Commercial Property Replacement Cost & Market Value Explain

Commercial Property Replacement Cost vs Market Value Explained | Property & Casualty

As the U.S. has experienced inflation rates as high as 9% this year, insureds are finding their commercial property policies extremely devalued. In addition, labor shortages and a supply chain crisis have made repair and replacement costs inflated. Along with getting an updated valuation of your commercial property, now might be the time to review your commercial property insurance coverage to obtain a policy that protects your financial needs.

Commercial property insurance coverage is not one size fits all. As policy options can vary in price and options, it’s important to choose a policy that fits your business’ unique needs. While policies can provide enormous financial coverage, always consider your property type as it may be more financially stable to secure a policy that offers adequate coverage with lower premiums.

Your broker can offer numerous commercial property insurance options as multiple factors can influence your property’s value. Common commercial policies and valuations include:

What Is Replacement Cost?

Replacement or reconstruction cost is an insurance coverage for building a replacement structure or repair expenses with similar or identical materials. Comparable to market value, replacement cost policies exclude land value. The considered amount is based on the cost to hire a contractor and purchase materials for a building’s repair or replacement.

As replacement cost only factors in building materials and labor, commercial property replacement cost should be lower than its market value. However, as the past year has taught us, materials and labor expenses can fluctuate. Along with other factors that influence market value, replacement property cost can be higher than its market value.

A replacement cost policy provides significant financial protection in the case of a loss as it doesn’t account for depreciation. Unfortunately, replacement cost isn’t feasible for every property as it’s typically a more expensive coverage option. Policyholders should remember that a continuous maintenance strategy and property renovations can lessen a building’s depreciation.

What Is Market Value? 

Market value is the projected amount that a property would sell for on the date of valuation. A market value includes the physical structure and any land associated with the commercial property. Experts also interchange market value with open market value, fair market value or fair value.

Appraisers utilize several factors to evaluate a property’s market value. The buyer, seller or appraiser cannot influence considerations such as:

Market value is mostly utilized for the purchase or sale of a property. However, insureds should evaluate their property’s market value before renewing or applying for a commercial property insurance policy.

What Is Actual Cash Value?

Actual cash value coverage functions similarly to replacement cost as it covers the property’s cost to replace or repair. Differently, an actual cash value policy incorporates a compensation deduction to account for the original property’s depreciated value.

Repairs and rebuilds under an actual cash value policy utilize current construction techniques and materials. The contrast between the current cost and the original property’s depreciated value is covered only under a replacement cost policy.

Premiums for actual cash value coverages are lower than replacement cost plans and may be more appropriate for certain property types. For instance, an aged retail establishment located in a popular urban environment will depreciate slower in comparison to a business park’s new office building. The location-sensitivity of the store doesn’t necessitate any specific building type for operations, and an actual cash value policy with lower premiums would make more financial sense.

What Is Functional Replacement Cost?

Functional replacement cost is a less expensive option for property coverage. This policy is utilized when a functionally equivalent building could substitute the original property at a lower cost compared to construction. A property’s functional replacement cost is lower than the replacement cost and results in a reduction in the amount of coverage and smaller premiums.

Functional replacement cost coverage can also be used to repair a partially damaged property with less expensive materials, such as a wall restoration with drywall instead of plaster.

The main reason for using functional replacement cost coverage would be to save money with lower premiums. This is a favorable option for properties with expensive materials that aren’t relevant to the property’s function or buildings with intangible value that is irrelevant to their commercial function.

We’re Here to Help with Your Commercial Property Policy

The value of any piece of commercial property changes constantly. Safeguard your current and future assets by awareness of your property’s value and obtaining the policy that best suits your needs. Connect with a member of our team to appraise your property’s value and learn more about which type of commercial property policy is best for your business.


© Copyright CBIZ, Inc. and CBIZ CPAs P.C. (together, “CBIZ”). All rights reserved. Use of the material contained herein without the express written consent of the firms is prohibited by law. This publication is distributed with the understanding that CBIZ is not rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. The reader is advised to contact a tax professional prior to taking any action based upon this information. CBIZ assumes no liability whatsoever in connection with the use of this information and assumes no obligation to inform the reader of any changes in tax laws or other factors that could affect the information contained herein.

CBIZ is the brand name for CBIZ CPAs P.C. and CBIZ Advisors, LLC (together), a national professional services company providing tax, financial advisory and consulting services to individuals, tax-exempt organizations and a wide range of growth-oriented companies. CBIZ Advisors, LLC is a fully owned subsidiary of CBIZ, Inc. (NYSE: CBZ). CBIZ CPAs P.C. is an independent CPA firm that provides audit, review and attest services, and works closely with CBIZ, a business consulting, tax and financial services provider. CBIZ and CBIZ CPAs P.C. are members of Kreston Global, a global network of independent accounting firms. This publication is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws and treaties. Material contained in this publication is informational and promotional in nature and not intended to be specific financial, tax or consulting advice. Readers are advised to seek professional consultation regarding circumstances affecting their organization.

Commercial Property Replacement Cost vs Market Value Explained | Property & Casualty https://www.cbiz.com/Portals/0/Images/GettyImages-595740374-1.jpg?ver=EK86HW10fVxB5UhTbBDT_w%3d%3dDiscover the key differences between replacement cost and market value in property insurance to make informed policy decisions.2024-07-15T17:00:00-05:00

Discover the key differences between replacement cost and market value in property insurance to make informed policy decisions.

Risk MitigationReal EstateProperty & Casualty InsuranceYes