Buying Earthquake insurance mainly for relocation expense?

[Unionville]

I can get a low cost, high deductible Earthquake insurance ($100 a month/$30,000 deductible) and I was thinking of getting it mainly for temporary relocation costs. Our house is tiny, one level and has a good foundation, so I doubt we'd get $30,000 worth of damage -- BUT, if had to move somewhere temporarily because of damage, it would be crazy expensive where I live. I could easily see paying $400 a night for a hotel -- In fact they cost that much now.  We are way overdue for a large earthquake so we are high risk and I'm sure all the water/utilities will be out for a month or so. That could easily be $12,000 a month relocation cost (while we fix the house)

[Sibley]

Do you have a tent?

[Cowardly Toaster]

$100 a month for earthquake insurance? As long as you live on firm ground (not Anchorage Alaska where the unstable swampy ground sinks during the biggest quakes) I really don't know why you'd pay that.

A small house will be incredibly strong, and I assume it is a stick frame? I wouldn't worry about it. But have a plan and a couple weeks of food and a water source.

[Unionville]

Do you have a tent?

  Yes, several tents are in our emergency earthquake bin -- but living outdoors in the backyard without running water, heat, or electricity and cooking on a camp stove gets old fast in the city.  Especially if you have to repair a house and find workmen at the same time.

[Sibley]

If there's an earthquake, the biggest risk isn't structural damage. It's fire. Last I looked into it (been a long time, I'm out of earthquake zone now), the earthquake policies didn't cover fire damage, that was standard homeowners. You'd need to confirm that though. And if there's a fire, then standard insurance should cover temporary housing.

Plus, in there was an earthquake you'd probably be one of thousands of people in the same boat and there'd be some sort of messy solution. That's assuming that hotels had power and water too, or were undamaged. There's too many ifs here.

[cchrissyy]

Sibley - that is exactly why I don't have earthquake insurance.

My normal policy covers fires and other disasters that are caused by earthquakes. The separate policy would only cover direct damage from shaking, and the price was much too high for the value I might receive after a heavy deductible, so I turned it down.

[jamesbond007]

Posting to follow. I just bought earthquake insurance here in the SF Bay Area. It cost me around $850 for the whole year via AAA. Part of me says I don't need it. But I feel like protecting my hard earned home. Not sure if I was thinking straight. I regret it sometimes, but the risk seems bigger.

[kimmarg]

I can get a low cost, high deductible Earthquake insurance ($100 a month/$30,000 deductible) and I was thinking of getting it mainly for temporary relocation costs. Our house is tiny, one level and has a good foundation, so I doubt we'd get $30,000 worth of damage -- BUT, if had to move somewhere temporarily because of damage, it would be crazy expensive where I live. I could easily see paying $400 a night for a hotel -- In fact they cost that much now.  We are way overdue for a large earthquake so we are high risk and I'm sure all the water/utilities will be out for a month or so. That could easily be $12,000 a month relocation cost (while we fix the house)

I think you have your answer above. You don’t need insurance, you need preparedness. Insurance is to cover a financial hit you can’t take. I insure my home because I don’t have $150k to replace it. You state above that you doubt your home would incur damage over the deductible so by definition you don’t need insurance.

From the rest of your statement it sounds like you are concerned about “what if” this is completely legit but insurance isn’t the answer. Instead spend some time getting prepared. Determine an evacuation location, have a bag ready to go. Have multiple weeks of water on hand. All of this will make you more prepared than insurance because as others have noted it’s doubtful your home will be leveled and the 5 Star hotel down the streeet is still serving caviar.

NWedible did a great series on preparedness this fall, try reading that and investing some time in planning. I think you’ll get more peace of mind than your $100/ month insurance. https://www.nwedible.com/preparedness-101-1-what-is-preparedness/

[cchrissyy]

good points!

also, when you ponder "what if we have to live somewhere else" I'm sure you will find the answer is not $12k per month in a $400 hotel room. wouldn't you rent a house or apartment at a much lower monthly rate?  might you leave the area for a while? might you stay with friends or family?

another thing to check before you even consider getting the insurance "for the relocation expenses" is what is the policy limit on those expenses. it is probably limited to a small fraction of the home's replacement value. you need to know that figure in order to evaluate the numbers.

[Cowardly Toaster]

Posting to follow. I just bought earthquake insurance here in the SF Bay Area. It cost me around $850 for the whole year via AAA. Part of me says I don't need it. But I feel like protecting my hard earned home. Not sure if I was thinking straight. I regret it sometimes, but the risk seems bigger.

What are you worried about? Foundation damage? Your whole house being knocked down? How old is your house? It just seems that modern houses handle earthquakes exceptionally well.

[jamesbond007]

Posting to follow. I just bought earthquake insurance here in the SF Bay Area. It cost me around $850 for the whole year via AAA. Part of me says I don't need it. But I feel like protecting my hard earned home. Not sure if I was thinking straight. I regret it sometimes, but the risk seems bigger.

What are you worried about? Foundation damage? Your whole house being knocked down? How old is your house? It just seems that modern houses handle earthquakes exceptionally well.

My house was built in 1971. It survived Loma Prieta in 1989 although it is about 30 miles south of the epicenter. I am worried about the unknown. I do have the money to rebuild my house. It's a small 945 sft townhouse. AAA estimates that the cost of rebuilding my house is about 120K.

to OP: Sorry to hijack your thread, but I feel you and I share the same concern and adding to this thread helps somebody in the future.