> Florida has astronomical home insurance rates due to hurricanes.
That puzzles me because people have figured out how to build hurricane proof homes there, and it's neither hard nor expensive.
That puzzles me because people have figured out how to build hurricane proof homes there, and it's neither hard nor expensive.
There's no such thing as a disaster proof home, but disaster resistant is very doable and can substantially reduce your insurance premiums.
Just like if you live in a fire hazard area, it's cheaper to spend a few bucks clearing the vegetation away from your house, investing in a metal roof, etc. When my asphalt roof wore out, I had it replaced with a metal one. Very happy with it.
If you choose to live on a flood zone, either put your house on stilts, or on a mound, or accept that it's going to get flooded. My dad lived in the midwest, and consulted flood maps when looking for a house. Never got flooded. Washington is subject to earthquakes, and I hired a soil geologist to screen the property for slide risk.
If a large tree is close to your house on the windward side, hire an arborist to trim back the "sail" on it, or just have it removed.
Wow! I've been through two (tornado, and a windstorm that took out the power for 2 weeks).
> it absolutely sucks when everything else gets trashed.
True, but insurance won't help with that. At least you have a clean place to sleep.