If your Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, home has been severely damaged or destroyed, you may want to rebuild. However, if rebuilding your home costs more than your homeowner’s insurance provides — you may have some difficult decisions to make. You may have to figure out how to make up the difference in costs from your own pocket or build a home that you consider a downgrade from your previous home. Neither of these options is ideal because you must part with some cash or settle for less.

If you are concerned that your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover the cost to rebuild your home, the best time to act is before you experience a loss. An independent agent can help you determine if you are truly covered in case of a loss and advise you about coverage that will provide for an adequate replacement.

Your Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, insurance agent can help you assess the amount of coverage you need for rebuilding. You won’t need to worry about buying land, but constructing a new home that has the same features as your old home could cost more due to higher construction costs or higher standards that must be met according to today’s residential building codes. Many homeowners are tempted to purchase coverage based on the amount that their home would likely sell for, or what it is currently valued at, but they should also keep in mind that age brings the value of a home down. All-new construction could cost more than the current value of their existing home, meaning that they need to purchase more coverage than initially anticipated.