Will a good homeowners insurance policy will include guaranteed replacement cost?

Answer 1

It depends on your needs. Under the terms of guaranteed replacement policies you agree to carry enough insurance to cover 100% of the cost to replace the home. If you don't carry that amount you will be penalized on partial claims as well as total losses. Say you have a home built in 1850. Replacement cost to rebuild the home exactly like it was originally may be $600,000 but you only paid $150,000 for the home and that's what you want to insure it for. If you have an HO-3, replacement cost policy, you will have to carry at least 80% of the $600,000 cost to rebuild. You can buy a HO-8 policy which requires 80% of actual cash value and allows you to insure it for $150,000. If it burns down or a tornado destroys the home you will be paid $150,000 which will allow you to purchase another home and the premium is much less.