[GSBN] Home insurance in general.

[Jeff Ruppert]

All,

We are going to be featuring an article on insurance in the upcoming issue of TLS.  We expect to be doing a series of articles because the amount of information on this topic is extensive.  The more we dig into the insurance quandary, the more there is to share.  Basically, we want to bring some more light on this subject and the article will set the stage for hopefully a larger discussion and some action on in the near future.  Don’t miss out by subscribing if you haven’t already.  

Sorry for the shameless plug, but I think it’s appropriate here.
Jeff Ruppert
Editor

The Last Straw
The International Journal of Straw Bale and Natural Building

P.O. Box 1809
Paonia, CO  81428
(970) 948-5744
www.thelaststraw.org <>


> On Sep 20, 2015, at 5:21 PM, Lance Kairl <sabale at bigpond.com> wrote:
> 
> Greetings all.
>  
> I have been having brief discussions with our Insurance industry association here in Australia.
> Some , suspect activities by brokers is emerging.
> Namely  listing the build as “ brick veneer”  in construction , mainly to sell the policy  and / or  give a good price for the policy.
> later home owner inquiries about cover under such a policy
> Fortunately just “ to make sure their  strawbale home was covered”  rather than for a claim,
> has seen the insurance company’s response as been “ you house is not listed as that, there fore it is not covered”.
>  
> With some of our insurers “ equating “ strawbale construction” as a replacement cost equivalent to  “ mud brick or Adobe”
> Our insurers look at Replacement cost ( contractor built)  for the value of the build,
> Insuring for construction cost will leave the insured short , unless they are still young and fit and wish to self build again.
>  
> Other considerations I feel insurance companies should look at to ascertain a reduced risk for insurance underwriters are,
> Bales elevated off of floor level, ,  protects bales  in times of internal flooding , as does floor waste drains,
>  dishwasher and  washing machine hose burst is a definable percentage of insurance pay out claims.
> Along with design for climate,,, rain screen in some locations ,
> Documented render thickness , these things  should make that build more desirable to insure.
>  
> Any how in brief,
> Our insurance  policies  here may be grouped under a “ building material “  other than strawbale,
> it is important that the policy  wording is for “Strawbale Construction”
>  
> Regard  Lance Kairl
> House of Bales.
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
> _______________________________________________
> Gsbn mailing list
> Gsbn at sustainablesources.com
> http://sustainablesources.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/gsbn

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.sustainablesources.com/pipermail/gsbn/attachments/20150921/05371990/attachment.htm>