Wind Mitigation Inspection in Florida

What if I told you that you could save up to $500 a year on your Home Owner’s Insurance?

Having a Wind Mitigation Inspection performed on your home by a Certified Windermere home inspection company…will save you money every single year! This is one of those Florida Insurance Inspections that you’ll want to have done ASAP.

What is a Wind Mitigation Inspection in Florida?

The law that not too many homeowners know about yet it can save you money on your insurance policy.

Following Hurricane Andrew, Florida passed a law requiring insurance companies to offer their customers discounts and credits for existing building features and home improvements that reduce damage and loss from wind. In order to qualify for this discount, homes must undergo a certified wind mitigation inspection.

As stated in Florida Statute 626.0629, insurance companies are required to offer Florida homeowners “discounts, credits, or other rate differentials…” for construction techniques that reduce damage and loss in windstorms.

Learn more about Wind Mitigations and the history behind them.

Is a Wind Mitigation Required in Florida?

Only if you want to save some money! This inspection is not required from your insurance company. However, if you would like to save money yearly on your home owner’s policy then you’ll definitely want to have a wind mitigation inspection performed.

Depending on what items are in the home will determine the size of the discount from the insurance company.

The average savings that I see on a typical home is between $300 and $500 a year. If the insurance policy is $1500 a year and the discounts are $500 a year then every year the homeowner will only have to pay $1000 for their policy. In five years the homeowner will have saved $2500 if their deductions on the wind mitigation are $500 a year.

Florida Wind Mitigation Requirements

Below are items that carry a certain percentage of the discount. Meaning, these are items that an inspector will be taking notes on and will determine what percentage of a discount you will get from your insurance company.

Items we’re looking at are:

• The kind of roof you have such as shingles that meet the Florida Building Code 2001 or later
• The age of the roof
• Garage Doors
• How the roof decking is attached to your trusses – staples or 8d nails
• How the trusses are attached to the exterior walls – trusses are attached in the old days by toenailing the truss to the top plate of the wall. From there they started using Hurricane clips and the new code uses Hurricane straps.
• Secondary Water Resistance
• Do you have storm rated doors and windows or storm coverings for doors and windows? (½ inch plywood is a Florida Building code acceptable covering for your doors and window)

ALL these items give variable discounts for what your home has.

Types of Structures that qualify you for this discount are:

Whether you own a home or commercial building, you may qualify for these discounts so don’t discount it if you’re in a townhome or condominium.

1. Single Family Homes
2. Multi-Family Homes
3. Townhomes
4. Condominiums
5. Commercial Buildings

Florida Wind Mitigation Form (needs to be done by a licensed & certified home inspector)

A Wind mitigation inspection has to be performed by a licensed general contractor, building contractor, architect, engineer, building inspector or home inspector. The information that is gathered is then transferred to a standard wind mitigation form, OIR-B1-1802, commonly referred to as the 1802 form.

Our inspectors are not only licensed but certified and insured and fully equipped to complete a wind mitigation inspection and supply you with the form you’ll need.

As of Feb 1, 2012, all inspections must have photos showing each feature listed on the wind mitigation form.

How Much Does a Wind Mitigation Inspection Cost?

Please call for a Quote Today! 

Don’t let another month go by without saving money on your homeowner’s insurance!