A windstorm mitigation inspection shows how wind resistant your home is. It can save you big money on your home insurance.
A wind mitigation inspection (also called a windstorm mitigation inspection) is when a certified inspector checks your home's wind-resistant features. These features can be anything from door/window coverings to the way your roof is attached to your home to how your roof is sealed to prevent water from entering. Though a wind mitigation inspection is not required to get Florida homeowners insurance, it can result in substantial savings.
A wind mitigation inspection is the only inspection that can significantly reduce the cost of your insurance policy. That’s because this inspection can determine whether your home has features that drastically decrease severe property loss from hurricane wind. As always, the safer and stronger your home is, the lower your premiums may be.
All the features the inspector looks for may seem like minor details, but they make a world of difference when a windstorm or hurricane strikes. The appropriate wind mitigation features can be the difference between your home weathering the storm and a total rebuild.
That’s why Kin highly recommends investing in wind mitigation features and getting a windstorm mitigation inspection before you apply for a quote.
That depends on where you live and your home's features. Along the coast, savings can range from a few hundred dollars to well over $1,000. Wind mitigation savings are most substantial in Florida because the state requires insurers to offer these discounts. (Learn more about wind mitigation in Florida here.)
The average cost of a wind mitigation inspection is about $100, which is usually more than offset by the insurance savings.
A wind mitigation inspection form considers seven indicators of your home’s ability to withstand strong winds. All Florida inspection forms are the same and ask these seven questions (see a sample form here and snippets of each question below):
If you decide to make structural changes to your home to qualify for more wind mitigation credits, make sure you work with a licensed engineer and contractor.
As you can see above, some wind mitigation components can be added while others (the shape of your roof, for example) are harder to change. That said, these components are generally considered the “safest” for most homes and therefore lead to bigger premium discounts:
After the wind inspection is complete, the inspector will offer suggestions that could improve the sustainability of your property. You can make changes to your property or simply submit your wind mitigation report to your Kin representative.
You’ll likely receive the most savings if you take the inspector’s suggestions, which will also add to the value of your home – that’s never a bad thing! However, we’re happy to crunch the numbers and see how much you can save based on your inspection report alone.
Wind mitigation inspections in Florida are valid for five years. Put another way, you pay for the inspection, but it saves you money on your home insurance premium every year for five years.
You can input your report's results when you apply for a Kin quote online or you can provide a copy of your wind mitigation report to your representative. If you think you’ve had one done, you can look over your current policy and see if you received any sort of windstorm mitigation credits. If so, you can ask for a copy of the inspection from your current carrier.
Keep in mind that the wind mitigation inspection has to be current. If it’s older than five years old, it’s time for a new one!
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Kin Insurance Inc (Kin) is an independent insurance agency. Coverage varies by carrier. Coverage explanations and scenarios are hypothetical and not guarantees of coverage. A quote on the Kin website is not a binding agreement. Coverage may not be available in all states. Coverage terms and exclusions are governed by your insurance policy.