Elevation Certificates Explained: Answering Your Questions for Financial Security and Peace of Mind

Discover How Elevation Certificates Can Lower Your Costs and Elevate Your Confidence in Flood Protection

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WHAT TYPE OF ELEVATION CERTIFICATES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?

SO HOW MUCH DO ELEVATION CERTIFICATES COST?

At The Flood Insurance Guru, we prioritize flood education. You see we bought a home in a flood zone more than 10 years ago and did not have the information we needed at the time. We did not have an elevation certificate or know the cost to get one. We were told premiums were going to be 10 times more than they should have been. However, an elevation certificate helped lower these premiums. So for the last 10 years, we have been giving property owners the information they need to make educated flood insurance buying decisions. We want to give you the information you need so you can be confident when purchasing flood insurance and getting elevation certificates.

But some of these questions aren’t so easy to answer. It's probably why many insurance companies do not discuss it on their websites. One of those is “How much does residential flood insurance cost?”

Flood insurance pricing historically has been very complex, but our goal is to  help simplify it for you

We’re going to do our best to explain to you how residential flo0d insurance pricing works, so hopefully, you can have an idea of what to expect, before you get a flood insurance policy.
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What is an Elevation Certificate? 

An Elevation Certificate is a document that details your home's elevation in comparison to the expected flood levels in your area..
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How can an Elevation Certificate save me money on my flood insurance?

By providing detailed information about your home's risk, an Elevation Certificate can help you qualify for lower premiums.

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What's the process to get an Elevation Certificate?

Our team makes it simple. Contact us, and we'll guide you through every step, from assessment to obtaining your certificate.

How do I read an elevation certificate?

Elevation certificates are used to help determine the chances of a property flooding. The goal is that the lowest adjacent grade of the property is above the base flood elevation. Below is a list of what the diagram numbers mean on the elevation certificate.

residential flood

SO HOW MUCH DOES COMMERCIAL FLOOD INSURANCE COST?

At The Flood Insurance Guru, we prioritize commercial flood insurance education. You see we bought a property in a flood zone more than 10 years ago and did not have the information we needed at the time. We were told premiums were going to be 10 times more than they should have been, So for the last 10 years, we have been giving business owners the information they need to make educated commercial flood insurance buying decisions. We want to give you the information you need so you can be confident when purchasing commercial flood insurance.

But some of these questions aren’t so easy to answer. It's probably why many insurance companies do not discuss it on their websites. One of those is “How much does commercial flood insurance cost?”

Commercial flood insurance pricing historically has been very complex, but our goal is to help simplify it for you

We’re going to do our best to explain to you how commercial flo0d insurance pricing works, so hopefully, you can have an idea of what to expect, before you get a commercial flood insurance policy.
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What type of residential flood insurance do you need?

  • Building coverage
  • Contents coverage
  • Living expenses
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How much flood insurance do you need?

As a property owner, it can be challenging to figure out how much flood insurance coverage you need.

Many property owners usually want to go with just whatever the bank is requiring. The problem is this can leave them about 40% below what they really need when a claim happens.

This is why it is recommended that you select enough coverage to replace the home.

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What deductible should you pick?

When selecting an insurance plan it has been said the higher deductible you pick the lower the premium will be.

On flood insurance, we have seen that higher deductibles usually don't impact flood insurance premiums much.

You should pick a deductible that you feel comfortable paying. Remember generally each coverage type will have its own deductible.

 

OK, BUT REALLY, WHAT CAN MY BUSINESS EXPECT TO PAY FOR COMMERCIAL FLOOD INSURANCE?

When it comes to commercial flood insurance pricing can rage a lot based on the risk and commercial coverages selected.

It's important to know each risk has its unique rating, so each commercial flood insurance policy is going to be different.

Three things that can have the biggest impact on ratings are the replacement cost of the building, distance to water, and elevation of the building.

Building-image
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Who can do an elevation certificate?

An Elevation Certificate can be prepared by a licensed land surveyor, professional engineer, or certified architect who is authorized by law to certify elevation information. These professionals must be licensed in the state where the property is located. It's important to ensure that the individual or firm you choose has experience with Elevation Certificates and is familiar with the specific requirements and guidelines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for floodplain management purposes and to support the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

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Why do i need an elevation certificate?

An Elevation Certificate is crucial for lowering flood insurance rates, meeting local county guidelines, and helping with flood zone changes.

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Can I use an existing elevation certificate?

If a previous owner of your property obtained an Elevation Certificate, you might be able to use it for your flood insurance needs, provided there have been no significant changes to the property or the surrounding area's flood risk.

RESIDENTIAL FLOOD INSURANCE PRICING FAQ

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