My Safe Florida Home program is slow out of the gate
By CHARY SOUTHMAYD
Article published on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007
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| Photo by CHARY SOUTHMAYD |
| Noreen Hodges of Pinellas Park is concerned about hurricane-wind vulnerability of her home’s older windows. |
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PINELLAS COUNTY – When Noreen Hodges heard from a colleague at St. Petersburg College back in August that she could get a free home inspection from the state aimed at making her Pinellas Park home more hurricane-proof, she jumped on the idea.
Concerned about the age of her home, built in 1974, and its roll-open windows, Hodges promptly applied online to My Safe Florida Home.
The My Safe Florida Home program, officially known as the Florida Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program, is a home inspection and matching grant program administered by the Florida Department of Financial Services.
The state Legislature last year approved $250 million for the three-year pilot program.
According to the department’s Web site, the intent of the program is “to help Floridians identify how they can strengthen their homes against hurricanes and to reduce hurricane damage exposure.”
Ideally, that would also result in a reduction in skyrocketing homeowners insurance costs.
The department emphasizes that this is not an entitlement program. Homeowners must apply and be approved for the free home inspection. Eligibility requires primary residence in a single-family home or unit in a residential building of up to four units with a valid homestead exemption and an insured value of $500,000 or less. All unit owners in a residential building must agree to participate. Not eligible are mobile homes, manufactured homes, second homes, rental properties, apartments, condominiums and businesses.
The application forms can be downloaded from the department Web site, filled out and returned, along with a copy of their homeowners insurance policy declarations page.
Of more than 13,000 free home inspections done in 17 counties during the pilot phase August through November of last year, 1,062 inspections were conducted in Pinellas County, according to Jeff Takacs, public information officer for the state Department of Financial Services. More than 6,000 applications were received from Pinellas County as of Jan. 3, Takacs said.
“Once the pilot phase was completed we decided to take a step back and evaluate the program,” Takacs said. “We are still in that mode, but we are still taking applications in the meantime.”
Once a homeowner’s application is approved, they will be contacted by a state-approved inspector who will conduct the inspection. In the ensuing report, the home will be rated for hurricane resistance. The report will suggest ways of strengthening the home against hurricane wind damage, estimate how much it will cost and how much the homeowner can expect to save on insurance if they make the recommended changes.
“Of course, they should check with their insurance carrier prior to getting the work done,” said Takacs. “It’s a safe practice to make sure they will get a discount before having the work done.”
Takacs said most insurance carriers provide a range of savings that could be realized. The state would like the companies to be more specific, as well as allowing for greater savings, he said.
The inspection report will indicate if the homeowner is eligible for a matching grant of up to $5,000. If eligible, they can then apply. The actual check would be cut when the work is completed. Low-income homeowners are eligible for grants with no match required.
The program has not been without frustrating glitches in its pilot phase.
Two months after her hassle-free, 45-minute home inspection was done, Hodges still has not received her report. That surprises and concerns her.
“I expect we will need something done. I hope it’s nothing major,” she said. “It would be nice to get it so we can start making plans with a contractor. It’s hard to get those guys.”
With the start of hurricane season less than five months away, Takacs understands a homeowner’s sense of urgency to implement the necessary safeguards. Admittedly, there have been challenges in getting the reports mailed out in a timely fashion.
“It does take some time. There is a lot involved, technologically speaking. We are still getting the kinks out,” Takacs said. “This is the first program of its kind in the nation. People should apply as soon as possible and get in line now.”
Information can be obtained at www.mysafefloridahome.com or by calling 1-800-342-2762.
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Article published on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007
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