Does retrofitting increase a home’s value?
There is not enough available information to answer this question. To a large degree, it depends on both market conditions and the earthquake consciousness of any potential buyer of your property. A competed retrofit certainly adds to the marketing features of a home. We have had customers tell us that a real estate professional or financial advisor has recommended against retrofitting because the cost is not recoverable in the market value of their home. This advice seems to be based on a twisted notion about the purpose of retrofitting. The purpose of retrofitting is not to increase property value, it is to help the homeowner reduce financial loss, make a better and faster recovery from a disaster situation, and protect the safety of the home’s occupants. A decision against making seismic improvements, regardless of the reason, is a gamble. It is a conscious decision to bet against the forecasts and recommendations of seismologists and other earthquake experts. Another word of cautio
