The South Florida Hurricane Season Home Checklist

Storm season rewards homeowners who plan in the spring. Once a named storm enters the forecast cone, availability disappears and prices climb. Here is the sequence we recommend to homeowners across Weston, Davie and Southwest Ranches.

Start on the roof. Have a licensed roofer inspect flashing, ridge caps, sealant at penetrations and any lifted barrel tile. Most storm damage begins as a small existing defect. Ask for photographs rather than a verbal report.

Move to openings. Confirm that every impact window and slider latches fully, that shutter hardware is present and labeled by opening, and that garage door bracing is intact. The garage door is the single most common structural failure point in a South Florida home.

Then handle the canopy. An ISA-certified arborist should thin, not top, mature trees and clear limbs within ten feet of the roof line. Topping weakens a tree and makes it more likely to fail.

Finally, clear drainage: gutters, downspouts, swale grades and pool deck drains. Standing water after a storm causes more insurance claims in this area than wind does. Book these five inspections before June and you will spend the season watching the forecast instead of chasing a callback.