If you own a home in South Florida, a wind mitigation inspection is one of the few paperwork exercises that can actually save you money year after year. Here are plain-English answers to the questions homeowners in Boca Raton, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach ask us most.
What is a wind mitigation inspection?
It is an inspection of your home's hurricane-resistant features, documented on Florida's official Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form. A licensed inspector looks at your roof shape, how the roof is attached to the walls, how the roof deck is nailed down, whether you have shutters or impact glass, and similar features. The report tells your insurance company exactly which credits your home qualifies for.
Why does Florida make insurers offer these discounts?
Because hardened homes have fewer and smaller hurricane claims. Since 2005, Florida law has required residential property insurers to offer premium discounts for recognized wind-resistant construction features. The discounts apply to the windstorm portion of your premium, which in South Florida is often the largest part of the bill.
Which features earn the biggest discounts?
The big ones are a hip roof shape, strong roof-to-wall connections such as hurricane straps or clips, a well-attached roof deck, a secondary water resistance layer under the roof covering, a roof covering that meets the Florida Building Code, and opening protection, meaning hurricane shutters or impact-rated windows and doors on all openings. You do not need all of them to qualify; each documented feature earns its own credit.
Who can do the inspection, and how long is it good for?
The form must be signed by a qualified inspector, such as a licensed home inspector, general contractor, engineer or architect. The report is generally accepted for up to five years, as long as you have not changed the relevant features. If you replace your roof or add impact windows, get a new inspection so the new features are credited.
I just got a new roof. Am I automatically getting the discount?
No. Your insurance company will not assume the improvements. Until a completed inspection form is on file, you are leaving the credits on the table. Send the report to your agent as soon as the work is done.
Is the inspection worth paying for?
For most South Florida homes, yes. The inspection is a modest one-time cost, while the credits it documents can apply every year at renewal. Many homeowners recover the cost quickly, though the actual savings depend on your home's features and your policy.
What do I do with the report once I have it?
Send it to your insurance agent. We review it, confirm every credit is applied correctly, and re-shop your policy if your current company's credits are not competitive. A surprising number of homeowners have a report on file that was never fully applied.
Want us to review a wind mitigation report or tell you whether an inspection makes sense for your home? Call us at (516) 476-6742 or reach out through our contact page.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice. Discount availability, amounts, and eligibility vary by insurer, policy, and property. Consult a licensed insurance professional about your specific situation.