Every June, smart Floridians check the same boxes: batteries, bottled water, gas in the car. But if you’re a homeowner, a real estate agent, or a busy professional with more on your plate this year than last, here’s what most checklists miss:
Is your coverage still built for the life you’re living now?
At Risk Smart Advisors, we don’t just quote policies. We help people protect the lives they’re building — and that means starting with the right questions before the winds even pick up.
Here’s what we want our clients (and their agents) doing now, because waiting until a storm is named is too late.
✅ 1. Recheck Coverage: Because Life Moves Fast
Your lifestyle’s changed. Maybe it’s a new kitchen, a higher income, an expanded portfolio, or just more stuff than last year. And if your policy hasn’t kept up?
You could be underinsured and not even know it.
Let’s review:
- Are your personal property limits still accurate?
- Has your home’s replacement value kept pace with construction costs?
- Do you have wind and flood coverage — and do you know what’s excluded?
- Is your liability protection still aligned with your net worth?
Here’s where it gets serious: flood insurance isn’t just for “flood zones.”
- During Hurricane Ian, over 40% of flood claims came from homes outside high-risk zones.
- Hurricane Helene left tens of billions in damage, much of it in areas where flood insurance was considered “not necessary.”
- Many homeowners don’t carry flood insurance simply because their lender doesn’t require it — but that doesn’t mean their home is immune.
Bottom line: Flooding happens fast and often where people least expect it. We help clients assess their real exposure, not just what the mortgage requires.
Just look at what happened in Broward County. After record-setting rainfall and flash flooding in 2023, FEMA updated local flood maps — and nearly 90,000 properties were reclassified. Many of those homes weren’t previously considered high-risk. Overnight, homeowners found themselves needing flood insurance, whether they were prepared or not.
🛑 2. Know When You Can (and Can’t) Bind Coverage — and Why It Matters
Once a storm is named, most insurers freeze new policies and changes. That can derail real estate deals fast.
But it’s not just about insurance:
- Lenders may tighten requirements
- Inspectors and appraisers get booked or redirected
- Closings stall statewide, even if the storm misses your area
Add in market jitters, construction delays, and price shifts, and you’ve got a perfect storm of uncertainty.
The fix? Get ahead of it. We help clients and agents lock in coverage early, flag binding deadlines, and keep deals moving — even when the radar looks rough.
📸 3. Set Yourself Up to File Claims (Smoothly)
Nobody wants to file a claim. But if you ever have to, your future self will thank you for taking 15 minutes now:
- Snap a quick video walkthrough of your home and valuables
- Upload your policy and ID to a cloud folder
- Double-check your contact info with us and your carrier
- Know your hurricane deductible (it’s usually not the same as your regular one)
We’ll walk you through the claims process if it ever comes to that. But these small steps now = faster, easier results later.
🚗 4. Don’t Forget the Garage (and the Dock)
Your home isn’t the only thing at risk during a storm.
Comprehensive auto coverage is what protects your vehicle from storm-related damage, like falling trees, flooding, or flying debris. Not everyone carries it, and you might be surprised to find it’s missing from your current setup.
Boat or golf cart owner? Policies often include very specific rules about storm prep: how your watercraft is stored, whether it’s trailered or docked, and if it’s secured in a covered structure. If those conditions aren’t met, you could be left uncovered.
We’re happy to walk through the fine print with you. These are the kinds of details that don’t matter… until they really, really do.
🤝 Our Take: Be a Smart Floridian. Don’t Panic. Plan Smart.
Hurricane season is predictable. But your life isn’t. Your needs, assets, and risks change — and your insurance should reflect that.
That’s why we don’t do cookie-cutter. We do clarity. We ask better questions. And we keep your protection growing right alongside you.
📞 Ready to review your coverage or help a client do the same? Let’s talk before the storm gets a name.