Dominika's house sustains a fire resulting in a $500,000 total loss to the house and...

With a guaranteed replacement cost policy, the insurer agrees to pay the full cost of replacing the damaged or destroyed property (subject to conditions), even if that amount approaches or, in some forms, exceeds the stated limit. Here, the total replacement cost of the loss is $500,000.

However, some furniture is salvageable and valued at $4,000. Since Dominika elects to keep this salvage, she is effectively retaining part of the value of the damaged property. To maintain the principle of indemnity and avoid overpayment, the insurer deducts the salvage value from the total amount they would otherwise pay.

Step-by-step:

Replacement cost of loss: $500,000

Less salvage value retained by insured: $4,000

Subtotal: $496,000

Less deductible: $1,000

Net settlement: $495,000

Therefore, Dominika will recover $495,000, making Option A correct.