What wind mitigation inspections cover
Wind mitigation inspections document seven specific construction features that affect a home's hurricane resistance. The standard Florida form (OIR-B1-1802) covers:
- Building code year — newer construction earns discounts.
- Roof covering — material, attachment standard, age.
- Roof deck attachment — nail size, spacing, plywood thickness.
- Roof-to-wall attachment — clips, single wraps, double wraps.
- Roof shape — hip vs gable. Hip earns the most discount.
- Secondary water resistance — additional roof underlayment.
- Opening protection — impact glass, hurricane shutters, garage door rating.
The completed form goes to the homeowner's insurance carrier for premium adjustment. Properly documented mitigations save $500-$3,000+ per year — a real ROI for homeowners that motivates them to book.
The market — when and where demand spikes
Demand patterns:
- April-June — pre-hurricane-season rush. Homeowners want documents in hand before peak hurricane months.
- Policy renewal cycles — homeowners trigger inspections when their renewal quote shows higher premiums.
- After hurricanes — following any major storm, demand spikes as homeowners re-evaluate coverage.
- New homeowners — buyers in older homes ordering wind mit alongside 4-point at policy inception.
Geographic concentration is highest in Florida, with growing volume in coastal Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of Texas.
Marketing wind mitigation
Channels that work:
- Insurance agent referrals — agents push wind mit to clients who could save on premiums. The single highest-leverage channel.
- Local search + GBP — "wind mitigation inspector [city]" converts well; volume is high in Florida markets.
- Bundled marketing with 4-point — most Florida homeowners need both. Promoting them together captures more bookings.
- Content addressing the discount math — "How much will a wind mitigation inspection save me on homeowners insurance?" ranks well and converts.
- Pre-season campaigns (March-April) — paid ads timed to the demand spike outperform year-round budget allocation.
Pricing wind mitigation inspections
Typical pricing:
- Standalone wind mit — $75-$200 depending on market and home complexity.
- Wind mit + 4-point bundle — $150-$250.
- Wind mit added to general inspection — $75-$125 add-on.
- Reinspection (after roof or shutters upgrade) — $50-$100.
Pricing tip: homeowners often try to negotiate based on their insurance savings. A common script: "The inspection costs $150; if you qualify for the average discount, that pays for itself in 2-3 months and saves you the rest of the year."
Operational notes
Wind mit inspections are fast and templated:
- Typical on-site time: 30-45 minutes for a standard single-family home.
- Reports are templated to the OIR-B1-1802 form (or state equivalent) with photos for each section.
- Photos are non-negotiable — underwriters reject reports without proof.
- Same-day or 24-hour report delivery is standard. Slower than that loses work to faster competitors.
- Some carriers require reports submitted via specific portals (My Safe Florida Home, etc.) — know which.