How A Wind Mitigation Inspection Can Save You Money On Home Insurance

Getting your home inspected for wind mitigation systems if you live in Florida or other states where tropical storms and high winds frequently cause property damage, you could get a discount on insurance. 

If you aren’t sure if your home has a wind mitigation system already, there are a few things you should know to find out more. 

What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection? 

A wind mitigation inspection can only be done by a qualified home inspector. The inspector looks for certain parts of your home that have been built to make it more resistant to wind damage. 

The features of a wind mitigation system are intended to make your home more resistant to high winds, major storms and hurricanes. Important elements of a wind mitigation system are water barriers, storm windows, and roof-to-foundation anchoring. 

Wind mitigation inspections are to insure that the home is up to code with the correct features. Once the inspector has determined that your home does or doesn’t have the necessary requirements, they will give you a report that details everything they found in the inspection. 

How Does a Wind Mitigation Inspection Lower My Insurance?

In Florida, “Wind Mitigation Credits” are offered by way of discounts and credits from insurance providers who have passed the necessary inspection process. 

According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), home insurance rates in areas frequently affected by high winds and tropical storms are higher because of the risk of destruction. The FDEM says that between 15-70% of the cost of your premiums can be tied to the possibility of wind damage.

Once you have the report from the inspector – and have the necessary features of mitigation on your home – you can take the report to your insurance company. Getting a wind mitigation inspection will not change your insurance premium, whether you pass or not. 

How Can I Increase My Home’s Resistance To Wind? 

There are a few things that you can implement on your home to make it more durable and potentially lower your insurance. 

• Water barriers below your roof –Adding an additional layer of water-resistant material under your roofing tiles or shingles reduces the risk of water damage.

• Roof-to-foundation anchoring – Strong anchor bolts can secure the roof to the walls. An additional set of anchor bolts can be used to attach the walls to the foundation.

• Roof deck attachment – Attach the wood roof deck to the framing under it with fasteners to stop it from coming loose or blowing away in high winds.

• Impact-rated window/door coverings – Impact-rated doors and windows – or storm shutters – prevent rain from getting into your home and causing water damage.

• Impact-resistant garage doors – Hurricane-rated garage doors can often withstand wind speeds of up to 200 mph or more. 

Investing your time and money into these small improvements can add up over time, saving you money on your insurance and creating a safer home for you and your family to live in. 

In Florida – especially in a High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) like Miami/Dade or Broward Counties or Coastal Palm Beach – insurance on homes without wind mitigation systems can be expensive, and costly if they are damaged. Schedule an inspection with a certified home inspector to find out if you are paying too much for insurance.