The Florida State Legislature has allocated funds through the My SafeFlorida Home Program to provide Homeowners a Hurricane Mitigation Inspection (“Inspection”) of their home at NO COST and NO OBLIGATION. A Hurricane Mitigation Inspection is a home inspection performed by a Wind Certification Entity (“Inspector”) pursuant to the MSFH Program. Hurricane Mitigation Inspections typically take one (1) hour to perform. An approval for a Hurricane Mitigation Inspection is NOT an approval for a Grant.

These Inspections are designed to describe the presence or absence of Hurricane Resistant Features that have been proven to help a home survive windstorms and are not condition-based inspections. If features of your home are showing signs of age and wear, have them examined by a proper professional who can help you assess their condition and make suggestions.

Eligibility Requirements

Florida Homeowners who meet the following requirements may qualify for a free Inspection:

1. The home must be a single-family, detached residential propertyor a townhouse as defined in section 481.203, Florida Statutes (F.S.);
2. The home must be site-built and owner-occupied; and
3. The Homeowner must have been granted a homestead exemption on the home under chapter 196, F.S.

PLEASE NOTE: Single-family homes that are attached to other units will be treated as Townhouses for the purposes of the MSFH Program.

Properties that are NOT eligible for a free Inspection include:

• Multi-Family Homes (such as apartments, duplexes, and triplexes)
• Condominiums
• Cooperatives
• Retirement Homes
• Mobile Homes & Manufactured Homes
• Second Homes, Vacation Homes,& Rental Properties

PLEASE NOTE: Not all applicants who received an Inspection through the Program will be eligible for a Hurricane Mitigation Grant.

How to Apply

Homeowners may apply by visiting https://mysafeflhome.com/ and clicking the “Apply Now” button.

PLEASE NOTE: For the first sixty (60) days after the Program starts accepting Inspection Applications, Homeowner will be prioritized based on age and income criteria as outlined by the Legislature.

To apply for an Inspection, Homeowners are required to provide the following information:

• First and Last Name
• Valid Email Address
• Home Street Address, City, and Zip Code
• Phone Number

If you would like to check your home type or home stead exemption status, please contact your county Property Appraiser or Tax Collector Office. You can find their information here; https://floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/LocalOfficials.aspx

Initial, Final, and Quality Control Inspections

Initial Inspections

Upon approval of an Inspection Application, the Program will notify the Homeowner via email and provide the name and contact information of the Inspector assigned to inspect the home. An Inspector will contact the Homeowner within seven (7) days to schedule a free Initial Inspection.

The Homeowner should receive an email within fourteen (14) days from the date of the Initial Inspection notifying them that the Initial Inspection Report has been uploaded to the Applicant Portal. To find the Initial Inspection Report, open your case in the Applicant Portal and select the “documents” tab.

Final Inspections

Homeowners must request Final Inspections upon completion of the Mitigation Project before proceeding to the Draw Request stage. The Final Inspection is the concluding Hurricane Mitigation Inspection performed by an Inspector to observe any Improvements that were successfully completed on the home.

Each Homeowner will only have ONE (1) opportunity to request a Final Inspection.

Homeowners should follow the steps listed below closely to request a Final Inspection:

1. Confirm with their Contractor that work on the home is complete.
2. Ensure the permits are closed out and that the local building inspector’s office has completed all required inspections.
3. Return to the Applicant Portal at https://mysafeflhome.com/ and request a Final Inspection for the home.

After a Homeowner has requested a Final Inspection, a Program case manager will alert the Inspector and send a notification email. Inspections will be scheduled based on a queue.

Once the Final Inspection is completed, the Inspector will upload the Final Inspection Report to the Applicant Portal.

Quality Control Inspections

A Quality Control Inspection may be completed to verify the accuracy of Initial or Final Inspections. Quality Control Inspections are not typically provided and are used on a case-by-case basis.

Inspection Reports

Please thoroughly read your MSFH Program Inspection Reports.

Initial Inspection Report

The Initial Inspection Report will indicate which, if any, recommend Improvements are available to a Homeowner to strengthen their home against hurricane damage.

Each Initial Inspection Report will contain the following:

1. Introduction
2. Recommended Improvements
3. Improvement Cost Estimates
4. Summary of Form OIR-B1-1802
5. Attachments
   1. Form OIR-B1-1802 (Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form)
   2. Initial Inspection Photographs and Documents

PLEASE NOTE: Only Improvements recommended by an Inspector in an Initial Inspection Report and observed by an Inspector in a Final Inspection Report will be eligible for funding under the Program. No other construction is eligible for funding.

PLEASE NOTE: Townhouses are only eligible to receive funding for Improvement 1.0 – Opening Protection. Single-family homes that are attached to other units will be treated as Townhouses for the purposes of the MSFH Program.

Recommended Improvements

One of the key goals of the Initial Inspection Report is to recommend specific Improvements a Homeowner can make on their home to mitigate hurricane damage. These types of Improvements may result in wind insurance premium discounts from the Homeowner’s insurer.

The following sample image demonstrates what this summary may look like within the Initial Inspection Report. The recommendations will vary by home and depend on what the Inspector observes; a Homeowner’s Initial Inspection Report may not have all of the recommendations listed on the sample image.

Improvement Cost Estimates

The estimated and rounded prices quoted below include a range of prices based on a typical three (3) bedroom, two (2) bathroom, 1,750 square foot home with 400 square foot garage that is approximately 30 years old. Items below may not be applicable to your Hurricane Mitigation Inspection. This is just a reference guide for typical upgrade repairs on typical houses.

Individual prices from Contractors can vary substantially from these ranges due to availability and inflation. It is recommended that several bids be obtained on any work being considered. DO NOT RELY ON THESE PRICES ONLY AND GET FURTHER ESTIMATES FROM LICENSED PROFESSIONALS.

PLEASE NOTE: Items listed above may not be applicable to a Homeowner’s Initial Inspection Report.This chart is being provided for illustration purposes only.

Sources

Rounded pricing estimates were made possible using Homewyse.com on 11/15/2022. Please use their website to review more specific zip code pricing.Roof-to-Wall Clip Retrofit cost estimate range is provided by Florida Retrofits.

Roofing Material:

https://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_asphalt_shingle_roof.html

https://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_tile_roof.html

https://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_membrane_roofing_system.html

Windows/Doors:

https://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_storm_windows.html

https://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_replacement_windows.html

https://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_replace_garage_door.html

https://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_exterior_door.html

https://www.homewyse.com/costs/cost_of_replacement_sliding_doors.html

https://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_hurricane_shutters.html

https://www.homewyse.com/maintenance_costs/cost_to_boardup_window.html

Summary of Form OIR-B1-1802

This section of the Initial Inspection Report summarizes the current Hurricane Resistant Features of the home. These Features can be found on the Form OIR-B1-1802.

This page is intended to provide an at-a-glance summary of the findings from the Initial Inspection. The Inspector may make recommendations based on their findings after reviewing these features.

Final Inspection Report

The Final Inspection is the concluding Hurricane Mitigation Inspection performed by an Inspector to observe any Improvements that were successfully completed on the home.

Each Final Inspection Report will contain the following:

1. Cover Page
2. Final Inspection Results
3. Attachments
   1. Form OIR-B1-1802 (Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form)
   2. Final Inspection Photographs and Documents

Final Inspection Results

The Inspector will record notes on their observations and report the Improvements that they observed during the Final Inspection. The following sample image demonstrates what this table may look like in the Final Inspection Report. The table will vary by home and depend on what the Inspector observes.