I have lived in Miami my whole life. I’ve been dealing with hurricanes and tropical storm warnings since I was born. And never in my life when I was growing up did we have hurricane shutters for the houses I lived in. We’d just sit back and hold tight when a storm was coming and hope for the best. It just wasn’t something we worried about. But since Hurricane Andrew came through and tore apart the city, people have put much more of a priority on getting storm protection for their homes.
These days, it seems that if you don’t have hurricane shutters or impact windows and doors for your house, you are from a different planet! People take them so seriously when buying a house, it has truly changed the playing field. I see it every day in this business, and here is my advice to you. If you have been on the fence about putting impact windows and doors in your house, I say it is well worth the cost. It is a very expensive undertaking, but I believe you will see the return on your investment when you go to sell. It puts a house so far above the others when you have impact windows, and it also helps eliminate door and window issues that so often come up on inspections. I also think it gives off the perception that your house is much more “finished” than others, making buyers feel more compelled to buy it.
If impact windows are simply out of your budget, then definitely consider investing in hurricane shutters. In today’s market, you have to do what you can to bring your house to the forefront, and not having any hurricane protection will almost immediately move you to the back of the line.
