South Florida is home to a thriving population of historic preservation enthusiasts. By and large, most of the homes and buildings that have been bought up in the last few years have been completely renovated. However, sometimes the people who are renovating and then selling these homes – in other words flipping them – have […]
Tips to Avoid Home Repair Scams in Florida
When the hurricane is gone, you can be forgiven for thinking that the worst might be over. You have your homeowner’s insurance policy and you have your flood insurance policy. You are a conscientious homeowner who has taken pains to make sure that you are covered for any eventuality. What could possibly go wrong? The […]
In-Law-Suite Not So Sweet
Q: My in-laws moved out last summer to an assisted living facility. After they were gone, we renovated their two-bedroom apartment/in-law suite. Sometimes we rent it out on Airbnb since we live in a resort area. However, this past spring we let my nephew and some friends come down for spring break. Long story short, […]
Rough Storm Ahead for South Florida Homeowners
Since 2012, insurers are dealing with the unintended consequences of a move that was supposed to be a benefit to homeowners. Assignment of benefits was supposed to allow homeowners, renters, and landlords get their damaged properties fixed quickly and back to normal after a flood, accident, or other event. Instead, thanks to a few contractors […]
A Hurricane Preparedness Resource List
We’ve been lucky so far. A major hurricane hasn’t hit us in years, but that doesn’t mean it will not come around this year. Florida’s population has grown massively and many new residents have no idea how to prepare. Let’s start with the basics. Tropical Storm vs. Hurricane: A tropical storm shows the same cyclonic […]
Why a Homeowner’s Policy May Not Cover an Airbnb Rental?
Q: I have been thinking about joining Airbnb as a host and would be renting out a Granny suite in my home. When I talked about it with some friends, they said I shouldn’t do it because it would invalidate my homeowner’s policy. Is this true and is there something I can do about it? […]
Is Your Florida Pool Safe?
In 2002, a little girl died before her mother’s eyes in a horrible and preventable accident. Virginia Graeme Baker died as a result of what is called “suction entrapment” in a family friend’s hot tub, held to the bottom by 700 pounds of suction from a drain. Fifteen years later, after a fair bit of […]
Is Mold Damage Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
Mold is a big problem wherever you have a humid climate, and since we Floridians are surrounded on all three sides by water, occasionally have massive amounts of rainfall, and even tidal flooding with regular high tides, we have the perfect climate for mold to take root. Insurance companies have paid out millions in settlements, […]
Higher Insurance Rates and Taxes? Thank AOB
Looking at the Florida economy, you think everything looks sunshiny in the Sunshine State. However there are problems lurking in our economy that are going unaddressed. One of them is about to put a dent in your wallet. We have written previously about Assignment of Benefits and the abuses that bad actors are using to […]
Flipped House Hazard: How Much of a Problem is Polybutylene Plumbing?
House flipping was popular before the last recession, and this year is approaching pre-recession highs. However, while that “completely remodeled” house might look terrific and hit all of your I-Wanna spots, there can be hidden hazards that a simple inspection might not cover or detect. We’ve talked previously about buyers needing to beware of certain […]