The cheapest credit most Florida homeowners skip

There is one inspection in Florida that reliably pays for itself, and a surprising number of homeowners have never had it done.

A wind mitigation inspection documents the features of your home that resist hurricane damage. An inspector spends an hour or two on site and produces a standardized form. Carriers apply credits based on what that form shows.

What the inspector is looking for

• Roof covering — whether it meets current building code
• Roof deck attachment — nail size and spacing holding the deck to the trusses
• Roof-to-wall connection — toe nails, clips, or single and double wraps
• Roof geometry — hip roofs generally outperform gable
• Secondary water resistance — a sealed layer beneath the covering
• Opening protection — impact glass or shutters rated for debris

Why it matters more than most discounts

Wind is the largest component of a Florida homeowners premium. Credits attach to the part of the bill that is actually large, which is why the savings tend to be meaningful rather than token. Homes with a newer roof, a hip geometry, and full opening protection often see the strongest reductions.

The report is typically valid for five years. If you have had a roof replaced, added shutters, or installed impact windows since your last inspection and have not submitted an updated form, you are paying for protection you already own.

Worth checking

• Have you ever submitted a mitigation form to your current carrier?
• Has anything on the list above changed since you did?
• Is your report more than five years old?

If you are unsure, send us your declarations page. We can tell you which credits are already applied and which are missing — and that costs nothing.