large building Valuation for Insurance

Building valuation

Your premises are likely to be your greatest asset, so it is important your buildings insurance is set at the correct level.

Read our building valuation guide to find out how to do it properly.

The risk of under insurance

Bluntly put, if you underinsure your premises the claims payment you receive may not be sufficient for you to reinstate your premises. The age, nature of occupation, construction, and location of your premises will all influence its reinstatement cost.

Here is an overview of the key aspects you should consider making a correct building insurance valuation.

Materials of construction

If original building materials are no longer readily available there can be a considerable increase in cost to source them.

Decorative features

Some decorative features can only be achieved by specialist craftspeople. You should keep detailed records of how elaborate embellishments were achieved and who created them, so they will be easier to recreate if the need arises.

Labour skills

You need to bear in mind, specifically with decorate features required specialist craftspeople, that labour might not be freely available, and costs might have increased substantially.

Location and access

Access to your site may be limited, either by road or by restrictions placed by local authorities, regarding the timings for deliveries. Your buildings might have relationships with other buildings or the nearby landscape and consequently there might be additional costs required to ensure that relationship is protected and supported during any rebuilding work.

Site and layout

The size, shape and layout of a building will all affect the build costs. With larger buildings you should benefit from economies of scale. Deep basements and sub-basements can add significant costs bearing in mind the retaining nature of the walls and the engineering skills required to retain a large quantity of soil.

Demolition and clean-up costs

In the event of a serious fire or other structural damage, where asbestos or other contaminants are present in a building, the whole of the resulting debris is likely to be declared contaminated, and as such will need to be disposed of under licenses. This can add a significant amount to costs.

Professional fees

Your building insurance valuation should include suitable allowance for architects,’ surveyors,’ engineers’ and other specialist contractors’ fees. These can all add to the cost.

Value added tax (VAT)

If you are likely to have to pay VAT on the rebuilding of your property, it should also be included in your buildings sum insured. You should seek advice from your accountant or other professional adviser.

Building regulations

It is likely that building regulations will have changed since your original buildings were constructed, so you will need to allow for additional work to comply with modern regulations and their specific requirements, for example, access for disabled people or protection from fire risk.

Additional buildings and facilities

Your building insurance valuation should cover all ancillary buildings, outbuildings, tennis courts, swimming pools, walls, and driveways.

What else might you be interested in?

Preparing a business continuity plan

Disaster strikes when you least expect it. Hopefully, a disaster will never happen but if it does you need to be prepared.

Cold weather advice

Careful maintenance and risk management can help prevent property damage and/or injury during the winter months.

Cyber

Protection against cyber-attack and data breach.