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Wind Mitigation and Homeowners’ Insurance

September 19, 2017/in Uncategorized /by insideandout

If you live in Florida, then you have probably heard about wind mitigation – the process of
implementation of specific building methods and techniques focused on limiting and reducing the
damage that comes as a result of intense winds.
Unfortunately, Florida has a long history of hurricanes. According to official statistics, the State of
Florida has been hit by over 200 hurricanes in the last 150 years. In addition, the occurrence of strong
winds that cannot be classified as hurricanes (under 74 miles per hour) can cause damage to buildings
too and these strong winds are not rare in Florida.

What does wind mitigation include?

The wind mitigation techniques are focused on different parts of the home. For instance, they are
reinforcing the garages by strengthening the windows, checking door-track strength and more.
Furthermore, replacing glass doors with impact-resistant doors is another great technique that can
protect homes against strong winds. Roof deck attachments, roof shape, roof covering, secondary water
resistance, protection of openings – these are just some of the many wind mitigation techniques used
today in Florida.

Wind mitigation and homeowners’ insurance – is there any connection?

The answer to this question is affirmative. The insurance rates are closely related to the level of risk
associated with a certain item – in this case, homes. So, to put it in simple words, insurance is focused
on evaluating and handling risk. Obviously, if you live in an area where strong winds are able to cause
damage to your property like Florida, you should expect higher homeowners’ insurance rates. However,
by using wind mitigation techniques, you will be able to cut these expenses.
Wind mitigation techniques are used to make any home less vulnerable to the risks brought by strong
winds. By taking good care of the windows, doors, walls, and roofs, your home can be prepared for
these winds.

Using wind mitigation inspection

In order to reduce the homeowners’ insurance rate, you should call a professional home inspector that
provides wind mitigation inspection. The main objective of an inspection like this is to find out the
preparedness of a home to deal with strong winds. A wind mitigation inspection will analyze the
features of the building that are usually affected by hurricanes and strong winds like concrete block
construction, hip roof, the presence or absence of shutters and similar protective items for the
openings, and few other things.
A Florida homeowner looking for homeowners’ insurance can provide the results of the wind mitigation
inspection to the insurance company in order to get discounts. Of course, if you want to get discounts
like this, you should follow the recommendations of the home inspector you have hired. These
professionals will suggest changes, upgrades, and repairs in your home that will make it harder for
almost any type of wind to cause damage. Those interested in using wind mitigation inspection services
should look for a licensed home inspector with experience in this field. By doing this, they can
significantly reduce the cost of homeowners’ insurance and protect their homes.

(1) https://fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/hurricane/hurricane.htm

(2) https://www.floridadisaster.org/Mitigation/Documents/Wind%20Mitigation%20Booklet%20.pdf

How does cloth wiring affect homeowners’ insurance?

September 5, 2017/in Home Sellers, Homebuyers, Homeowner Resources /by insideandout

A homeowners’ insurance policy is one of the best insurance policies available in the insurance market in Florida. With this special type of insurance, homeowners can protect their homes and belongings against damage or loss caused by vandalism, theft, fire and other similar causes.

There are many homeowners in Florida who are wondering how much does this insurance cost. There is no straight answer to this question because the cost depends on different factors like the property’s location, the overall value of the home, the unique features present in some homes and even on some seemingly unrelated things like the type of electrical wiring in the home. This is quite logical because there are different types of wiring and some of them are better than the others.

Cloth Wiring Explained

One of the types of electrical wiring systems that were quite popular in the past (before the middle of the 20th century) is cloth wiring. Many homes in Florida have this kind of wiring even today. The reason why people used cloth is simple – cloth is a great insulator. In addition, it was easier to get cloth compared to plastics.

Even though cloth has proven to be an excellent insulator, the truth is that it tends to become brittle after some period of time. As a result of that, it simply falls off the electrical wires. When something like this happens, the risk of fire and injuries is increased.

The Impact of Cloth Wiring on Homeowners’ Insurance Policy Cost

Insurance companies are well-aware of the fact that cloth wiring is prone to deterioration. They know that the risk of fire and shock is relatively high with this type of wiring. Obviously, no one can blame the insurance companies because their assumptions are correct. So, if your home has cloth electrical wiring, you can expect higher insurance rates. (2) In some cases, insurance companies are not ready to work with homeowners that have homes with this type of wiring.

How to Solve This Issue in the Best Way?

First of all, you will have to determine the condition of the electrical wiring in your home. It is a great idea to use a professional electrical home inspection. They will examine the electrical system in your home and highlight the possible problems. Electrical home inspections are highly recommended when buying a home, after a renovation, after adding powerful appliances and when the home is older than four decades.

After that, you should call a certified electrician. These professionals will check and fix the wires and take care of the insulation. Once they are done, they will provide a certification. You can use this certification to convince the insurance company that you have chosen that the electrical wiring in your home is safe. In addition, there are many homeowners who are considering upgrades. This is a more expensive option, but the initial expense will pay off in the long run. There is no doubt that insurance companies are ready to lower the insurance cost if the home is using standard, modern wiring.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cce4Fxy5O-s[/embedyt]

How Much Will It Cost to Replace Cloth Wiring?

As with most things, the cost of replacing your cloth wiring depends on whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a professional. In this case, DIY isn’t recommended unless you have a background in electrical wiring – but if you do, it can save you a lot of money. (3) If you decide to do it yourself, here’s what you’ll need:

soft, pliable non metallic/Romex wiring ($30-$45 for 100 ft)
junction boxes ($75-$100)
grounded receptacles ($5-$10)
breakers ($10)
ground fault circuit interrupters ($20)

Before you begin, be very certain you’ve turned off the power. Check it twice!

[embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpQwhiS-ooY[/embedyt]

If you decide to hire a professional you can expect to pay roughly $60/hr for labor plus call-out fees if they split the work into several jobs. It’s a good idea to shop around before hiring any contractor, and this isn’t a cheap job. You can expect to pay several thousand dollars to replace all the old cloth wiring in your home with newer safer alternatives.

Additional Tips for Florida Home Buyers

Buying a new home can be exciting however stressful, especially for first-time home buyers in Florida. One of the most significant aspects of your home purchase will be the inspection. Major concerns in Florida home inspections are much the same as they are in other states, but the added humidity and the hot, moist climate do affect the prevalence of some major issues. Most home buyers are likely to run for the hills as soon as they find out that a home that they’re interested in buying has major issues, like signs of mold or a damaged roof. Avoid these first-time homebuyer mistakes.

Hopefully, these articles will help you make the right decision regarding your cloth wiring.

(1) https://www.myfloridacfo.com/Division/Consumers/UnderstandingCoverage/Guides/document s/HomeownersToolkit.pdf

(2) https://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/beware- these-14- home-features- will-raise- your-insurance

(3) https://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-much-will-it-cost-replace-cloth-wiring.htm

BJ Johnson

InterNACHI Certified Electrical Inspector

904-395-1900
Contact me

Florida Maintenance Tips

August 10, 2017/in Uncategorized /by insideandout

Home maintenance is crucial for keeping a home in top value. Even though the climate in Florida is mild
and doesn’t cause problems, homeowners should still take care of their homes on a regular basis. Of
course, some of the maintenance activities should be conducted more frequently than others. The
following is a list of Florida maintenance tips divided into different categories.
On a monthly basis

– Replace the air filters of your HVAC system

– Inspect, and after that, clean or replace kitchen ventilation hood filters
– Flush all the toilets and run warm water through the sinks. This is especially important in the
bathrooms that are not used frequently.
On a quarterly basis
– Inspect your home’s exterior drainage. In this way, you will ensure that there is nothing that
causes standing water to puddle for over 24 hours and that all water regardless of its source is
not ending in your home’s foundation.
– It is highly recommended to test the GFCIs (Ground fault circuit interrupters) for normal
operations by tripping the test buttons and resetting them after that manually. In case they
don’t trip or rest, call a licensed electrician.

– Inspect and clean all the exterior vents. Check whether the air flows freely and that each vent
has a fully functioning damper to prevent back flow of outside air and to keep insects or small
animals from entering your home.
– Lubricate all overhead garage door hinges with high-quality garage door lubricant.
– Inspect and clean all weep holes on the windows to ensure proper water drainage.
On a seasonal basis
– Call a licensed HVAC contractor to service your HVAC system every six months. In this way, you
will extend the lifespan of your HVAC system and optimize its work.
– Inspect and caulk these areas two times a year as needed:
 Bathrooms and kitchen
 Flushing areas
 The siding
 Around all wall penetrations (fireplace, duct work from vents, faucets, hose and chimney
vents)
 Around window and doors
 Interior settling or shrinkage cracks on the sheetrock and trim
 Mortar or stucco cracks

– Make sure that the gutters are free of debris that could prevent free water flow. In addition,
make sure that you have splash blocks at the base of the gutter downspouts to help deflect
water away from your home’s foundation.
– Inspect and adjust the sprinkler system to avoid spraying your home. Adjust the timers for your
county’s watering days to optimize the use of water.
On an annual basis
– Drain and refill your hot water heaters. It is possible that you will have to do this more
frequently – it all depends on the current water conditions in your area.
– Inspect and test the hot water heater TPR valve.
– Inspect the garage door/s, rails, and lock system. Adjust and lubricate if needed.
– Clean the faucet aerators and inspect the plumbing fixtures for potential leaks.

– Clean and sharpen the garbage disposal by running a tray of ice cubes and depositing a cleaning
(foaming) product into the disposal.
– Inspect your home’s fire extinguishers and replace them if needed.
– Replace the batteries in your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors.
Follow these maintenance tips to keep your home’s value and your quality of life.