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Matching commercial property

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Commercial property insurance pays to repair or replace your building, improvements, contents, equipment and inventory after fire, wind, theft and other covered causes, and business income coverage replaces revenue while you are closed. Carriers rate it on values, construction, protection and location. CoverMatch compares limits, valuation basis, deductibles, causes of loss and the income period so the cheaper quote is cheaper for a reason you can see.

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Reviewed by Michael LaBarbera, Licensed property & casualty agent, Provident Financial Group · Reviewed Oct 11, 2026 Updated
Coverage scoreEvery policy in one wallet
Commercial PropertyRenews in 47d
Workers' CompensationLive cert ✓
Business Owner's PolicyCan switch
CoverMatch Your lender wants the building at replacement cost with a $5,000 deductible. One quote matches; the other values it lower.
01 / WHAT UNDERWRITERS ASK
  • What you need insured: building, tenant improvements, contents, equipment, stock
  • Replacement values for each
  • Construction type, year built, and the age of updates to wiring, plumbing, heating and the building envelope
  • Sprinklers, alarms, and distance to fire protection
  • Occupancy and any cooking, manufacturing or storage of flammables
  • Flood zone and whether you want flood or earthquake separately
  • Prior property losses
02 / WHAT MOVES THE PRICE
  • Values insuredThe limit is the rating base; under-insuring invites a coinsurance penalty at claim time.
  • Construction and protection classMasonry with sprinklers near a station rates far below frame without either.
  • DeductibleA higher all-perils deductible, or a separate wind deductible, lowers the premium.
  • Causes of loss formSpecial form covers more than basic or broad and costs more.
  • LocationCoastal wind, hail belts and crime rates all feed the rate.
Direction only — the carriers' quotes carry the figures.
03 / HAVE READY
  • A statement of values: building, improvements, contents, equipment, inventory
  • Building details and recent updates
  • Your current property declarations page
  • Lender or landlord requirements on valuation and deductibles
  • A business income worksheet or last year's revenue and fixed costs

What the comparison takes apart

Property quotes are easy to misread because the headline premium follows the values each carrier used. CoverMatch normalises the quotes to the values you gave, then compares the parts that differ: valuation basis, deductibles including any separate wind or hail deductible, the causes of loss form, coinsurance or agreed value, ordinance or law coverage, equipment breakdown, and the business income basis and period.

Getting the values right

Insuring a building or contents for less than they would cost to replace saves premium until a claim. The application asks for replacement values and flags figures that look low for the square footage or the business type; a licensed agent can review a statement of values with you before quotes go out.

Deductibles and the price

A higher deductible is the cleanest lever. The grid shows each quote at the deductible the carrier used, and the comparison note says when a deductible difference explains a premium difference, so you can ask for a requote at the other deductible rather than guess.

After you buy

The policy card shows each location and its limits, lender and landlord certificates issue from the live certificate, and a change of value or location is a change request from the policy page.

Questions people actually ask

Replacement cost or actual cash value?

Replacement cost pays to replace with new; actual cash value deducts depreciation. Lenders usually require replacement cost on buildings; for older equipment the comparison shows the price of each basis.

What is coinsurance?

A requirement to insure to a stated share of the full value, usually 80 to 100 percent. Insure below it and partial claims are reduced proportionally. Accurate values avoid it; some carriers offer agreed value instead.

Is flood covered?

No, not on standard property forms. Flood is a separate policy through the national program or a private carrier, and earthquake is a separate endorsement or policy.

How is business income calculated?

On the revenue and continuing expenses you would lose while closed after a covered loss, for a period of restoration. The comparison shows the limit or basis and the period for each quote.

MANAGE IT IN THE APP

Every policy, renewal and live certificate in one wallet.

Scan a dec page and the card appears. Share a live certificate link that updates itself. Get matched when a renewal comes around.

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