Most inspections in Largo take between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the home's size and attic accessibility.

Many homes in Florida qualify for insurance discounts, but savings vary depending on the home's construction features and your insurance carrier.

Usually, yes. Attic access allows us to inspect important wind mitigation features such as roof-to-wall connections (hurricane clips, straps, or wraps) and roof deck attachment, both of which can affect your eligibility for insurance discounts.

However, if your home does not have attic access, there may still be other ways to document these features.

Depending on the home, we may be able to:

• Inspect the roof-to-wall connection by removing a small section of soffit (with the homeowner's permission).

• Access an unfinished garage where the roof framing and roof-to-wall connections are visible.

• Use documentation from a recent roof replacement if the roofing contractor took clear in-progress photos showing the roof-to-wall connections before the roof was completed.

If documentation is used instead of a physical inspection, insurance companies typically require supporting evidence such as:

• Building permits

• Final permit approval (if available)

• Contractor documentation

• Clear in-progress construction photos showing the roof-to-wall connections

In some cases, we've also seen insurance companies accept original building plans or engineering drawings that clearly show the home was constructed with qualifying roof-to-wall connections. While acceptance varies by insurance carrier and isn't guaranteed, it can be another option when the roof framing isn't accessible.

You May Still Qualify for Other Wind Mitigation Credits

Even if there's no way to verify the roof-to-wall connections, that doesn't automatically mean you won't receive any Wind Mitigation credits.

Your home may still qualify for discounts based on other wind-resistant features, including:

• Roof covering that complies with the Florida Building Code

• Roof geometry, such as a qualifying hip roof

• Secondary Water Resistance (SWR) beneath the roof covering

• Opening Protection, including impact-rated windows, doors, skylights, or approved hurricane shutters

• Roof deck attachment, if it can be documented

In fact, many homes in Florida now have roofs that meet the current Florida Building Code because they were replaced after more recent code requirements took effect. Even if one credit can't be verified, there may still be several others available that could help reduce your homeowners insurance premium.

Our inspectors have been performing Wind Mitigation Inspections since 2007 and understand the different ways qualifying features can be documented. If your home has limited attic access, we'll help determine the best available method to maximize the credits your home may qualify for.

If available, yes. Roof permits and supporting documentation are often required for your insurance company to give credit for the Roof Covering portion of a Wind Mitigation Inspection.

As of the 2026 updates to Florida's Wind Mitigation requirements, insurance companies generally require documentation showing that the roof complies with the applicable Florida Building Code or Florida Building Code equivalent. This is typically verified through permit records and final approval documentation.

If your roof was replaced without permits or there is no documentation available, your insurance company may not award the Roof Covering credit—even if the roof is relatively new.

However, that does not mean you won't qualify for other Wind Mitigation credits.

Your home may still receive credits for qualifying features such as:

• Roof geometry (Hip Roof)

• Roof-to-wall connections (Hurricane Clips, Straps, or Wraps)

• Roof deck attachment

• Secondary Water Resistance (SWR)

• Opening Protection (Impact Windows, Doors, Garage Doors, or Approved Hurricane Shutters)

Each feature is evaluated independently, so not qualifying for one credit doesn't automatically prevent you from receiving others.

One of the best pieces of advice we can give homeowners is this: Always pull a permit when replacing your roof.

Even if you're using a trusted roofing contractor—or doing the work yourself where permitted—a properly permitted roof provides valuable documentation for future insurance inspections. It also helps when selling your home and can reduce the likelihood of insurance companies requesting additional inspections or questioning the roof's installation history years later.