A Bayside, Miami home qualified for a 23% DISCOUNT from it's annual Windstorm Insurance Premium:

This translated into a $450 annual savings for this particular homeowner and all it took was a phone call and 15 minutes.

The state legislation adopted provisions for a new statewide building code (the 2001 Florida Building Code), which became effective on March 1, 2002. The same legislation included a requirement for insurance companies to provide property insurance discounts for homes that have construction features that reduce the losses in windstorms. Each insurance company was required to submit new rates by February 28, 2003 and include discounts for wind damage reduction (mitigation) construction features.

The discounts are justified because stronger, more wind-resistive houses have lower windstorm losses, and lower windstorm losses means reduced costs to insurance companies. The insurance discounts provide some financial incentives for homeowners to strengthen their existing homes and for new construction to be built to the strongest options in the Florida Building Code.

These new insurance rate discounts in Florida begin to take place in 1999. They apply to both existing construction (houses built prior to 2002) and new construction built to the new statewide Florida Building Code (FBC).

To qualify for these discounts, most insurance companies require a certification of the key construction features.

Our goal is simple......make your home safer and save you money.

How Can I save Money?

The Citizens Property Insurance Corporation offers many discounts to homeowners who take certain steps to protect their home and property.

If your house is 36 to 50 years old, your premium will be surcharged 10%. You may avoid this 10% charge if you provide us with an inspection or other evidence from a verifiable third party (professional installer, licensed contractor, inspection company) that indicates that 1) the roof, 2) the electrical system and 3) the heating system have been updated within the last 35 years.

How to qualify for this credit: You will need to provide to your agent copies of paid contracts with a licensed contractor, which clearly indicate the work performed. However, the easiest way may be to have an inspection company to carry out a "three-point" inspection. Your agent will be able to refer you to one or several local companies that are qualified to perform this work. You will be responsible to pay for the cost of the inspection.

Note that providing this information does not guarantee that you will receive the premium reduction unless it is clearly shown that, in fact, the roof, electrical and heating systems have been updated in the last 35 years.

To schedule an inspection, call E-3 Associates at 305-342-3153

If your Multiple-Peril (Homeowners or Dwelling Fire) Policy includes coverage for Wind related losses, you may be able to obtain a reduction in your premium by providing evidence that your home is equipped with approved storm shutters, storm resistant doors or other approved devices.

If these are rated to withstand at least 110-mph winds and also impact from wind-borne debris(A-1) you will receive the full scheduled premium credit. If rated only for wind resistance(A-2), the credit will be reduced to half that amount.

Note that all exterior openings including doors, garage doors, windows, skylights and vents (excluding roof-ridge and soffit vents) must be protected. Break away walls as required by FEMA for below flood enclosures do not have to be shuttered.

How to qualify for this credit: You will need to complete and sign form WPD-2 "Windstorm Protective Device Certification, which your agent will make available to you. If your home is located in Dade, Broward or Monroe Counties and was built in 1996 or later, you will receive full credit just by completing the inspection. Otherwise, in addition to the signed wpd-2 form, you will need to attach a copy of the Manufacturer's Literature or Installers Certification indicating the product is "Dade County Product Control Approved" or have the installer who performed the work, E-3 Associates, or a Florida Professional Engineer sign the statement contained in form WPD-1

To schedule an inspection, call E-3 Associates at 305-342-3153

* Gable end bracing. Install a 2-by-4 bracing inside the attic to strengthen a gable end roof. (A roof with a gable end often allows wind pressure to push the "A" shaped section of the end wall off the top of the rectangular section of the end wall.)

Garage Doors

* Garage doors. Install pressure/impact-resistant protection devices, such as shutters, panels, and accordion-fold shutters on garage doors; install garage doors made of pressure/impact-resistant materials; or if the existing door is impact-resistant but not wind-pressure rated, install an approved garage door-bracing system to increase the wind-pressure resistance.

Roof Covering

* Roof covering. Consider replacing old asphalt or fiberglass shingles with tile, concrete, clay, or slate. The increased weight of these materials helps keep the roof down during a heavy wind.

Roof Straps

* Roof straps. Have your roof inspected to determine if roof straps are present on each truss/rafter and if they are installed per the manufacturer's recommendations. Homes built before 1995 are likely candidates for improved fastening of the roof structure to the exterior walls.

Secondary Water Resistance

* Secondary water resistance. Rubber or asphalt sheets with peel-and-stick undersides provide secondary water resistance to your home. This type of work is best accomplished during a planned roof replacement. Additionally, the application of polyethylene sheathing adhesive has also been shown to significantly reduce water leaks after the roof covering is lost. The adhesive is applied from inside the attic without removal of the roof.

Shutters or Impact Resistance

* Shutters and/or impact-resistant products. Cover your home's windows, doors, skylights, sliding glass doors, and gable end vents with shutters, panels, or accordion-fold shutters; or install pressure- or impact-resistant exterior doors, windows, or window glazing, or use a combination of both.

Superior Roof Sheathing Attachment

* Superior roof-sheathing attachment. During construction or roof replacement, the roof deck should be nailed with 8 penny or larger nails. The ability of 8 penny nails to resist wind uplift is approximately twice that of 6 penny nails, while 10 penny nails offer approximately four times the wind-uplift resistance.

To schedule an inspection, call E-3 Associates at 305-342-3153

Citizens state-of-the-art mitigation discount program 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 windstorm insurance policy premium. In fact, these home improvements may already exist on your home!

In order to qualify for many of these premium discounts, your home improvements must be verified and meet specific standards within our guidelines.

How to qualify for this credit: If you currently have any loss reduction devices and are not receiving credit, please contact your agent and complete the proper verification forms. Proper forms are required to receive your premium discounts. The verification forms require the signature of a qualified professional. If necessary, you will be responsible for paying for this verification.

Residential Inspection Service

You also have the more convenient option of scheduling a low-cost inspection of your home. Citizens has arranged for E-3 Associates to provide you with a complete inspection of all currently installed mitigation devices, a detailed report of inspection findings and provide you with the necessary forms to qualify for premium credits for your Citizens wind-only policy. The cost of the inspection is $200.00 per building inspected.