Will my rebuild cost change if I renovate my house?
Amy Lillington- Feb 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 29
Thinking about renovating your home? Whether it’s a sleek new kitchen, an expansive loft conversion, or even just a luxurious marble countertop, any change to your property can impact your rebuild cost. If you don’t update your insurance accordingly, you might find yourself underinsured when it matters most.
Why do renovations affect rebuild costs?
Rebuild costs are based on how much it would cost to reconstruct your property from scratch. This includes:
Structural changes: Extensions, loft conversions, or even knocking down walls can change your rebuild cost.
Upgrades and features: New kitchens, bathrooms, underfloor heating, or premium finishes like marble countertops can also increase the cost of rebuilding.
What happens if you don’t update your insurance?
Imagine adding a spacious extension or installing state-of-the-art kitchen appliances. If your insurance policy isn’t updated to reflect these changes, you could be underinsured. In the event of a disaster, your insurer might only cover the cost of rebuilding the original property, leaving you out of pocket for the rest.
How to stay protected
To ensure your home is fully protected:
Notify your insurer: Before and after the renovations. They might need updated rebuild cost information to adjust your policy.
Get a desktop assessment: At RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com, our desktop assessments provide accurate rebuild cost estimates, taking into account any changes made to your property. It’s quick, easy, and ensures you’re fully covered.
Watch Amy explain it all
Still have questions? Check out our 2-Minute Tuesday video where Amy breaks down how renovations impact rebuild costs and why keeping your insurance up-to-date is essential.
Got questions? Ask Amy!
Do you have more questions about rebuild costs or property insurance? Or maybe something fun and light-hearted? Email AskAmy@RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com, and Amy might feature your question in the next 2-Minute Tuesday!
It's important to understand your building insurance when renovating.
Don’t risk underinsurance – get assessed today
With accurate rebuild cost assessments from RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com, you can renovate with confidence, knowing your home is fully covered.
Need help? Contact Us for a quick and easy desktop assessment today.
Transcript of the video
Opening Scene
You know, I always feel like I'm at my most productive when I jot things down. There's something about putting pen to paper that really helps me focus. Simple yet effective, just like a desktop assessment.
Music Playing
Jingle: You got a question about a property to be assessed?
It's time to go and find the person who's the best.
She'll answer all your queries by the time we're done,
and even answer a completely random one.
So get your answers from the expert lady,
it's time to go... Ask Amy!
Amy Speaking
Hi everyone, my name is Amy, and welcome to my Two-Minute Tuesday, where I answer your questions about anything to do with rebuild costs in no more than 2 minutes. So let's start that clock!
Question from Viewer
This week's question comes from Liam in Chester, who asks:
"Will my rebuild cost change if I renovate my house?"
Amy's Answer
Thanks for your question, Liam, and the short answer is yes—your rebuild cost can absolutely change if you renovate your home. And let me explain.
When you renovate your home, you’re likely adding or altering something about your property that affects the cost of rebuilding it from scratch. This could be:
Structural changes like an extension or a loft conversion.
Upgrades like installing a new kitchen or bathroom.
Even smaller changes such as adding features like a marble countertop or underfloor heating could increase your rebuild cost.
But why does this matter?
Well, if your home insurance isn’t updated to reflect these changes, you could find yourself underinsured.
For example, imagine you’ve added a large extension but haven’t adjusted your policy. If the worst happens and you need to rebuild, your current insurance may only cover the original property, leaving you out of pocket for the additional costs.
Tips from Amy
To avoid this, you should always notify your insurer before the renovations begin and once again when they are completed. They might require an updated rebuild cost information to make sure you’re properly covered.
Here’s where we can help! At RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com, our desktop assessments provide accurate rebuild cost estimates, taking into account any changes you’ve made to your home. It’s quick, easy, and can save you a lot of stress down the line. I hope that clears that up Liam
Fun Question from Viewer
Next, we have a fun question from Claire:
"Amy, if you could live underwater for a day, what would you do?"
Amy's Fun Answer
Great question, Claire! I’d spend some time exploring the coral reefs and meeting all the incredible sea creatures.
Did you know that coral reefs are sometimes called the rainforests of the sea because they support such a huge variety of life? In fact, they house over 25% of all marine species, even though they cover less than 1% of the ocean floor. Amazing, isn’t it?
What about you? If you could live underwater for a day, what would you explore first? Let me know in the comments below!
Closing Scene
Please send more questions, including some fun ones, to AskAmy@RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com, and I’ll be back with another Amy’s Two-Minute Tuesday!
Thanks for watching, and don’t forget to Like and Subscribe!
Jingle and Closing Screen
Jingle: It's time to go... Ask Amy!
