Wind Mitigation Surveys

THESE INSPECTIONS CAN POTENTIALLY SAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON YOUR HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE POLICY.

Like most south Louisiana homeowners, my husband and I experienced sticker shock when we received our recent homeowner’s insurance bill. We’ve been with the agent for decades and in our home since 2008. Thanks to 2020’s active hurricane season, our homeowner’s insurance jumped a whopping 25 percent. Among our insurance provider’s options to offset the increase was to have a wind mitigation survey done on our home. If the house’s design, construction, and materials met certain criteria, we could receive credits on our homeowners’ insurance for a reduced rate.

State program

This Louisiana Department of Insurance program makes homeowners eligible for a state tax deduction or insurance premium discount for voluntarily strengthening their homes against storms and hurricanes. To determine eligibility, the home must be surveyed by a certified wind mitigation surveyor. (Newer homes built after 2007 must be in compliance with the Louisiana state uniform construction code to withstand severe weather.) “The Louisiana Wind Mitigation Survey Program has been around for more than a decade,” says Bill Hatchett, ACI, who is one of only six certified wind mitigation surveyors in Louisiana. “The biggest problem is that so few people, including the smaller insurance companies, know about the program. Whether your home is new or on the historic registry, it could have the necessary features that would make it qualify for these discounts.”

Inspection points

Surveyors look into every nook and cranny of a home’s construction, starting with the roof. A hip roof (where all sides slope to the walls) is best. A gabled roof (where walls that rise to a triangle) with specially approved bracing also qualifies. The roof’s shingles may also get a discount if they are Class F, G and H. Standard grade shingles do not get a discount. Older homes with roofs made of individual boards that are secured with nails qualify. Newer homes with plywood roofs secured with staples, do not. If you are replacing a roof now, ask your roofer to install a secondary water barrier on your roof. It’s worth the extra cost if you are looking for an additional discount. If a home is in a fully-developed neighborhood, as most New Orleans area homes are, that is also beneficial. Shutters and some windows may also warrant a discount, but they must meet certain criteria for large object debris impact. And key: every opening in your house must have approved shutters or windows to qualify. “I drive around town and look at homes and know that there are many out there that would qualify,” comments Hatchett. “It’s a good program with a potential to save the consumer a lot of money over the life of the policy. It’s definitely worth a look.”

What to know

“Homeowners must be proactive in pursuing a survey,” says Hatchett. “Insurance rates will only be going up as so many companies are pulling out of Louisiana.” He remarks the insurance companies that are the best in accepting these wind mitigation discounts include Chubb, Pure, USAA, and AIG. In the end, our survey cost us $300 and took about 90 minutes. Our 1890’s home met many of the criteria and knocked off a bit more than $2,000 annually from our policy. Needless to say, we are very pleased. For more information, see the Louisiana Department of Insurance’s website: ldi.la.gov.

Laura Claverie is a longtime New Orleans journalist and executive editor of Nola Boomers.