Sponsored Advertising Content | By Kari Fleck, Founder & Broker, The Real Estate Collection, and Q-ICE Builders
Living inland gives us a certain sense of security during hurricane season. Charley, Ian and Milton reminded us otherwise. Communities like Windermere still see significant wind, flooding, downed trees and long outages. Most Floridians know the basics: water, non-perishable food, batteries, flashlights and shutters. The gaps show up later, when a homeowner is standing in the driveway trying to prove what the house looked like a week earlier.
Start With Your Insurance.
Review your homeowners policy now. Know your hurricane deductible, and whether your roof is covered at replacement cost or actual cash value. That single line decides if a claim buys a full replacement or a partial check. Don’t assume homeowners insurance covers flooding. It generally doesn’t, and you don’t need to sit in a high-risk zone to take on water. Our lakes, retention ponds, and saturated ground put water where no map predicted it. Flood policies carry a waiting period, so buy coverage well ahead of a named storm.
Document Your Home.
Walk every room with your phone recording, narrating as you go, opening closets, cabinets and drawers. Photograph valuables, electronics and furnishings. Outside, capture the roof, windows, pool enclosure, landscaping, fencing and dock. Upload everything to cloud storage in a single folder, together with your insurance policy, property survey and important receipts. Include your insurance agent’s number. You’ll have a record of your home’s pre-storm condition and a way to act on it if a claim is necessary.
Look Past the Shutters.
Have questionable trees and limbs evaluated and trimmed before the season starts. Clean gutters, roof valleys and exterior drains. Walk the lanai, yard and pool deck hunting projectiles: umbrellas, grills, planters, toys, bird feeders, windchimes. Take your boat off the lift. If it’s not a possibility, contact Marine Contractor, Q-ICE Builders, at www.Q-ICEBuilders.com. They assist in securing boat docks against high winds and rising water. Don’t overlook the garage door. It’s the largest opening in most homes, and a failure there can pressurize the house and lift the roof. Know its wind rating, and ask what reinforcement it needs.
Understand Your Dock Coverage.
Dock damage is rarely covered under a standard homeowners policy. Most insurance companies require a separate rider specifically naming the dock, and named storm deductibles are often 2-3% of the home’s value. Talk with your agent to understand your dock coverage before a storm.
Consider a Whole-House Generator.
A professionally installed standby unit has become one of the more desirable improvements in the Florida luxury market. It restores power automatically, keeping air conditioning, refrigeration, security systems and essential equipment running. On homes with wells, it also keeps the taps flowing. The value isn’t only comfort. A generator won’t return dollar for dollar, but it separates a home from its competition on a buyer’s short list. At this price point, buyers pay for resilience and for work they won’t have to do themselves.
The Last Twenty-Four Hours.
Charge battery banks and fill vehicles early. Keep extra fuel and cash on hand. Learn how to release the garage door manually. That YETI shouldn’t sit hot in the garage until the lights go out. Pre-chill it a day ahead of landfall and freeze reusable packs and water jugs while you still have power. Fill it with the food and drinks you reach for most. Every trip into the refrigerator costs cold air.
Hurricane preparation isn’t about fear. In Central Florida, it’s part of responsible homeownership. The best time to find a weakness in your home, your coverage or your plan is now, not when the cone is headed our way.
Learn more about The Real Estate Collection at therealestatecollection.com and Q-ICE Builders at www.Q-ICEBuilders.com.
Exceptional Properties. Exceptional Craftsmanship. One Distinctly Florida Lifestyle.
The Real Estate Collection | therealestatecollection.com
Q-ICE Builders | Q-ICEBuilders.com
