Ron Lieber, the “Money” columnist for the New York Times, suggests a team to work with and a process to follow when purchasing a house “in a global warming zone.”
Mr. Lieber suggests:
a real estate professional
“who has deep knowledge of the local market and has lived through a few floods, fires or hurricanes”
a municipal flood expert
“preferably someone from town or city government who can explain any and all regulations you might need to know about when or if you ever want or need to fix your place up”
a local insurance expert
- “someone to whom you can pose any and every question you can think of — about the elevation certificate that governs the policy, grandfathering of old rates from previous owners, coverage limits and special policies that go beyond the standard amounts”
- what sort of insurance claims the home has generated in the recent past
- “get both, follow up with the homeowner and ask about any flood insurance claims or FEMA grants that may not show up on the reports”
“Read every word of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website on the flood insurance program before you buy a home”
a home inspector
- who can check how well the roof might hold up in a hurricane
When out looking at houses, check the features of the houses
- look out for special impact-resistant glass in the windows or hurricane shutters.
- wind mitigation inspection, how well the roof might hold up
“Make like a reporter and talk to any potential neighbors”
- ask questions
See:
“You’re Buying a Home. Have You Considered Climate Change?” | Ron Lieber, The New York Times, 2 December 2016
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