Their paper, titled "Underinsurance of Real Estate: A Threat to Policyholders and Insured Entities," addresses the risks of underinsurance in commercial properties, particularly production halls in Czechia. The study finds significant discrepancies between insured values determined by brokers and actual replacement costs, with differences reaching up to 74%. The lack of standardized valuation methodologies and the responsibility placed on policyholders create an environment of information asymmetry. As a result, policyholders may face financial losses due to underinsurance, while overestimated insured values lead to higher premiums. The study recommends the adoption of a unified, transparent valuation approach based on the official valuation decree to ensure fairer insurance coverage. These findings highlight the need for greater clarity in insurance contracts to protect policyholders from financial instability in the event of claims. By improving the methodology for setting insured values, the risk of disputes and financial losses could be minimized. The research contributes to discussions on reforming insurance practices to better reflect real property values. The full paper is available online at the journal
Real Estate Management and Valuation website.