if my house was payed off, should I get enough insurance to cover what the house is worth?

Answer 1

How is your policy written? Most policies are NOT based on "what the house is worth", but on "how much it would cost to rebuild the house". To the point where, if you seriously underinsure the house, you're going to be VERY upset when you only get PART of your claim paid.

Example: Say your house is "worth" $75,000. But it would cost $100,000 to rebuild. And your policy requires you to insure for full cost to rebuild. It's paid off, but you know that most people have losses under $40,000, so you decide to insure the house for $50,000.

You have a kitchen fire, with $30,000 worth of damages.

Your policy most likely has a clause in it, that says, the insurance company only has to PAY the percentage of the claim, that coincides with the percentage of the house you insured. You insured the house for HALF the value to rebuild. They pay HALF the claim.

You have to cough up $15,000 to fix the kitchen. AND you'll be badmouthing the insurance company, because you got caught out, when you were trying to be clever and save $50 a year.

Answer 2

You should get enough insurance to rebuild your house exactly as it is. Sometimes the cost to rebuild your home is actually more than you could sell it for.

For example - many homes built in the 1970's are all brick. Today the cost to build an all brick home is very very expensive - that's why you don't see a lot of all brick new construction. You may be able to sell you 1970's brick home for 130,000 but it could cost well more than that to rebuild is as an all brick home should it be totally destroyed in a fire.

Therefore, the amount of coverage you have should be enough to rebuild. Your insurance agent usually has a program that can help determine how much coverage you need.

Answer 3

No, you want just enough homeowner’s insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding the home to its present condition. In other words, the market value of your home may be $1 million because of its location, desirability, lot size, school district, and so forth. But the cost of rebuilding it might be “only” $500,000. You would want to insure it for $500,000. Be sure to get an accurate figure: It probably could cost more to rebuild today, with the same materials, than it cost to build even five years ago. Also, if you have made upgrades since you purchased it, it may cost more to rebuild now.

Answer 4

If your house is paid off, and depending where you live, you should insure it for the amount it would cost to rebuild it..all of it, and your goods inside. Always over insure if you can afford to. BUT, if u live in Florida or other high risk state, the isurance companies can drop you. Since you do not have a mortgage, the insurance companies know you do not have to be legally insured.

Answer 5

It would be a real good idea, unless you like the idea of living in a tent if for example you had a house fire. The insurance would pay to replace the house and contents.

Answer 6

Just because your home is paid off, does not mean that suddenly your insurance premiums are. You have probably been paying insurance premiums with the mortgage, and now you will receive them directly. If you wish to update it, that's your business.

Answer 7

you have a bigger investment now then you did before. Always insure your house for the replacement value. That way if anything happens they will replace the house and you will be like new : )

Answer 8

OH YEA for sure man cause if you lose the house then your done! and if you don't insurance it fully then youll lose some of the money you put into it

Answer 9

yes i had a house struck by lightening.
thank goodness for the insurance

Answer 10

You bet...you never know when something might happen.
Shoot. Someone could get hurt on your property and sue you.
That lint in the dryer could catch fire....wow..anything.
Get the insurance!