Hurricane season is nearly upon us. Generally speaking, for those in the United States and the Caribbean, hurricane season lasts from June to November, though of course hurricanes can technically occur at any time of year. For those of us who live or have property on the coast, this may cause you a great deal of anxiety. While we may be able to evacuate out of hurricane territory if need be, we can’t take our homes out of the danger zone. Every year, Americans lose homes and property in general to hurricanes. There is nothing we can do to prevent hurricanes from happening.

However, there are things that you can do to prevent hurricanes from doing an extreme amount of damage. With the right amount of preparation — from roofing services to window replacements — you can ensure that your house makes it through a hurricane as safely as possible. Furthermore, you may even be able to add value to and improve your house as-is!

1. Have Your House Inspected

Before you begin investing in hurricane preparation, you should have your house inspected. Why? Because when a general home inspection is conducted, you will be able to identify and address the existing damages and weaknesses within your home. Damage and weak spots are typically what a hurricane will break down first, so you should prioritize these spots first.

2. Address The Roof

The roof is one of the most commonly damaged aspects of the home in the case of a hurricane. Hurricanes often rip roofs off of houses or at least severely damage the surface. This is why you need to get in touch with quality roofing services providers in order to prepare your roof as efficiently as possible. At this time, you may also want to make your roof more energy-efficient. According to Roof Calc, Energy Star shingles can cut your cooling costs by as much as 20%.

3. Invest in New Windows

While you may still want to board up your windows against hurricanes, you should also consider reinforcing your windows with stronger glass. Laminated glass, for example, can withstand high windows and is often recommended for hurricane-proofing homes.

There are many things that you need to consider when hurricane-proofing your home. After all is done, from your roofing services to your window replacements, you may have a much stronger house.