The Charleston, South Carolina area is a great place to live or have a vacation home. The weather is great, the beaches are fantastic, golf courses are abundant, there are many historical sites, the architecture is unbelievable, the dining is unbeatable, and the people are the friendliest in the country. It is because of these reasons that I believe Charleston SC Real Estate is truly unique. I look forward to helping you with any of your Charleston SC Real Estate needs in Charleston, Berkeley, or Dorchester counties. Today’s article is titled:
A South Carolina Wind Mitigation Inspection Could Save You Money
In 2007 a law was passed by the South Carolina legislature – a law that was created to help South Carolina homeowners protect their homes from wind and hurricane damage. Four years later, many South Carolina homeowners still are not aware of the possible savings they could receive with a simple, specialized home inspection.
The act requires that insurance companies provide discounts to homeowners, whose homes are protected against damage during a hurricane or windstorm. The use of storm shutters, roof tie downs, better roof coverings, impact-resistant windows and doors, and other actions taken to reduce losses are some examples of qualified improvements.
Wind mitigation discounts may apply to existing older homes, as well as newer constructions, and are justified because stronger, more wind-resistant houses have lower windstorm losses. Lower windstorm losses result in reduced costs to insurance companies that are then passed on to the consumer. Inspectors typically charge $150 per inspection. By law, they are not allowed to charge any more. Many inspectors also offer discounts to the elderly and military personnel.
Inspections are performed and reviewed by state-licensed inspectors, who work closely with the homeowner’s insurance agent. Inspectors look for features that minimize wind damage during a hurricane or strong wind storm. Some of the features that qualify for wind mitigation certification include the type of roof, the presence of roof straps and secondary water resistance barriers. Inspectors then work with the insurance agent to ensure that the homeowner obtains the appropriate discounts.
In addition to the windstorm insurance mitigation inspections, Alpha Safe Home Inspectors also provides assistance in obtaining grant funds for South Carolinians to fortify their homes against the damaging effects of hurricanes and severe wind storms. The SC Safe Home Grant Program, operated within the South Carolina Department of Insurance, the same department that oversees the wind mitigation program, provides grant dollars to individual homeowners to make their properties more resistant to hurricane and wind damage. This program has helped more than 1,000 homeowners with grants totaling more than $4,568,000. State-certified inspectors, like those with Alpha Safe Home Inspectors, can help homeowners work through the grant process and ensure that their homes are retrofitted or fortified properly with money provided by the state.
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Sincerely,
"Carolina Joe" Idleman
http://www.charlestonscrealestateforsale.com
