The best way to know for certain that your home is ready for hurricane season is to get a wind mitigation inspection. The home inspector will check the nail length and pattern of your roof, the roof to wall connection, and the quality of windows and doors. A wind mitigation inspection will pinpoint any areas of weakness and the sooner you know about these areas the better. A wind mitigation inspection is primarily for your home owner’s insurance company. If they know that your home is up to par and prepared to withstand the high winds of a hurricane, you can often get reduced rates. But, it can also give you some insight into what areas need improvement in order to fortify your home.
2. Check Your Insurance Policies
Even if your home is fully locked down, a powerful hurricane can cause some major damage. In that case, you’re going to want all of the help from insurance you can possibly get. Home insurance policies can vary wildly. Some cover wind damage and some don’t, so the only way to know for sure is to call your agent and find out. If you’re in a zone that is prone to flooding, you should also look into flood insurance. Your regular homeowner’s insurance will not cover flooding, so supplementary insurance is required. Depending on your area you may even be required to have flood insurance.
It’s important to note here that with most supplementary insurance policies there is some kind of waiting period, so if you wait until the last minute when a powerful hurricane is approaching, the coverage may not be there when you need it.
3. Storm-proof Your Yard
When preparing for hurricane season, your yard is just as important as your home. Trees, large shrubs, and even gravel walkways can pose a threat to your home and your safety when dealing with hurricane-force winds. There are a few things you can do to reduce this risk such as:
- Replace any gravel or stone with something safer like shredded bark.
- Trim your trees and bushes to get rid of any loose branches.
- Remove any unhealthy trees that are likely to fall over in the wind.
- Tie down or remove structures such as bird baths, swingsets, patio furniture, etc.
By doing this you minimize the chance that anything in your yard will cause damage to you or your property.
A wind mitigation inspection should be number one on everyone’s hurricane season to-do list. At Super Inspection Pros. we’ve been performing home inspections in Central Florida for decades, so we know homes and we know hurricanes. If you’re currently preparing your home for hurricane season contact us today to set up an appointment or learn more about our wind mitigation inspections.