Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is now using a new method to determine your premium rates. The goal is to make your home safer and save you money.
The Wind-Only discount program now provides some of the most substantial discounts in the marketplace to customers who make certain disaster-prevention improvements to their homes. If you make certain improvements that will strengthen your home against the destructive power of hurricane force winds, you could save as much as 50 percent on your Wind-Only policy premium. In fact, these home improvements may already exist on your home!
In order to qualify for any of these Wind-Only premium discounts your home improvements must be verified and must meet the specific standards in the Wind-Only guidelines.
If you currently have any loss reduction devices and are not receiving credit, please contact E-3 Associates at 305-342-3153. Proper forms are required by Citizens to receive your premium discounts. The verification forms require the signature of a qualified professional. You will be responsible for paying for this verification at the time of inspection.
Inspection Program Q & A's
Q. What is E-3 Associates Inspection Program?
A. The inspection program was designed to assist policyholders in verifying and receiving proper premium credits for mitigation devices installed on their home.
Q. Do I have to use the E-3 Associates inspection to receive credits/discounts?
A. No, the policyholder is not required to participate in this inspection program. You can use the MIT-1 or MIT-2 or WPD1-R form and obtain the services of a qualified person of your choice (qualifications are indicated on the form). or by contacting your agent.
Q. E-3 Associates?
A. E-3 Associates was founded in 1968 and is known statewide for their construction work. They have been involved with RCMP (Residential Construction Mitigation Program), since it's inception.
Q. What is an E-3 Associates Inspection and why would I want the inspection?
A. The E-3 Associates inspection, while verifying your home's features, suggests ways to protect your home, and gives the estimated percentage saved on your fully indicated premium for windstorm insurance.
Q. Can I call E-3 Associates directly to order an inspection?
A. Yes, 305-342-3153, leave a message if no answer. name and inspection address as well as a phone contact number is required.
Q. How is information regarding the inspection program being distributed?
A. Forms are completed and notarized, then sent to your insurance agent, from there the originals are forwarded to Citizens Insurance.
Q. Will the E-3 Associates inspector be able to verify all mitigation devices on my home?
A. While the inspector is qualified to verify mitigation devices, the inspector can only verify the mitigation devices that are accessible. For this reason, access to the attic is vital. If the inspector does not have access to a mitigation device (i.e. roof straps), the device can not be verified. Credit for storm shutters requires additional steps that are described below.
Q. If I have storm shutters but do not have the applicable credit, will the E-3 Associates inspector sign the WPD-1R form for me?
A. The E-3 Associates inspector will sign the WPD-1R form. However, credit for storm shutters can still be applied given the following:
* If the policyholder has shutters that are stamped "Meets Dade County Building Code" and the shutters were installed after 1988 (for ordinary shutter credit) or after 1994 (for hurricane shutter credit), the inspector will have the insured sign section C of the WPD-1R form and forward it along with the WPD-1 form to Citizens to endorse the credit onto the policy.
* If the policyholder has extra copies of the necessary documents showing the storm shutters meet the required building code, the inspector will take the copies, have the policyholder sign section C of the WPD-1R form and submit them to Citizens with the WPD-1 form to endorse the credit onto the policy.
* If the policyholder does not have the necessary documents, the E-3 Associates inspector will advise the policyholder to get copies of documents showing the storm shutters meet the required building code and to forward copies to Citizens for credit. The inspector will provide the insured with a copy of section C of the WPD-1R form to be sent in with the documents.
Q .How long after I order my E-3 Associates inspection will the inspection be performed?
A. E-3 Associates will contact the policyholder within 4 weeks to schedule an appointment for the inspection to be performed.
Q. My inspection has been completed. What happens next?
A. E-3 Associates will forward a completed forms to your insurance agent reflecting the loss reduction credits for which you qualify. The Citizens Inspection Coordinator will then process an endorsement adding those credits to your policy. Once the endorsement has been processed, a new declarattion page will be sent to you by your agent.