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Get Your Home Hurricane Ready: Prepare Before You Have To

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We are in the peak of hurricane season again and it sure is an active one. Every year we write a blog about getting hurricane ready and yet last year our shelves ran out of stock when a hurricane came our way. Few people truly keep their household prepared for a hurricane, which means most of us end up with the rest – racing to the store desperately trying to get ready. We know most hurricanes don’t come our way but either way, don’t wait until you have to be prepared to get prepared.

Start with the un-perishables

Start your preparations by stocking up on items that won’t perish. Canned goods, water, batteries, flashlights, candles, and matches. You can also stock up on detergent you can use without a washing machine, bars of soap and medical supplies. You will need an emergency medical kit on hand with your basic medical materials.

Get your house ready

The next item on the list is your home. If you have hurricane shutters, make sure they function the way they are supposed to. clean out your gutters, patch any exterior flaws around the home and make sure the road drains are working. If you are in a flood zone you should have an evacuation plan in place, even if it is to get out of your neighborhood. While you can protect your home from flooding, you won’t want to be there and become an emergency situation.

Make a list of everything in your home

A picture is as good as a receipt for an insurance company. Make a list of all your belongings and take pictures of every room. Keep these pictures and your list with all your important documents. And speaking of documents, you will want to put anything important into a water-proof location. You can buy a small house safe which is easy to find and not too expensive.

If you are really worried about your home you can also have an appraisal done. A current appraisal will ensure you get the most out of your insurance if you need to call on them to make repairs or rebuild. A pre-listing inspection is another way to document issues in your home that can be identified before the storm and prove issues that happened as a result of the storm. You can easily schedule any property inspection directly online with Divinity Inspection Services.

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How To Protect Your Home From Summer Flooding

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The summer rains are on their way. And if you remember last year, then you know it would be a good idea to get ahead of the preparations to prevent summer flooding. If you protect your home now, then you will have nothing to worry about all through summer and hurricane season.

Clean out your gutters while the sun is out

You don’t want to find out your gutters are clogged when your driveway starts flooding. Get up on that ladder and clean out those gutters to make a clear path for the rain waters.

Check your ground gutters and drains as well

Many homes in Florida also have ground gutters. These can be close to the home or close to the road. Many times the ground gutters get overlooked but they can easily get clogged with debris, leaves, and other things.

Landscaping can help soil erosion

It’s planting season and if there were ever a time to address your landscape it’s now. Planting certain plants and vegetation can minimize soil erosion.

The best way to be sure you don’t have any leaks or potential roof damage is to get a property inspection. Many people think they only need to hire a property inspector if they are selling or buying a home. The truth is, many homeowners can benefit from having their home inspected every three to five years. A qualified home inspector is trained to look for and discover issues that even you as the home buyer may not notice.

We also offer pre-listing inspections. Scheduling a pre-listing inspection gives you a leg up from waiting on a buyer to have the home inspected. If you are made aware of any major issues you can address them before listing the home for sale. Even if you do get an inspection done, you are under no obligation to share that inspection report with anyone. Schedule your home inspection now with us.

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Hurricane Season and Home Inspections

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Hurricane season and home inspections are related. As we all know, Florida is notorious for getting hit with hurricanes. The official hurricane season has already commenced with an early June 1st start date and a late finish on November 30th. According to bankrate.com, it has been predicted by CSU meteorologists that 12 storms are expected to hit. Five of those storms possibly becoming big level 3 hurricanes. When storms are rolling in with only a 1-2 day notice sometimes, can you say your home is fully prepared? Here are two key areas of your home that need to be inspected if you want to prepare for hurricane season.

Roof Inspections

Your roof is key to protecting your home from storms that could wreak havoc onto your roof and entire home. Roof damage can be caused from leaks in roof decking. These leaks can lead to soaking through ceilings and damaging belongings, or even having your entire roof ripped apart, due to loose shingles or roof tiles. Also for added protection, installing hurricane straps are a necessity if you live near the coast.

Wind Mitigation Analysis

Wind mitigation inspections are extremely useful for making sure your home is able to withstand high winds, storms and any type of damage that can occur over time. Wind mitigation inspections are especially important when it comes to hurricane season. When having a proper inspection done and taking precautionary measures to protect your doors and windows, you could really be saving yourself from a potential disaster in your home. Right now is the best time to choose to have your home inspected by a certified wind mitigation inspector at Divinity Inspections. Did you know that you could also lower your home insurance premium with a wind mitigation inspection?

 

Lastly, here are a few additional precautionary tips to use during hurricane season:

  • Ditch the “X” on the window
    • Don’t tape your windows. The National Hurricane Center actually says the tape won’t keep your glass or windows from shattering. Instead use that valuable time to prepare for the hurricane by stocking food and water.
  • Plan to evacuate
    • While hurricanes rarely result in a mandatory evacuation – it does happen. Be prepared to evacuate if evacuation becomes a requirement.
  • Pick up the yard
    • It’s easy to forget things in the front or back yard but if you don’t remember to pick them up more than likely they won’t still be in the yard after a hurricane.
  • Don’t stop for gas
    • Preparing for a hurricane should always include filling up your gas tank in case you have to evacuate or leave in a hurry. Many people may need to stop at the gas station and you don’t want to have to join that line if you’re trying to get out of town.

 

Call Divinity Service anytime to schedule your home inspection. We work with your schedule, take last minute appointments, and all of our inspectors are certified!