Own a Home in Palm Beach County? 5 Things to Check Before Hurricane Season Peaks

September and October are the heart of hurricane season in South Florida, and every year I see the same avoidable damage. Whether you've owned your home for years or just moved in, this short list is worth an afternoon.

1. Know your shutters — and test them now

If your home has accordion or panel shutters, open and close them once before a storm is named. Panels that haven't moved in three years have a way of seizing exactly when you need them. Missing panels or hardware are much cheaper to fix in a calm week.

2. Trim the trees over the roof

Dead branches and coconuts over a roof or near power lines are the most common source of "minor" storm damage that isn't minor. A landscaper in the off-week costs a fraction of an emergency call.

3. Check the pool equipment

Pool pumps and heaters don't like surges or flooding. Know where the breaker is, and if your pool cage has torn screens, fix them now — a loose panel becomes a sail in high wind.

4. Photograph your home, inside and out

Walk through with your phone and video everything, then back it up to the cloud. If you ever file a claim, that five-minute video is the strongest proof of what you had.

5. Review your documents, not just your house

Insurance declarations page, flood policy if you have one, and your roof's age — in Florida, roof age drives insurance eligibility more than almost anything else. If you're thinking of selling in the next year, it's worth knowing where you stand. My homepage has a free home-value tool if you're curious what your home is worth in today's market.

Stay safe, and if you need a reliable local pro — tree work, pool, shutters — my vendor list is on the Moving Concierge page, or call me at (561) 779-1473.

— Patrick Bensimon, Bensimon Palm Beach Realty