Preparing Your Home For Hurricane Season

The 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season is well underway, and the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is predicting another above-average hurricane season. With peak season fast approaching, Verity Group is here to help you prepare your home for storm season. 

FAQ: Can A Hurricane Affect My Closing?

The short answer is YES! Because of this, if a storm is approaching, it is always a smart idea to find your insurance policy and bind (pay) the policy in advance of the closing, not two days before. Let’s use a scenario: you are planning to close on Friday, just in time to move in over the weekend. Two days before the closing you get quotes from different insurance companies for a homeowners insurance policy. A storm starts and forecasters are predicting it will hit Virginia at some point. Most insurance companies will stop binding policies for an indefinite time until the storm passes, which means you will be unable to get homeowner's insurance in time for closing on your new home. It doesn't stop there though! If you are unable to obtain homeowners insurance, most mortgage lenders will not fund your loan. You are now at risk of being stuck in a hotel room for the weekend until the insurance company is able to resume binding policies.

If you think this won't happen to you, think again! This is a likely scenario in Virginia during the months of May through October, but highly likely in August and September. This is why you work with experienced and knowledgeable Realtors, like the Verity Group, who are committed to helping their clients protect their assets and buying power throughout the entire closing process.

During an active hurricane season, it is possible for a buyer to lose their perfect home or the seller to lose the sale of their home because the buyer didn't bind their homeowner's insurance soon enough. Delaying a closing can cause hardship and issues for buyers and sellers, even under the best of circumstances. 

To prevent hardships, delayed closing and other issues, a knowledgeable real estate agent will advise their buyer to lock in their insurance and obtain an insurance binder as soon as possible, and before the closing day. Don’t delay, bind right away! 

Tips from the Home Inspector:

What better way to know how to prepare your home for storm season than tips from a home inspector? We chatted with our preferred home inspector, John Wait of Arch Property Services of Virginia to see what he had to say about preparing your home for hurricane season in Hampton Roads. Here's what he had to say: 

Now that the height of hurricane season is upon us, here are a few tips to prepare your home for a hurricane: 

• Clean your gutters and check downspout drains, areaway drains and yard drains.  If your downspouts are discharging directly next to your foundation try to extend them (even if this is temporary).  Routing water away from your home can reduce the risk of crawlspace/home flooding.
• Secure yard items or relocate them indoors to prevent damage from high winds.  Items such as lawn furniture, grills, and bird feeders can become airborne and can cause damage to your home.  
• Know the location of main water, power, and fuel shutoffs. In an emergency, you might not have power (light) to locate these items.  Knowing ahead of time could save valuable time.
• Trim back trees and bushes away from the home/roof to prevent damage when wind gusts peak.  If utility lines are at risk due to vegetation/trees, contact your utility company to have them trimmed.  Additionally, if there are dead trees that put your home at risk, consider having them removed before the storm.