Hurricane season started on June 1, and it runs until November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center. Plenty of homes sell on the beach during those months, but a storm in the forecast can complicate a listing or a closing. With a little preparation, you can protect your home, your buyer’s financing and your timeline.
Get your paperwork ready before you list
- Wind mitigation report. Florida insurers must offer discounts for verified wind-resistant features under section 627.0629 of the Florida Statutes, and those features are documented on the state’s uniform mitigation verification inspection form (OIR-B1-1802). The Florida Department of Financial Services says a completed form can be used for up to five years unless the home changes. A recent report helps your buyer get insurance quotes quickly.
- Roof and systems. Gather the roof permit or replacement date, air conditioning and water heater ages, and permits for any past work. Insurers often ask about these before they’ll write a policy.
- Flood disclosure. Florida requires sellers of residential property to give buyers a flood disclosure at or before the contract is signed (section 689.302). Have your answers ready, along with an elevation certificate if you have one.
- Photos. Take dated photos and video of the whole property before you list. They help if you ever need to show the condition before a storm.
If a storm threatens while you’re on the market
- Secure the home first. Follow your association’s shutter rules, bring in balcony furniture, and protect the property as you normally would. Your safety comes before any showing.
- Pause showings if needed. Your agent can move showings and open houses, and let buyers’ agents know.
- Check your evacuation zone on Pinellas County’s Know Your Zone map and follow official orders.
If you’re under contract
Two things matter most when a storm approaches during a contract. First, insurers can stop writing new policies in an area while a storm threatens, which can hold up your buyer’s insurance and, with it, the loan and the closing date. Second, most Florida purchase contracts say what happens if the property is damaged before closing. Read that clause with your agent before you list, so you know your options.
Keep your buyer informed, document the property’s condition after the storm passes, and be ready for a re-inspection. Lenders often want confirmation that the home wasn’t damaged before they fund.
After the storm
- Inspect and photograph the home as soon as it’s safe, and compare with your earlier photos.
- Report any damage to your insurer promptly and keep receipts for emergency repairs.
- Update your disclosures if anything has changed, and talk to your agent about timing.
Help your buyer’s insurance along
In our experience, insurance is the step that most often slows a summer closing. You can help by sharing the wind mitigation report, the roof permit and a recent four-point inspection if you have one, as soon as you have a signed contract. For a condo, ask the association for its master policy declarations page early, because the buyer’s lender and insurer will want it. The sooner the buyer’s agent has these, the sooner quotes come back.
Questions buyers ask in hurricane season
- How old is the roof, and is there a wind mitigation report?
- What flood zone is the home in, and has it ever flooded?
- Were there any insurance claims, and what was repaired?
- Does the home have impact windows, shutters or storm panels?
- For condos: what is the association’s insurance, and how were past storm repairs paid for?
Having clear, honest answers ready, with documents to back them up, helps buyers get insurance quotes quickly and keeps the deal moving. If you don’t know an answer, say so and point the buyer to the record, such as the county’s flood zone map or the association’s minutes, rather than guessing.
Is summer a bad time to sell?
Not necessarily. Our five-year look at closings by month shows sales close throughout the year, with May and June among the busier months. Good preparation is what makes the difference. Our guide to selling costs and summer close-up checklist are useful too.
Please note: Laws, tax rules and insurance terms change, so check the details for your situation with a licensed professional, such as a Florida real estate attorney, insurance agent or tax adviser, before you act.
For more on storms, see our hurricane season guide and Flood Zones 101. Ready to talk about your home? Try our home value estimator or contact us.
Sources
- National Hurricane Center, Atlantic hurricane season dates.
- Florida Statutes, section 627.0629, wind mitigation discounts, and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation wind mitigation resources.
- Florida Department of Financial Services, mitigation inspections and forms.
- Florida Statutes, section 689.302, flood disclosure.
- Pinellas County Know Your Zone.