Tips for Homeowners for Hurricane Season!
This is an excellent post from Rhonda Sanderson of Pillar To Post. Having experienced hurricane damage myself I found the advice in the article to be invaluable.
It’s hurricane season, that’s pretty clear. What’s worse is the August September season, at least in Florida, is now extended through November. So, we are facing a longer season, more intense storms and hurricanes, and more frequent touchdowns which all spells disaster. Yet many of the areas that are affected by natural disasters are some of the most desirable places on earth to live. What to do? If you have clients living in these areas and you service them, you may want to share some of the following tips before a hurricane blows away a payday!
If a home is fortified against such disasters, it of course becomes more desirable for those buyers determined to live in the area.
You can buy roof clips and window shutters at the more inexpensive end to reinforcements for doors and walls at the high end. If you do nothing to safeguard your home, at the very least, protect your family with an in-home safe room.
May be worth the investment. Hurricane-resistant windows can increase your overall construction cost. However, they will offer great protection during storm season and can be very useful to protect the property and may be the reason you can get a reduced premium in your insurance cost. A good hurricane window will cost between $40 and $55 a square-foot, and this will include the frame and the hurricane-proof glass. Some studies have shown that by installing hurricane windows, the construction cost will be increased only by a few thousand dollars on a new home. On average, a hurricane impact door size 60" x 80" can cost about $1,900 while a sliding window 72" X 80" is around $1950. A single hung window costs between $500 and $600, material only.
Look into hurricane resistant doors as well. There are only some that meet the requirements. Best to Google the exact topic to find out who handles those doors, learn what they can resist and how much they cost.
If in the middle of a closing with a buyer, advise them to order another home inspection if a hurricane has recently occurred.
Post hurricane a homeowner definitely wants an inspection of his/her roof. This is possibly the most important part of a home inspection after a disaster as there can be hidden damage that only an expert can spot. Provided you did not lose your roof completely, a home inspector will need to check for missing shingles, compromised supports, and in serious cases, holes or structural damage. These will need immediate repair to prevent interior damage to your home and should be prioritized. You will also want to take a look at major electrical work to make sure it did not sustain severe damage. A good home inspector will find the problems, even hidden ones, and may be able to steer you towards vendors who will fix them.
If your home experienced large volumes of water inside from flooding or storm surges, you may want to consider a mold inspection. Check common areas where molds form to be sure you won’t uncover this costly issue down the road. Your inspector can also check your heating and air systems to make sure they did not sustain damage that would cause replacement. If hit with major debris, they may be compromised and your inspector can point these issues out to you. Mold can cause sinus infections or worse for the homeowner so this is a serious issue that must be addressed.
Having a local home inspector provide a “damage report” post hurricane may help the homeowner expedite his/her insurance claim.
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