Home Repair 2min Read

Strengthen Your Home and Save Money on Insurance

5 Essential Wind Mitigation Upgrades for Florida Homeowners

Are you looking to save on your home insurance premium? As a Florida homeowner, you can reduce your premium by 10% to 40% by making wind mitigation upgrades.

Wind mitigation upgrades help protect your home against wind damage caused by hurricanes, which is hugely important in Florida. Every homeowner’s insurance policy includes dwelling, liability, fire, and wind. The wind portion of a policy will vary by company and coverage. Still, wind mitigation upgrades could mean substantial savings and significantly lower the cost of your homeowner’s insurance premium.

In addition to premium savings, the state of Florida offers the My Safe Florida Home Program, a grant program created to strengthen Florida homes against hurricanes and save homeowners money. Funding for this program begins July 1, 2024. Homeowners can apply for grants to reimburse eligible wind mitigation upgrades and improvements. For more information, visit https://mysafeflhome.com/.

5 wind improvements that strengthen your home and save you money

The wind mitigation upgrades below are recommended to help protect your home against wind damage caused by hurricanes and can save money on your homeowner’s insurance costs:

Improving the strength of your deck attachment.
Reinforcing roof-to-wall connections.
Creating a secondary water barrier to prevent water intrusion.
Opening protection (windows).
Opening protection exterior doors (including garage doors).

By implementing these upgrades, you strengthen your home against wind damage and increase the potential for insurance savings. Remember to contact your insurance company to inform them of the upgrades so they can apply your savings.

How can I get a wind inspection for my home?

Any licensed general contractor, home inspector, or engineer can conduct a wind mitigation inspection and identify the upgrades needed to help protect your home against wind damage. If you plan to use and are approved for the My Safe Florida Home Program grant, they will provide a contractor list to you.

By implementing the recommended wind mitigation upgrades, taking advantage of the tax incentives, and applying for the My Safe Florida Home Program grant, you could significantly lower your homeowner’s insurance premium and better protect your home from wind damage.