Severe weather can cause significant damage to your home and result in substantial financial loss. This is why reinforcing your home has become a popular strategy for homeowners aiming to safeguard their properties and their finances.
Enhancing your home’s resilience involves implementing improvements specifically designed to combat climate and weather-related disasters. Not all upgrades are equally important, and some may not provide a worthwhile return on investment when it’s time to sell. However, potential buyers place a high value on the right enhancements. We consulted climate preparedness experts to identify the renovations with the greatest impact and highest ROI.
Peter Piotrowski serves as the Chief Claims Officer at Hippo Insurance in Florida. Lauren Dowling is the Senior Vice President and Head of the World Private Client Group at World Insurance. Aaron Tetzlaff is an agent with Coldwell Banker Warburg. Suzanne Weinstein is a broker with Coldwell Banker Warburg. Bill Kowalczuk is a residential broker with Coldwell Banker Warburg. Harry Statter is a wildfire ecologist and the founder of Frontline Wildfire Defense.
Piotrowski, of Hippo Insurance, notes, “The most effective weather-resistant home improvements are contingent on several factors, including the materials used in your home, its location, and the local weather risks.”
According to Hippo’s Extreme Weather Survey, a large majority of homeowners (88%) would be willing to pay more for a house equipped with climate-resistant features. One in five homeowners said they would pay up to $10,000 extra for a home built to withstand extreme weather, Piotrowski explains.
Real estate professionals in high-risk zones are observing a growing interest in homes with features like impact-resistant windows, fire-resistant materials, backup power, and flood mitigation systems, says Dowling of World Insurance. These homes are often more appealing, sell quicker, and raise fewer concerns during inspections or insurance reviews. As climate events escalate, the demand for resilient homes is anticipated to rise.
Each year, more catastrophic weather events are occurring, prompting both potential home buyers and current homeowners to seek ways to safeguard their properties.
Piotrowski observes, “Our 2025 HousePower Report indicates a rising concern among homeowners about extreme weather preparedness, with 25% citing it as a top priority in 2023 and 28% in 2024. This indicates a trend towards homeowners valuing environmentally conscious design and a growing desire to protect their homes and long-term financial stability.”
Aaron Tetzlaff of Coldwell Banker Warburg has witnessed these enhancements becoming increasingly crucial for homeowners, buyers, and insurers. “From a real estate perspective, upgrades that are both visible and functional often provide the best ROI,” he states.
Ensuring that your home is secure while also offering a return on your investment doesn’t have to be a guessing game. There are specific upgrades that yield a return based on your location.
ROI is closely tied to geography. For instance, in Florida, storm shutters and reinforced garage doors are essential, while in California, hard roofs, defensible space, and fire-rated materials are crucial for insurability and resale, Tetzlaff explains.
As you move further east, the needs change once more. “On the East Coast, particularly in coastal or low-lying areas, flood mitigation upgrades like back-flow preventers or wet flood-proofing are becoming increasingly expected,” Tetzlaff adds.
The importance of home-hardening techniques to potential buyers is dictated by where you live. “Buyers are becoming more informed and frequently inquire about these features before viewing a property,” Tetzlaff says. Your ROI is directly tied to the buyers’ perceived value.
“Homeowners who install climate-resilient upgrades to protect against severe weather in their region not only enhance their protection but also preserve their home’s long-term value,” Piotrowski adds. These upgrades not only attract future buyers but also provide immediate financial benefits through government rebates and incentives.
Tetzlaff points out that there are growing numbers of financial incentives, depending on location. “Always check with your local municipality, county, and state for incentives and rebates.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency also offers grants to communities and individuals who make certain upgrades. Programs like California’s Wildfire Prepared Home initiative provide retrofitting rebates for wildfire protection. Federal tax credits are available for windows, insulation, and Energy Star-certified roofing.
“Homeowners can often recoup 10–30% of project costs through these programs, significantly improving ROI,” Tetzlaff says.
Here are some improvements that experts suggest offer the highest return when selling:
Improving the drainage around your home is crucial for regular maintenance and a necessary upgrade for those in areas prone to frequent rain and hurricanes.
Broker Suzanne Weinstein of Coldwell Banker Warburg offers tips on enhancing drainage: “Maintain gutters, ensure downspouts are effective, add a French drain, and consider financial partnerships with local governments to install drains.”
Preventing water from pooling on your property can greatly maintain its condition and value, Weinstein adds.
Consult with an insurance agent to learn about flood insurance requirements in your area and to identify flood-resistant home upgrades.
Piotrowski suggests upgrading home systems and structures to protect against flood damage, such as installing sump pumps and sealing foundation cracks, as water damage is a common and costly issue for homeowners.
When you implement upgrades that reduce flood risk, it also becomes easier to secure flood insurance. “Many homeowners are unaware that flood damage is not covered by standard homeowners insurance policies,” Piotrowski explains. “Flood insurance can offer additional financial protection. While 99% of U.S. counties experience flooding, only a small percentage of homeowners have flood insurance.”
For those in hurricane zones, installing impact-resistant windows and doors is crucial. “These enhance security, aesthetics, and can lower insurance costs,” says broker Bill Kowalczuk of Coldwell Banker Warburg.
The value of your home is affected in multiple ways. “They protect against storms, improve energy efficiency, reduce noise, and enhance aesthetics,” Tetzlaff adds.
Kowalczuk advises against decorative storm shutters, as they are primarily for appearance. “They are decorative for a reason—they don’t actually provide protection.”
California and other states face catastrophic wildfires annually. Fireproof roofing and siding can protect against less severe fires.
“The roof is the most vulnerable part of a home as it’s the largest and most exposed exterior surface,” says Harry Statter, a wildfire ecologist and the founder of Frontline Wildfire Defense. “A Class A Fire-rated roof reduces the risk of ignition significantly. A new roof can also increase resale value.”
Fireproof roofing is beneficial for ROI only in fire-prone areas. “These upgrades add significant value and are often considered essential,” Tetzlaff says.
For wildfire protection, Kowalczuk recommends using top-grade materials like clay, metal, or composite shingles. He advises against less effective options like fire-retardant sprays or coatings, as they are ineffective on their own.
Smart home features are now available on almost every home appliance and major system. One way to reinforce your home is by purchasing smart home systems with features that alert you to major issues.
Dowling suggests automatic water shut-off valves and leak detection systems. “These systems can prevent significant losses by catching issues early,” she explains.
Central station fire alarms and monitored smoke detectors offer early detection and prompt response from first-responders, reducing the severity of fire damage.
Surge protection systems, available in both smart home and regular options, are ideal in areas prone to electrical issues. “They protect high-value electronics and appliances from costly damage due to lightning or grid failures,” Dowling says.
Severe storms can lead to power outages, which can be costly and dangerous. Whole-home backup generators ensure food preservation, the use of medical equipment, and device charging during outages.
“Especially valuable in outage-prone areas, they help maintain climate control, prevent frozen pipes, and keep sump pumps running,” Dowling says.
Like other upgrades, choosing a generator that is not frequently used won’t yield much ROI. “Some resilience products don’t live up to their marketing,” Tetzlaff says, including generators. Oversized generators or off-grid systems are only worth it if frequent and prolonged outages are common.
