What Do You Know About Insuring a Straw Bale Project?

Written By Andrew Morrison
January 18, 2012

house insuranceInsuring a straw bale project has gotten easier over the years. Regardless of what you think about the insurance industry and how they help or hinder our economy, one thing is true for right now: home owner’s insurance is required in almost every scenario imaginable when building a house and living in it.

Of course one can build a house with cash and choose not to insure it; however, if you plan to get any type of financing, you will be required to show proof of insurance. That’s easy when building a conventional house because insurance companies don’t think twice about insuring them. It’s harder when building anything outside of the “norm” of conventional thinking. And guess what…straw bale construction does not currently fit into the “norm.” That’s why I need your help.

My goal is to create a document that shares with people what’s necessary to get insurance for a straw bale project. What details need to be in place to make the process simple? What do agents typically ask of the homeowner during the application process? What red flags do agents and insurance companies have that are triggered in a conversation about straw bale construction?

The reality is that 90% of the straw bale homes that are denied coverage are denied not because they are more dangerous than conventional homes but because the insurance agents, underwriters, and/or the insurance companies themselves don’t understand what they are dealing with when presented with a straw bale home.  They have al kinds of images in their heads about what it means to build a house out of straw and, yes, most of those images are related to the three little pigs. As unfunny as that is, it’s true.

So, here’s how you can help. If you have insurance on your straw bale home, please email me with as much detailed information as you can about how you made it happen. Send me your agent’s name and contact information, details about the application process and policy, and anything else you think would be helpful for others to know. Together we can provide people with a document that prepares them for a successful journey into the insurance world, something that has not been the norm for straw bale house owners over the years.

You can email us directly with your information to [email protected]. Thanks so much for sharing anything you can!

Want to learn more about straw bale houses and how to build one? Want to do so for FREE? Sign up for our totally free 16 Day Straw Bale eCourse! Find out more HERE.

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