Protect Your Property With the Right Sum Insured
A RICS Reinstatement Cost Assessment establishes what it would genuinely cost to rebuild your home from scratch — the figure your buildings insurer needs, and one that is very often different from market value.
RICS-Regulated Firm • MRICS Chartered Surveyor • Professional Indemnity Insured
Insuring your home for its sale price is one of the most common — and costly — mistakes a homeowner can make.
If your sum insured is too low, insurers can apply the "average clause" — reducing any claim payout in proportion to the shortfall, even for a partial claim.
Calculated using Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) data and current North East construction rates — not a generic online calculator.
Rebuild cost reflects what it would cost to demolish and reconstruct the property. Land value is excluded, which is exactly why it differs from market value.
Site clearance, professional fees and VAT where applicable are factored into the figure, not left for you to estimate separately.
If you've extended, renovated, or altered the property since your policy began, your rebuild cost — and your cover — may no longer match.
A clear, written assessment you can hand straight to your insurer or broker to set, or correct, your buildings sum insured.
Most homeowners never revisit their buildings sum insured after taking out a policy. A short assessment now could save a very costly shortfall later.
| Feature | Market Value | Rebuild Cost (Reinstatement) |
|---|---|---|
| What It Reflects | What a buyer would pay for the property | What it would cost to demolish and rebuild it |
| Includes Land Value | Yes | No |
| Used For | Buying, selling, mortgage lending | Setting your buildings insurance sum insured |
| Typical Pattern | Driven by location and local demand | Driven by size, construction type and specification — can exceed value on period or characterful homes |
| Risk If Confused | — | Under-insurance, and a reduced claim payout under the average clause |
Ordering a Level 2 or Level 3 survey? Add a Rebuild Cost Assessment to the same instruction for a fraction of the standalone fee — we'll confirm your sum insured at the same time as your condition report.
Every property is different, so every quote is too — a one-bed terrace and a country house don't cost the same to assess, and we don't pretend they do.
Bundled with a Level 2 or Level 3 survey, assessments typically run from around £90 on a smaller property up to £650+ on a larger one. Standalone assessments (no survey ordered) typically range £250–£3,000+, scaled to the size, age and complexity of the property. Get your exact quote, usually within 4 hours.
Get a fixed-price quote, usually within 4 hours. A clear, BCIS-backed figure your insurer can act on.
Rebuild cost assessments across Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and County Durham.