ANOTHER WIND MITIGATION SCAM?

An Opinion By Chip Barone

Published June 7, 2026

My homeowner’s insurance in South Florida went from $3000 to $7500 despite an impact window upgrade. I had new windows installed when I first bought my home four years ago, but the insurance company wanted a wind mitigation report. They documented and took photos of my 1-year-old roof on my 50-year-old house and said all was well with the roof attachment to plate with straps and nailing. After I got new hurricane impact windows and doors I figured I would get a new wind mitigation or four-point inspection to lower my cost. But, much to my surprise, my insurance premium increased. When I asked why my agent said the new report stated there was only two nails in the roof ties, not three and that the new code for homes was three nails. When asked what to do about it, I was quickly referred to a contactor they had been using for this service at a cost of $1500 to $2000 dollars. They would be able to do this from my attic.

Having been in construction for fifty years, I questioned the procedure with the contractor. I was assured that they would third-nail the trusses to the plate and then do a new wind mitigation report and get my insurance reduced.

When I received the contract, I read all the paragraphs and noticed a clause that said that they are only responsible for accessible areas. Despite being very skeptical I scheduled the job. One young man came to my home with a flashlight camera and a drill and was in my attic for about 2 hours. I heard the drill a total of 4 or 5 times and a little banging once in a while. When I got the report, it showed one photo of the rafter with the nailing completed.

Most of the other about twenty rafters had not been touched, no insulation was disturbed and I was not able to comprehend how anyone could get into these tight spaces, even with no AC ducts, let alone all electrical conduit going down the wall and all the junction boxes.

While I appreciate that my insurance premium decreased after getting this “work” done, in my opinion it feels like this is yet another insurance lobbyist scam. The insurance company can recommend a company -- with the possibility of a kickback – and since there is no one really checking that every rafter is secured, they just go by the contractor’s new single photo, yet the roof is still vulnerable in a hurricane and I wonder if the insurance company would actually pay if a hurricane would damage my home? The contractor wouldn’t be liable because of the accessibility clause in the contract.

In some way I’m getting the feeling that I have been ripped off. Did anybody else have a similar experience?