It’s Time to Schedule a Wind Mitigation Inspection
wind mitigation inspections are required in florida when obtaining home owner's insurance that includes wind damage coverageWhen Do You Need a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
Florida requires homeowners to receive a wind mitigation inspection before purchasing homeowners’ insurance on a mortgaged property. So if you are:
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- Buying a new home and shopping for home insurance
- Applying for a home loan
- Changing insurance companies
- Renewing your policy
- Refinancing your mortgage loan
- Buying a condo or townhome that requires a separate “interior belongings” insurance policy
Then your insurance company will require a wind mitigation inspection with your name documented in the report. The wind mitigation inspection report can also qualify you for some insurance premium discounts.
What is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection evaluates and documents a home’s construction features that help it withstand hurricane-force winds and may qualify the property for insurance discounts.
Our Hurricane Mitigation inspector will itemize the specific features incorporated into the home’s construction that withstand damage from hurricane-force winds on the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form. These features must be verified by the inspector with permit numbers, dates, and engineering approval numbers; without them, no discount will be granted.
In addition, the inspector must document the mitigation features listed on the form, including photographs that demonstrate the engineering design and proper installation.
wind mitigation & INsurance
How Does a Wind Mitigation Inspection Affect Your Insurance Premium?
A wind mitigation inspection could mean a discount on your home insurance premium.
IT IS NOT THE INSPECTOR THAT DETERMINES QUALIFYING DISCOUNTS, BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
The insurance underwriter will verify the inspector’s documentation, including accompanying photographs, to determine whether the home qualifies for discounts with that particular company.
Neither the inspector nor the homeowner has any say in the insurance company’s decision.
In other words, engineer approval numbers and permit dates or bust!
In many cases, upgrades are required to obtain all possible discounts, EVEN WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION HOMES.
Which Features Qualify My Home for Insurance Premium Discounts?
You will be more likely to qualify for an insurance premium discount if, during our wind mitigation inspection, we find:
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- A building construction permit dated after September 1, 1994, in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, or after March 1, 2002, for the rest of Florida
- Roof installation permit application submitted after the above dates
- A hip roof shape
- Concrete roof deck
- Engineered and properly installed roof-to-wall attachments
- All windows, doors, and other openings meet the large missile impact engineer rating.
Protect Your Home and Take Advantage of Potential Insurance Discounts with a Wind Mitigation Inspection
Knowing your home is safe from hurricane winds will give you peace of mind above all else. It will protect you against catastrophic damage and loss and ensure that if your home is damaged, your insurance will cover it.
How Much Does a Wind Mitigation Inspection Cost?
When combined with a home inspection, the cost can be as low as $50! Wind mitigation inspections usually cost between $150 and $325, depending on the size of your home the cost can be higher. The idea is to identify any needed upgrades you can make now so that you can protect your home in the future, qualify for homeowners’ insurance, and potentially save on insurance premiums.
Call or email us for a custom quote.
Schedule a Wind Mitigation Inspection
Reach out for a custom quote, and we’ll help you get your inspection scheduled.