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Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value: Don't Get This Wrong

February 28, 2025 · 5 min read

Replacement cost pays to rebuild your home and replace belongings at today's prices. Actual cash value (ACV) deducts depreciation — meaning a 10-year-old roof pays out a fraction of what a new one costs.

Always carry replacement cost on the dwelling Labor and materials inflation has been brutal. ACV policies leave homeowners chronically underinsured.

Personal property: pay the small upgrade The upgrade from ACV to replacement cost on personal property usually costs $30–$80/year and is almost always worth it.