Bridges Insurance
Home Insurance
What Every Florida Homeowner Should Know
Florida’s climate presents unique challenges for homeowners. With the constant risk of hurricanes, windstorms, and flooding, having the right home insurance is essential—not just for compliance with mortgage requirements, but for protecting your home, personal belongings, and financial well-being.
Understanding your coverage is especially important in a high-risk state like Florida. Policies should reflect the specific exposures in your area, including storm damage, rising construction costs, and regional coverage limitations.
What Florida Home Insurance Typically Covers
A standard homeowners policy offers several layers of protection, including:
- Dwelling Coverage: Protects the structure of your home from damage caused by disasters like fire, windstorms, or vandalism.
- Personal Property Coverage: Covers damage or loss to your personal belongings, such as furniture, electronics, and clothing.
- Liability Coverage: Protects you if someone is injured on your property and decides to sue for damages.
- Loss of Use Coverage: Pays for additional living expenses if your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event.
Important: Standard homeowners insurance usually does not cover flood damage. According to FEMA, 40% of all flood claims come from properties outside high-risk flood zones—making flood insurance a smart add-on for most Florida homes.
Factors That Influence Florida Home Insurance Rates
Florida consistently ranks among the most expensive states for homeowners insurance due to several statewide trends:
Your individual premium is also shaped by home-specific factors, including:
- Location (coastal vs. inland)
- Age and construction type of the home
- Roof condition
- Claims history
Shopping around is key. An independent agency like Bridges Insurance can compare policies from multiple carriers and explain how coverage limits, deductibles, and policy features impact both your protection and your premium.
Choosing the Right Coverage for Your Property
Your home insurance policy should be tailored to your unique situation. A newly built inland home will have different needs than a 30-year-old coastal property, and rental homes require different protections than primary residences.
If you own a rental property, standard homeowners insurance won’t cover tenant-related risks. You’ll need a landlord policy designed to handle tenant-caused damage, rental income loss, and additional liability exposure. At the same time, homeowners in older neighborhoods may need ordinance or law coverage to comply with modern building codes after a loss.
Wind Mitigation and Four-Point Inspections
Florida insurers often require additional inspections for older homes or homes in hurricane-prone areas to help assess risk, verify the condition of major systems, and ensure the property meets underwriting standards. These inspections help prevent unexpected claims and ensure that homes have the structural integrity to withstand storms, aging infrastructure, and other common hazards.
- Evaluates structural features that help the home withstand hurricane-force winds.
- Common features include hurricane straps, roof shape, impact-resistant windows, and opening protections.
- Can reduce premiums if hurricane-resistant upgrades are present.
- Recommended every five years or after major renovations.
- Valid for five years from the inspection date.
- Typically required for homes over 30 years old or when obtaining a new policy.
- Covers four major systems: Roof, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC.
- Ensures the home is in good working order and identifies potential risks.
- Valid for one year from completion date.
Common issues that often require repair:
- Corroded supply lines or valves: Can leak and cause water damage.
- Rubber supply lines: Should be replaced with braided stainless steel for durability.
- Missing drain pan under water heater: Helps prevent damage if the tank leaks.
- Galvanized plumbing: Prone to corrosion and leaks; many carriers decline entirely.
- Cloth wiring: Needs to be replaced due to fire risk.
- Double-tapped breakers: Unsafe wiring practice that can overload circuits.
Addressing these issues proactively can help homeowners maintain eligibility, prevent claims denials, and even improve premiums. Scheduling inspections before obtaining quotes or before hurricane season is highly recommended.
Get a Home Insurance Quote in Florida
At Bridges Insurance Agency, we help Florida homeowners protect what matters most. Our experienced, Tallahassee-based team will walk you through your options, explain what’s covered, and shop multiple top-rated carriers on your behalf to find the right fit for your needs and budget.
Give us a call at (850) 354-8900 or contact us online to get started. We’re here to simplify the process and make sure you’re prepared—no matter what Florida weather brings.