best Hurricane protection and insurance ? (HOA, home owners insurance, new)

[finnjammer]

Greetings. I have just bought a house in Ft Myers. New in Florida and trying to understand the hurricane issues. What are the best things one can install or do for their home that really work ? To protect the house. If I ask the glass companies, they want to sell you the hurricane impact resistant windows. Then the other people sell all kind of shutters that operate electronically or manually. Some have aluminum shutters that you install manually or even plywood nailed onto window frames. Lots of different ideas. Can you please share your advice on what is the best form of protection. Preferably not some extremely expensive options.

Also, I have had terrible experience trying to get a home owners insurance. I found one that took me and one month later they are asking me to update all plumbing, electrical, a/c and roof. After they took my payment and confirmed a policy. This is unbelievable and stressful. The insurance co is American Integrity. They appear rude and difficult, after I tried to ask them some questions. My agent is absolutely useless, answer to every question is "i don't know'. I am very concerned. So, do many people opt for no insurance at all? I might just do that. This is why I need to find a way to strengthen all weak areas of the house.

Thank you kindly in advance for any advice and help.
Helena

[FL_Expert]

Honestly, plywood is probably sufficient. If I lived right on the water or somewhere else where the wind can hit your house unobstructed I might go for hurricane shudders. Either way, get something now. Once a hurricane is on its way it's too late, Home Depot and Lowes sell out of wood fast when storms are in the forecast. Other than that, you can see about having hurricane clips added to your roof. That's probably the next weakest point after the windows. This may also get you an insurance discount.

As far as insurance goes, good luck. It isn't easy for anyone right now.

[finnjammer]

Thank you Fl_Expert
How do you attach the plywood? And I have a second floor that is wood structure with windows. The roof is 19 years old. How do the clips work? And what kind of shudders? Where is the best place to buy them and do they install?

So is it common to go without insurance? I hear they dont even pay any claims anyway and drop you when ever they feel like it. Why have insurance if you never know if they even help you out when needed.

[SellingNWCape]

As FL_Expert noted, you can get away with putting up sheets of plywood over the windows and doors. As they mentioned, you have to plan ahead on that as the stores start filling up and running out of plywood once it seems a storm might head in that specific direction. But you also need to take into consideration what you will be able to do - are you physically able to put up all that protection on your own or will you need to find and pay someone else to do it?

Impact glass is nice because you can still see out your windows but they can still get damaged in a storm and need to be replaced. And they aren't cheap. Personally, I believe the most cost effective solution in terms of initial cost and time involved in putting up and taking down hurricane protective coverings would be the manual pull-down or slide across options. This guide might be helpful in deciding what works best for you: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/we...htmlstory.html

Also, roof clips are a great idea to add as mentioned above if your new home doesn't already have them installed.

As for insurance, I'll DM you the name and contact info of the agent we use.

[finnjammer]

Thank you SellingNWCape
I am grateful for the advice you give !!!!

[SellingNWCape]

You're most welcome. Just saw your other post - some people do choose to self-insure but I would not recommend that unless absolutely necessary or you're just swimming in cash and can afford to replace a house easily because rebuild costs will soar should a big storm hit. You don't mention the type of roof, but at 19 years old replacing it would probably get you considerable cost savings on insurance in addition to peace of mind.

[finnjammer]

Well, I was declined by most companies. My house is two stories, on canal, upper floor is wood frame. This co took me but later came up with massive demands to hold onto the policy. Complete re piping. Break up everything to perform such installation. Very expensive. I am feeling stressed out. Never expected these problems at all.

[finnjammer]

Thinking about the new roof option. What would be the best material going forwards? The one there now is shingles. What about metal roof?

[_burrito]

Originally Posted by finnjammer

Greetings. I have just bought a house in Ft Myers. New in Florida and trying to understand the hurricane issues. What are the best things one can install or do for their home that really work ? To protect the house. If I ask the glass companies, they want to sell you the hurricane impact resistant windows. Then the other people sell all kind of shutters that operate electronically or manually. Some have aluminum shutters that you install manually or even plywood nailed onto window frames. Lots of different ideas. Can you please share your advice on what is the best form of protection. Preferably not some extremely expensive options.

Also, I have had terrible experience trying to get a home owners insurance. I found one that took me and one month later they are asking me to update all plumbing, electrical, a/c and roof. After they took my payment and confirmed a policy. This is unbelievable and stressful. The insurance co is American Integrity. They appear rude and difficult, after I tried to ask them some questions. My agent is absolutely useless, answer to every question is "i don't know'. I am very concerned. So, do many people opt for no insurance at all? I might just do that. This is why I need to find a way to strengthen all weak areas of the house.

Thank you kindly in advance for any advice and help.
Helena

Questions you should have asked BEFORE you bought......

Anyway, your 19 year old roof is due for replacement. Now is good time to do that, and get the clips installed. If you don't have one and your HOA would approve, consider getting a hip roof. That alone can help save up to 20% on hurricane related line items on homeowners insurance.

[SellingNWCape]

That's pretty shameful of them. American Integrity seems to be showing quite the opposite of their name in the way they conduct their business. Even worse for you is that you're stuck with that house whereas if they had not insured you, you could have probably gotten out of the contract to buy the house and instead ended up with something more insurable. Maybe report them to the BBB so others thinking about calling them for a quote don't end up in the same mess.