A wind mitigation inspection is when a certified inspector comes to your home to check how well your roof, windows, doors, and other elements of your home can hold up against extreme winds.
If the inspector’s report shows that your home has sufficient wind-resistant features to protect your home against hurricanes, tornadoes, and other windstorms, your insurer will likely reward you with discounts on your home insurance premiums. (And if you live in Florida, your insurance company is required by law to give you a discount.) [1]
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How much money can you save on home insurance with a wind mitigation inspection?
A positive risk rating in your wind mitigation inspection report can save you anywhere from 3% to 55% on the wind portion of your home insurance policy. That could equal savings of hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year, depending on where you live and your coverage limits.
Here are a few wind-resistant features to install to score the biggest discounts:
Strong, secondary water-resistant layer on your roof
Hip roof made of metal that slopes downward
Storm-proof garage doors
Roof-wall attachments that use double wraps
Impact-resistant coverings over all windows and doors with glass openings
How much does a wind mitigation inspection cost?
Wind mitigation inspections typically cost around $75 to $150, though exact pricing will vary based on where you live. These inspections usually take around an hour to complete, and you’ll receive a copy of your report that you can send to your insurance company right then and there.
What states offer discounts and incentives for wind mitigation?
The following states offer home insurance discounts, grants, or tax credits to homeowners who’ve fit their home with wind-resistant features.
State | Discounts offered | Other incentives |
|---|---|---|
Fortified Roof and Fortified Home discounts of 20% to 55% off the wind portion of your home insurance policy | Strengthen Alabama Homes Grant: Offers homeowners up to $10,000 to upgrade your home to the Fortified standard Retrofit tax deduction: Deduct up to $3,000 or 50% of the cost of mitigating your home to reduce wind or flood damage — whichever is less — off your state taxes Catastrophe savings account: Any money deposited into an account labeled as catastrophe savings can be deducted from your gross income each year | |
Discount for installing permanent storm shutters or impact-resistant glass | — | |
Fortified Roof, Fortified Home, and other discounts for installing fixtures or using construction techniques to reduce windstorm damage | Hurricane Loss Mitigation Grant: Offers grants for retrofits, inspections, and construction to fortify your home against flooding and hurricane-force winds Florida Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program: Offers financing for up to 100% of the costs to fortify your home against wind damage — payments are added to your property tax bill each year for an agreed-upon term | |
Fortified Roof and Fortified Home discounts of 5% to 10% off the wind portion of your home insurance policy | — | |
Fortified Roof and Fortified Home discounts of 20% to 52% off the wind portion of your home insurance policy | Retrofit tax deduction: Deduct up to $5,000 or 50% of the cost of mitigating your homes to reduce wind or flood damage — whichever is less — off your state taxes Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance rebate: Get a refundable income tax credit if you paid the LA Citizens assessments in addition to your home insurance premium | |
Fortified Roof, Fortified Home, and other discounts for installing improvements to reduce hurricane or other storm damage | — | |
Fortified Roof and Fortified Home discounts of 12% to 55% off the wind portion of your home insurance policy | Free Fortified Roof endorsement: Eligible homeowners with Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association (MWUA) policies can upgrade to a Fortified Roof for free when 50% of their roof is damaged in a covered claim Catastrophe savings account: Any money deposited into an account labeled as catastrophe savings can be deducted from your gross income each year | |
Discount for installing permanent storm shutters or impact-resistant glass | — | |
Discount for installing hurricane storm shutters or hurricane-resistant laminated glass windows and doors | — | |
Fortified Roof and Fortified Home discounts of 6% to 19% off the wind portion of your home insurance policy in you live in the Wilmington area | Free Fortified Roof endorsement: Eligible homeowners with North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA) policies can upgrade to a Fortified Roof for free when a covered claim requires a roof replacement Strengthen Your Roof Grant: Offers up to $5,000 to upgrade your home's roof to Fortified Roof construction if over 50% of your roof is damaged | |
Fortified Home High Wind and Hail discount of 3% to 42% off the wind portion of your home insurance policy | — | |
Hurricane deductible waived for homeowners who install permanent storm shutters, hurricane glass, Fortified Silver improvements, or other approved mitigation measures | — | |
Fortified Roof and Fortified Home discounts of 10% to 35% off the wind portion of your home insurance policy Other mitigation discounts of up to 25% for storm-resistant home improvements | South Carolina Safe Home Grant: Offers up to $5,000 to help fortify your home against wind and storm damage Fortification tax credit: Deduct up to $1,000 or 25% of the cost of making your home more hurricane-resistant off your state taxes, or up to $1,500 if your bought your home with the intent of fortifying it Insurance premium tax credit: Get a tax credit of up to $1,250 on your state income taxes if you pay more than 5% of your income toward insurance coverage on your primary residence Catastrophe savings account: Any money deposited into an account labeled as catastrophe savings can be deducted from your gross income each year | |
Fortified Roof, Fortified Home, and other discounts for opening protection, wind-resistant construction, and secondary water barriers to reduce windstorm damage | Homeowner Assistance Program: Helps homeowners impacted by Hurricane Harvey repair, rebuild, improve, or elevate their home, along with temporary housing until the work is complete |
Do I need to get a wind mitigation inspection to qualify for home insurance?
No, wind mitigation inspections are not legally required to purchase a home insurance policy. However, most insurance companies require you to get an inspection if you want to take advantage of its mitigation discounts to lower your insurance premiums.
How long is a wind mitigation report good for?
Wind mitigation inspection reports are good for five years from the date of the inspection. However, if you replaced your roof or made other mitigation improvements to your home during those five years, you’ll want to have another inspection to ensure you’re receiving the highest discount possible on your home insurance premiums.
What’s included in a wind mitigation inspection report?
While wind mitigation inspection reports vary by state, most certified inspectors will check your home’s construction features to determine its risk of sustaining property damage due to extreme winds.
Here’s an example of what’s looked at during a wind mitigation inspection in Florida: [2]
Building codes: If your home is up to date on all state and county codes based on the year it was built
Roof covering: What your roof is made of, such as metal, clay or concrete tiles, asphalt shingles, wood shakes, or slate tiles
Roof deck attachment: The measurement of the nails and other materials used to attach the roof deck to see how securely it’s attached to your home’s rafters located in your attic
Roof to wall attachment: Whether your roof features anchor bolts, clips, toenails, double wraps, or other roof to wall attachments to prevent wind damage
Roof geometry: The shape of your roof will determine how wind-resistant it is — hip roofs are one of the strongest designs for areas with high winds
Secondary water resistance: A special roof feature that’s typically installed under the first layer of your roof for added protection from rain damage
Opening protection: Whether your windows and doors are sealed and shatter-proof to protect against wind and water damage
How to get a wind mitigation inspection
Follow these steps to receive a wind mitigation inspection:
Reach out to a certified home inspector. You can find a list of certified home inspectors in your area by entering your address in the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors locator tool.
Compare reviews and costs of a few home inspectors. Since insurance companies typically won’t cover the costs of a wind mitigation inspection, you’ll want to compare quotes and read reviews of a few different inspectors to ensure you’re getting a good deal.
Schedule an appointment for your inspection. The inspector will come out and inspect your home’s roof, roof attachments, windows, doors, and other wind-resistant elements of your home.
Get your results and send the wind mitigation report to your home insurance company. If you have a positive risk rating on your report — meaning your home is able to withstand high winds — then you’ll likely receive a discount or credits toward your home insurance premiums.
If you find you didn’t save as much as you’d like after submitting your report, consider comparing rates from other insurance companies to see if you qualify for higher mitigation discounts elsewhere.
Our team of licensed insurance agents at Policygenius can do the work for you — for free! Just click the Start calculator button below to get connected to an agent today.
Wind mitigation inspection vs. 4-point inspection: What’s the difference?
We break down the difference between these two common types of home inspections:
Wind mitigation inspection | 4-point inspection | |
|---|---|---|
What it is | A home inspection used to determine how well your home is outfitted to withstand high winds and flooding caused by a hurricane or strong windstorm | A home inspection used to determine your home’s insurability and the accuracy of the information submitted in your home insurance application |
Areas of the home inspected | -Roof -Doors -Windows -Walls -Landscaping | -Roof -Plumbing -HVAC system -Electrical work |
Cost | $75 to $150 | $50 to $150 |
Is it required by law? | No | No |
Is it required by your home insurance company? | Yes — but only if you want to qualify for mitigation discounts | Varies depending on the age of your home and other factors |
→ Take a deeper dive into 4-point inspections
How can I improve my wind mitigation report?
You can improve your wind mitigation report by replacing your roof with one that’s a hip roof style, made of metal, is retrofitted with metal fasteners, and has a second water resistance membrane. You can also replace your windows, doors, and skylights with shutters so they’re better able to withstand high winds.
