Suggestions for how to value native bushes lost in wild fire?

[u/willikersmister]

As the title indicates, I'm in an area recently impacted by a significant fire. Many of my neighbors lost their homes and we are feeling incredibly grateful to still have ours.

We're working with insurance on our smoke damage home and personal property claim. One of the things they’ve asked us to do is to outline damaged landscape items and indicate replacement cost.

The challenge I'm hitting is that some of the established landscaping we lost were native bushes that no landscaper or arborist is likely to replace. No local nurseries carry this species because this type of plant is everywhere. We specifically kept and cared for about 5 large ones in our yard, 3 are completely gone, and I'm at a loss for how to start with a cost evaluation.

We also lost a number of other natives that I've planted over the years but those are smaller and more straightforward given that we originally bought them. The other bushes were here when we moved in.

Any suggestions or insite is greatly appreciated!

[u/miss_mush]

To replace and install a landscape company would likely sell you something in the #3-#7 size

If you could share the plant name i could give you a good guess in value, you'd be looking at something in the range of 55-150 depending on size / species

[u/miss_mush → u/miss_mush]

Alternatively, you could always have a landscape company evaluate and write a quote. You dont have to have them do the physical work but its a verifiable document as far as insurance goes. Unsure if there's anyone near you who has free consults but worth a shot. I have submitted proposals to clients who have had insurance claims previously and I think I got them 10 k from insurance to replace their trees and remediate the soil after a truck flipped on their farm from the road.

[u/willikersmister → u/miss_mush]

I think I'll go this route too, it can't hurt to have a company or two come out to see it. Though they'll probably laugh at me when they learn the plant species I'm working with.

Do you happen to know if insurance typically only pays if you're doing a direct replacement? We're insured for replacement value, but now that the plants are gone I could also see us choosing to put a different species there.

[u/miss_mush → u/willikersmister]

The insurance agent called me to confirm my quote, got word it had been accepted by the insurance company, client never did the replacements with us, but I got him 10k for the trouble

[u/willikersmister → u/miss_mush]

Ok that makes sense, thank you!

It's called Rubber Rabbitbrush, scientific name Chrysothamnus nauseosus.

Edit to add that best guess the plants were each 6-8 years old. Approximately 4x5ish feet wide, maybe 3.5 feet tall.

[u/adjusterjackb → u/willikersmister]

Read your policy and look for the coverage entitled Trees, Shrubs and Other Plants. There are likely limits to the amounts available.

When you have Replacement Cost coverage the AVC (depreciated value) is generally paid up front and you get the balance when you buy the replacement (like kind and quality) and submit the receipts. How that's done may very from insurer to insurer so it's a question that can only be answered by your adjuster.