How Much Does A Wind Mitigation Report Save On Insurance?

Homes in Florida are exposed to all sorts of destructive weather conditions, but the worst of all are hurricanes and high winds. As such, it’s imperative to ensure that your home (more specifically, your roof) can withstand strong wind gusts and everything else nature throws at it.

Although making upgrades and retrofits can be costly, it will likely be worth it in the long run when you consider the amount of money you can save on insurance premiums. 

The best way to learn if you have any wind mitigation features is by scheduling a wind mitigation inspection which will provide you with a report written by an experienced inspector. 

The main question is - how much does a wind mitigation report save on insurance?

Let’s go over the basics first.

What Is A Wind Mitigation Inspection?

A wind mitigation inspection is performed by a qualified inspector and its main goal is determining which features are present in your home that increase its resistance to hurricane and wind damage.

The features in question, such as water barriers and roof-to-foundation attachments, have been shown to help homes resist destructive wind damage. This is why insurance companies “reward” homeowners who have wind-resistant features with lower insurance premiums - their homes pose less risk.

Typically, this examination is conducted after purchasing a home or after you have made repairs and improvements that boost your home’s resistance to wind damage. The inspector will survey the home and verify the presence of the aforementioned features.

After the inspection is complete, you will receive a comprehensive report attesting to the presence of wind-resistant features. In other words, you’ll be able to prove to your insurance company that you are eligible for discounts on your premiums.

What Is The Amount You Can Save With A Wind Mitigation Inspection?

According to state law, insurance providers must provide credits and discounts on premiums for insured individuals who have taken steps to protect their property from wind damage. To better understand why these wind mitigation credits are so relevant, consider the following:

The brunt of the cost of your insurance policy comes from the increased risk of hurricane damage. Depending on your location and insurer, up to 70% of your premiums may be related to this risk.

Naturally, by providing evidence you had completed a wind mitigation inspection and that your home is more resistant to wind damage, you’ll save a significant amount of money on your premiums.

Many homeowners, especially those who own older homes, are wary of conducting this review because they believe their premiums will increase if it’s found that they lack wind-resistant features. However, this isn’t the case. In fact, without conducting this inspection, your insurer will simply assume you have no wind mitigation measures in place. Thus, the result of the assessment will always be positive.

When it comes to exactly how much does a wind mitigation report save on insurance, it’s not possible to come up with the exact number. Standards vary between insurance companies and they all value wind mitigation features differently. 

Each company will use its data about which wind-resistant features are more effective than others. For example, one insurer may offer 5% discounts for clip roof attachment, while another may offer as little as 2% for that particular feature.

So while the question of how much does a wind mitigation report save on insurance is impossible to answer with utmost precision, we’ve seen many homeowners achieve at least $100 of annual credit for a period of five years. Taking into account the fact that the cost of the inspection generally runs at $125, the price is more than worth it. 

How To Increase The Wind Resistance Of Your Home

To unlock lower premiums right away, you can take certain steps to retrofit wind-resistant features before scheduling the inspection. Any of the following improvements will drastically decrease your insurance costs:

• Roof-to-foundation anchoring: this feature consists of anchors that fasten the roof to the walls, as well as anchors that connect the walls and foundations, creating a continuous load path in the process. To put it differently, if your home is hit by a strong wind, the pressure will be transmitted through the entire structure instead of being concentrated on just the roof.

• Roof deck attachment: the secure attachment between the framing with stronger fasteners stops the roof from loosening during the storm.

• Water barriers: this is the extra layer of water-resistance material situated below shingles and helps stop water penetration if shingles or tiles are damaged.

• Impact-rated opening coverings: Shutters and other protective features prevent rain from penetrating the interior of the home, helping reduce water damage. Impact-rated opening coverings must withstand storms with wind speeds of up to 140 mph. Additionally, impact-rated shutters and windows minimize the chances of windows breaking. This is very important to highlight because if a window breaks during a storm, high pressure will build below a roof which can be devastating when combined with the low pressure of wind blowing across the roof. 

Schedule A Wind Mitigation Inspection With Guardian Angel Inspections Now!

Any of the wind-resistant features listed above will protect your home from damage while also decreasing your insurance premiums. Though it would definitely be useful to determine how much does a wind mitigation report save on insurance, the amount is by no extent negligible when you look at the bigger picture.

Considering the future savings you can achieve, installing these wind-mitigation features is a no-brainer as they will eventually pay for themselves.

If you want to schedule an inspection in Broward, St.Lucy, or Palm Beach counties, then Guardian Angel Inspections is the best choice. All of our inspectors are certified, insured, and have conducted thousands of wind mitigation inspections. 

Still not convinced to choose us? Maybe our competitive prices and the speed at which we can provide you with the most detailed report in the market will be enough.

Call us at 561-512-7854 or fill out our contact form to protect your home and save money along the way.