By fortifying your home against hurricanes, you will not only protect your greatest asset in the event of severe weather, but it will also allow you to obtain a reduction on your home insurance premium. Depending on the upgrades you make, the state may even cover some of the cost of those renovations. Alberto Cruz, owner of GoPro Home Inspections, showed WESH 2 the biggest upgrades you can make that could save you money in the long run. The only thing that will actually save you money that you’ll see your mortgage payment drop in is wind attenuation,” Cruz said. Wind mitigation is the inspection that gives the insurance company details about your home and how it might withstand the weather. . If it’s been a while since you’ve had one, you might want to consider having a licensed inspector do another one. When the inspector arrives at your home, he will check your windows. “After 2012, all newer homes are going to come with double-glazed windows,” Cruz said. storms will give you credit on the wind attenuation form.” Garage doors are another essential part of the wind attenuation inspection. Cruz said he looks at hurricane-rated doors. “You have to have six or more supports,” he said. “He has less than six; it’s not considered hurricane rated. ‘If it’s a nail, go to clips. If it’s clips, go to hurricane straps,’ Cruz said. The only way to find out how your roof is attached to your home is to go to the attic, which a licensed professional will do your insurance premium, but you could get money from the state to make these changes. My Safe Florida Home, you can request a free inspection that will detail needed upgrades.If you make the recommended upgrades, then you can apply for a state grant, which covers two-thirds of the cost of the project up to 10 $000.Local government entities and non-profit organizations may qualify for a similar program with the Department of Emergency Management’s Hurricane Catastrophe Trust Fund to provide grants for hurricane-resistant renovations.Related content:Preparedness to hurricanes: essential steps to protect yourself and your home
By fortifying your home against hurricanes, you will not only protect your greatest asset in the event of severe weather, but it will also allow you to obtain a reduction on your home insurance premium. Depending on the improvements you make, the state may even cover part of the costs of these renovations.
Alberto Cruz, owner of GoPro Home Inspections, showed WESH 2 the biggest updates you can make that could save you money in the long run.
“The only thing that will actually save you money and see your mortgage payment go down is wind attenuation,” Cruz said.
Wind mitigation is the inspection that gives the insurance company details about your home and how it might withstand the weather. If it’s been a while since you’ve had one, you might want to consider having a licensed inspector do another one.
When the inspector arrives at your home, he will check your windows.
“After 2012, all newer homes will have double-glazed windows,” Cruz said. “Updating (older) windows to high-efficiency, storm-proof double-glazed windows will get you credit on the wind attenuation form.”
Garage doors are another essential part of the wind attenuation inspection. Cruz said he was looking at the hurricane-rated gates.
“You must have six or more hooks,” he said. “It’s less than six; it’s not considered a hurricane rating.”
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WESH 2 has reported a lot on the age of a home’s roof impacting insurance costs, but how it’s attached to your home can save you money.
“If it’s a nail, go to clips. If it’s clips, go to hurricane straps,” Cruz said.
The only way to find out how your roof is attached to your home is to go to the attic, which a licensed professional will do.
Not only could home improvements help you save money on your insurance premium, but you could also get state money to make these changes.
As part of the My Safe Florida Home program, you can request a free inspection that will detail needed improvements.
If you make the upgrades they recommend, you can then apply for a state grant, which covers two-thirds of the project cost up to $10,000.
Local government entities and non-profit organizations may benefit from a similar program with the Department of Emergency Management. The Hurricane Loss Mitigation program uses money from the Hurricane Catastrophe Trust Fund to provide grants for hurricane-resistant renovations.
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