What every homeowner should verify on their dec page before storm season — and how to fix it if the numbers are off.
Nine out of ten denied or reduced claims we review at Vantage start the same way: the Coverage A (Dwelling) limit on the policy doesn't match what it actually costs to rebuild the house. Homeowners assume those numbers are interchangeable. They are not.
In a hot Florida market a 2,400 sq ft home might sell for $720,000 but cost $480,000 to rebuild. In a slow rural market the opposite is often true — the rebuild cost is higher than the resale.
Most policies include a "coinsurance" or "insurance-to-value" clause. If you're insured to less than ~80% of replacement cost when a partial loss happens, the carrier can pro-rate the payout.
Example: rebuild cost is $500,000. You're insured at $300,000 (60%). A kitchen fire causes $80,000 of damage. The carrier may only pay:
$80,000 × (300,000 ÷ 400,000) = $60,000 — minus your deductible.
That $20,000 gap comes out of your pocket, even though your "limit" was nowhere near exhausted.
We re-run reconstruction-cost estimates every two years, more often after major remodels, and we benchmark across three carriers. If you'd like us to audit your dec page before the next renewal, send it over — there's no charge for the review.
Send us your current dec page or just describe your situation. We'll respond within one business hour.
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