Did you know?
Insurance carriers shut down binding of new policies when a hurricane or named storm comes within a certain geographical distance to the state of Florida.
Insider tip!
Typically, if a seller already has a FEMA flood policy, it can be transferred into the buyer’s name within 3-4 business days!
Help your clients close faster.
Selling a home and helping someone get their mortgage all wrapped up are both long and time-consuming processes. So many things can go wrong at the last minute with unexpected issues and problems. Especially as we begin hurricane season, don’t let home insurance be one of them! Here are a few things to keep in mind so your client does not struggle at the last second trying to find a home insurance policy.
First of all, many carriers want a roof that is less than 20 years old. Insurance carrier options go down significantly for the home buyer when the roof is over 20 years of age. Second, coastal properties are usually written “ex-wind” which means the buyer needs to purchase a separate wind policy and will most likely need a flood policy as well. In addition, for homes in higher-risk flood zones, the buyer will need an elevation survey in order to secure flood insurance.
Next, homes 40 years old or older typically require a 4 point inspection to be eligible for home insurance. The reason a 4 point is required is to show the insurance carrier that the roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical are all in good working order.
Now you know and you can inform your buyer they will need a little more time to secure insurance for older homes and coastal properties due to the likelihood of needing a flood elevation survey and eligibility inspections. If you don’t inform them at the beginning, it may cause problems as the closing dates approach.
Many times these above-mentioned factors are a surprise to a buyer and they are then scrambling to secure the necessary insurance policies at the last minute. Being prepared and informed will help you and your buyer closes faster!
