Quick Answer: A wind mitigation inspection in Tallahassee documents storm-resistant features of your home on Florida's standard OIR-B1-1802 form. Most cost $75 to $150 in our area, take 30 to 60 minutes on-site, and save Tallahassee homeowners $300 to $2,500+ per year on homeowners insurance. Florida law requires insurers to apply the discounts when you submit a passing form.
If you're paying full freight on homeowners insurance in Tallahassee and you've never had a wind mitigation inspection, you're almost certainly leaving money on the table. After running thousands of these across Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden, and Jefferson counties since 2016, I can tell you most homeowners qualify for at least some discount, and many qualify for several. A wind mitigation inspection in Tallahassee is the single highest-ROI inspection most homeowners ever order. The savings often pay for the inspection in the first month.
It's a focused inspection that documents specific wind-resistant features required for premium discounts under Florida law. The result is a completed OIR-B1-1802 form (the standard wind mitigation form), which your insurer is required to use to apply applicable credits. The features are physical, factual things on your home, not opinions. Either you have them or you don't.
The OIR-B1-1802 form has 7 sections. Here's what each one looks at and what helps or hurts your premium.
1. Building Code
When was your home built or roof installed? Florida changed building codes after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and again with the 2002 Florida Building Code. Newer homes (2002+) usually qualify for stronger discounts.
2. Roof Covering
What's on the roof, and does it meet current code? Asphalt shingles installed under FBC 2001 or later usually pass. Metal and tile roofs over rated underlayment also qualify.
3. Roof Deck Attachment
How is the plywood or OSB attached to the trusses? Nails are good. Bigger nails closer together are better. Staples are bad and rarely qualify for any discount.
4. Roof to Wall Attachment
How is the roof tied to the walls? Toe nails (worst), clips, single wraps, or double wraps (best). This single item can swing your premium by hundreds of dollars per year.
5. Roof Geometry
Hip (slopes on all 4 sides) wins over gable. A hip roof shape gives a meaningful discount because it sheds wind better.
6. Secondary Water Resistance (SWR)
Is there a peel-and-stick membrane or self-adhered underlayment under the shingles? Most roofs in Tallahassee don't have it, but it qualifies for a solid discount when present.
7. Opening Protection
Are windows, doors, garage doors, and skylights protected by impact-rated glass or hurricane shutters? Full coverage qualifies for the highest discount tier.
This varies by carrier, home, and current premium. From the homes I've inspected, typical Tallahassee savings look like this:
I've personally inspected homes in Bradfordville, Killearn, Southwood, and Centerville where the wind mitigation form cut premiums by more than $2,000 per year. On a $150 inspection.
Time it right and you stack savings:
Florida insurers must apply credits for the features documented on the form. They cannot pick and choose. But they can adjust their base rates, so the percentage discount varies by carrier. The dollar savings tend to track roughly the same.
Some carriers also require photos with very specific angles and labeling. I shoot every inspection assuming the strictest underwriter is going to review it. Saves headaches later.
Three things hurt homeowners most:
1. Stale forms. Your last wind mit form was from 2017? It might still be valid, but it almost certainly missed an upgrade you've made since. Get a fresh one.
2. Re-roofs without a new wind mit. You spent $15,000 on a new roof and never had a new form filed. You're paying old-roof premiums on a new roof.
3. Garage doors. A non-rated garage door blocks the highest discount tier. Many homeowners don't realize their garage door is the bottleneck. A rated replacement often pays for itself in a year or two of insurance savings.
Most wind mitigation inspections take 30 to 60 minutes. I'm in the attic checking deck attachment and roof-to-wall connections, on the roof verifying covering and shape, and around the home photographing windows, doors, and garage. The form is filed within 24 hours. Your insurer applies the discount on your next bill or refund check.
These two often get confused.
You'd order both for the same home. The 4-point gets you covered. The wind mit makes the coverage cheaper.
Tallahassee homes have specific patterns. 1980s and 1990s homes in Killearn often have clips but gable roofs. Newer Bradfordville and Southwood builds often have wraps and SWR. Older Betton and Lafayette homes tend to need toe nails documented carefully because they're the lowest tier. Knowing the patterns means I get to the right photos faster and I don't miss credit-qualifying features that aren't always obvious.
How much does a wind mitigation inspection cost in Tallahassee? Most run $75 to $150. Bundling with a 4-point or full inspection often drops the combined cost.
How much can I save on insurance with a wind mit? Tallahassee homeowners typically save $300 to $2,500 per year, depending on home age, roof, and protection level.
How long is the wind mit form valid? Up to 5 years for most Florida insurers, sometimes longer. Renew sooner if you've replaced the roof, windows, or garage door.
Will my insurer accept any wind mit form? They must accept any form filled out by a qualified inspector. The OIR-B1-1802 is the standard form.
Can I get a wind mit on a brand new home? Yes, and you should. New construction usually qualifies for the strongest discounts because it was built to current code.
Do you serve Wakulla, Gadsden, Jefferson, and Taylor counties? Yes. ACL Home Inspections covers Tallahassee, Crawfordville, Quincy, Havana, Monticello, Perry, and the surrounding North Florida and Southwest Georgia area.
If you've never had a wind mit done, or yours is more than 5 years old, the savings are usually big enough to pay for the inspection many times over. Call or text ACL Home Inspections at 850-312-8919 or email Joel@ACLTally.com. We file the OIR-B1-1802 within 24 hours and your insurer takes it from there.
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Certified Master Inspector with InterNACHI & FABI. CCPIA Certified Commercial Property Inspector. Honored by the Board of Realtors.