Wind Mitigation Retrofit Payback Calculator

Quantify how quickly hurricane straps, impact-rated openings, or roof reinforcements can pay for themselves through homeowners insurance discounts. Enter the project cost, current premium, expected discount, intended holding period, and an optional resale uplift to see annual and monthly savings, simple payback, ROI, and the total benefit including added resale value.

Total installed cost for the wind mitigation scope, including labor, materials, and permit fees.
Annual homeowners insurance premium before wind mitigation credits or renewal adjustments.
Projected insurer discount percentage after the retrofit based on inspection forms or carrier guidance.
Years you expect to keep the property after upgrades (use decimals for partial years).
Optional — defaults to $0.00. Add any estimated appraisal premium or resale bump from documented mitigation.

Insurance discounts vary by carrier and state. Confirm eligible credits, inspection requirements, and documentation standards with a licensed agent before commissioning work.

Examples

  • Scenario 1 – Modest discount with long payback: $9,500.00 retrofit, $3,200.00 premium, 18.00% discount, 10-year hold, no resale premium ⇒ Annual premium savings: $576.00 ($48.00 per month). Simple payback: 16.49 years (beyond your 10.00-year horizon). Net savings over 10.00 years: -$3,740.00 (-39.37% ROI). Net benefit including resale uplift: -$3,740.00.
  • Scenario 2 – Aggressive discount plus resale premium: $14,800.00 retrofit, $5,400.00 premium, 32.00% discount, 12-year hold, $6,000.00 resale uplift ⇒ Annual premium savings: $1,728.00 ($144.00 per month). Simple payback: 8.56 years. Net savings over 12.00 years: $5,936.00 (40.08% ROI). Net benefit including resale uplift: $11,936.00.

FAQ

Which mitigation features usually earn premium credits?

Common credits apply to roof-deck attachments, secondary water barriers, impact-rated windows and doors, reinforced garage doors, and opening protection verified by a uniform mitigation verification inspection.

How should I handle rebates or tax credits?

Subtract them from the retrofit cost before running the calculation, or enter the expected resale uplift so incentives are reflected in the net benefit line alongside premium savings.

Why does the payback exceed my holding period?

If the simple payback is longer than your intended hold, the premium savings alone will not repay the retrofit before you sell. Factor in resale uplift, lower hurricane deductibles, or disaster loss avoidance benefits to justify the project.

Does the ROI include financing costs?

No. ROI reflects cash premium savings only. If you finance the project, add borrowing costs to the retrofit input so the result reflects your true outlay and interest expense.

Can I model premium increases over time?

Yes. Inflate the annual premium input to your expected average premium during the holding period, or rerun the calculator with a higher premium to see how rising rates accelerate the payback.

Additional Information

  • Annual savings equal the current premium multiplied by the expected discount percentage.
  • Simple payback divides project cost by annual savings; the calculator notes when it extends beyond your holding period.
  • Net savings over the holding period subtract project cost from cumulative premium savings before adding any resale uplift.
  • ROI expresses net savings (without resale) as a percentage of the retrofit cost.
  • Resale uplift is added after ROI so you can separate insurance savings from property value gains.
  • All cash outputs are presented in U.S. dollars ($) to align with typical homeowners insurance billing.

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