Melissa bought her home in 2016. She was ecstatic, not only because she could provide a safe home for her daughter but also because she had something she could leave behind someday.
“I was letting my daughter know that you don’t always have to rent. I was showing her that you can work hard and own a home in your lifetime,” Melissa said. “Not only can you do that, but the sky’s the limit. You can get whatever you want in life if you put your mind to it.”
Once she was in her home, Melissa mainly focused on working and getting her daughter through high school and later into college.
See if you qualify for free inspections: HabitatOrlando.org/Inspects
But then she found out that she was paying nearly $5,000 a year for her insurance premiums, which was putting a huge strain on her.
Habitat Orlando & Osceola helped her apply for its Habitat Inspects service. She qualified for a free wind mitigation inspection, which examines your home’s resistance to wind and hurricane damage and identifies potential issues. After an inspection, you may receive a premium discount on your home insurance. In the first year of this service, participants saw an average of $900 in annual savings on their home insurance.
Once the wind mitigation inspection was completed, she worked with Habitat Orlando & Osceola staff to find a more affordable home insurance policy to fit her needs. She now pays about $1,700 a year — a $3,300 annual savings compared to what she was paying before.
Habitat Orlando & Osceola can offer free wind mitigation and four-point inspections thanks to a grant from Universal Orlando Foundation with support from Wesco and Duke Energy. “I really appreciate them so much because they are helping us preserve our homes,” she said.
Melissa feels more secure in her home than ever before.
Get your roof and home inspected on us and be prepared for storms!
Qualified applicants receive a free voucher for a wind mitigation inspection ($150 value) and/or 4-point inspection ($100 value). Homeowners saw a $900 average annual savings on their home insurance through our program over the first year! Read about the types of inspections and program criteria below. If you think you qualify, please apply today, as spots are limited! HabitatOrlando.org/Inspects