthermore, a lot of insurers offer you an option to insure your property at replacement cost. The premium is a little higher for this type of coverage.

A Look at the Differences

The primary difference between the two replacement policies is the deduction and value of depreciation. Both forms of policies utilize a cost value based on the current price to replace the injured property. Additional coverage is available for the compensation of the added expenses of the replacement. When obtaining a homeowners insurance policy, replacement cost policies are the most common choice although an actual cost value policy is typically less expensive. This is because there is not as much of risk involved as far as the reimbursement for replacing your damaged objects or property is concerned. Hence, as long as you are knowledgeable of such differences and the effects on the premium, a better decision can be made. For utmost protection, choosing the replacement value is recommended.




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