Type of Home Insurance to buy if wouldn't rebuild house the same way?

daviddlewis

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I've had an offer accepted on a house in a suburb of Denver and am shopping for home insurance. We plan to live in the house for 5-7 years and then move elsewhere in Colorado. The house was built in 1965 on a large lot, and is toward the low end of prices (~$600K) for houses in that neighborhood.

In the event of a disaster that destroyed the house it wouldn't make sense to rebuild a similar house on that lot. We'd want to either use the settlement to build a house better designed than our current one to be expanded by the next owner, or simply accelerate our plans and use the settlement money toward the purchase of a house in another area of Colorado.

What should I be looking for with respect to the type of insurance? I'm less interested saving money on coverage than in being covered as well as possible in a catastrophe.

My first thought was to go with one of the few companies still offering guaranteed replacement cost coverage. But would that lock us into rebuilding more or less exactly the same design of house we had before? I've found a strange lack of discussion of how much rebuilding flexibility various kinds of insurance give.
 
The replacement cost calculator used to determine home value takes in the square footage and interior build. There is no requirement to rebuild a home as the original footprint but you will only receive the value of the insurance for the RCC. If the home has a mortgage the check for a total loss will be made out to you and the bank so that you can't take the money and move. The insurance policy is not going to pay for a 4000 square foot house if the original was 3000 sq ft
 
You are describing what is nicknamed "walkaway coverage." It is hard to find. Recommend to ask several Independent Agents if they have any carriers who will offer this as an option on a homeowners policy in this value range.
 
It's not that hard to find and not very expensive. I have it on my HO policy for an additional $84 per year. It's part of an option that includes the GRC along with lots of other enhancements.

That is good.

Many of the guaranteed & extended RC endorsements I have seen state the home must be rebuilt on the same location for the endorsement to apply
 
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