A building inspector in Southwest Florida demonstrates how homeowners can save on insurance premiums and fortify their homes against hurricanes.
Rob Stewart, owner of Coastal Home Inspections took NBC2 on a walkthrough of a home in the Calusa Palms neighborhood, to show you what you can do to save on your policy and what you can do right now to strengthen your home against the next hurricane.
"If you have the money, you definitely want to go impact glass," Stewart said.
Stewart conducts wind mitigation inspections, which inform insurance companies about how well a home will withstand a storm.
He said, "I've had clients tell me that I've saved them $3,000 to $4,000 a year on larger homes."
The owner of the 2,500-square-foot home in the neighborhood said he has seen his insurance rates double.
"So now we're going to get into the attic," Stewart said. The attic inspection reveals how well the roof is attached to the home. "All the straps are properly nailed. They didn't miss any," Stewart said.
Next, Stewart performs a four-point inspection, which includes checking the home's electrical system.
"Electrical service seems fine!" Stewart said. He also inspects the plumbing and HVAC systems.
The goal is to identify and fix problems. "What they want to do is incentivize homeowners to strengthen their house and make it more survivable," Stewart said.
Inspections like this range between $300 and $375, but Stewart points out they can quickly pay for themselves, he said, "Provided their provider or broker shops multiple companies."
NBC2 took Stewart's final report to independent agent Doug Nellans with The Insurancenter.
"Based on these inspections, how much could it save the homeowner?" asked Dave Elias.
A valuable saving for anyone shopping for insurance.