Florida Home Inspection Program At 25% Of Goal

Officials announced yesterday that, after becoming statewide five months ago, Florida's free wind inspection program to help strengthen homes is at 25 percent of its enrollment goal.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said more than 103,000 Florida homeowners have signed up for inspections through the My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program, signifying the program has reached a quarter of its long-term goal of 400,000 free wind inspections in the next two years.

"Thousands of Florida homeowners are learning how to harden and protect their homes from hurricane damage," said Ms. Sink, who runs the Department of Financial Services and oversees the MSFH program.

"We are able to help thousands more Floridians in the next two years. I encourage every eligible Florida homeowner to sign up to receive a free wind inspection from the My Safe Florida Home program," she said.

Any Florida resident who lives in a single-family, site-built home is eligible for a free wind inspection through the MSFH program, which helps Floridians identify how they can strengthen their homes and reduces the overall potential for hurricane damage in the state, Ms. Sink said.

Floridians can apply online at HYPERLINK "http://www.mysafefloridahome.com/" t "_blank"www.MySafeFloridaHome.com or by calling the program toll-free at 1-866-513-6734.

Homeowners who receive free wind inspections through the MSFH program will receive a detailed inspection report, complete with additional information on estimated insurance premium discounts, if the homeowner is eligible.

Ms. Sink's announcement noted that some Florida homeowners receiving a free wind inspection may also be eligible for a matching grant reimbursement of up to $5,000 to make recommended improvements.

To be eligible, the Legislature requires that homeowners: have received a completed wind inspection after May 1, 2007; live in a single-family, site-built home built before March 1, 2002; have a valid homestead exemption; have an insured value of $300,000 or less; and be located in the wind-borne debris region.

It was explained that the free wind inspections will still cover seven potential wind-resistance improvements, and matching grants may only be applied to opening protections, including windows, exterior doors and garage doors, as well as the bracing of gable ends.

The inspection program expanded statewide this spring after a pilot program the previous year.

So far the state has performed more than 72,000 free wind inspections since April 23, 2007, for a total of 86,969 inspections since the program started. Since the program streamlined its services and re-launched in April 2007, the helpline staff has been increased, the wait time for an inspection has been reduced, and hundreds of program inspectors and contractors have been recruited.

The department said approximately 8,700 homeowners statewide have been approved to receive matching grants from the MSFH program upon completion of their recommended improvements. Statewide, the program has issued nearly $2.8 million in grants to 890 homeowners who have completed the improvements recommended in their MSFH inspection reports.