How to Be a Homeowner Hero: Helping Your Customers Make Their Homes More Disaster Resistant

When it comes to natural disasters, home contractors are usually the last responders, the ones called in to try to fix what’s left after the disaster hits. What if we were to think of contractors as first responders instead, preparing homes ahead of time so they aren’t so vulnerable to natural disasters in the first place? It’s cheaper to prepare than to repair. In 2021, natural disasters cost Americans $145 billion according to NOAA. However, the National Institute of Building Sciences estimates that disaster mitigation can save up to $13 for every $1 invested. There is a lot that contractors can do to help homeowners prepare their homes and reduce post-disaster repair costs. This presentation identifies action items from minor to major that contractors can implement to prepare homes for natural disasters ranging from wildfires, hurricanes, and heat waves to floods, earthquakes, pests, and winter weather. These resiliency tips are drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Solution Center, a free, online resource offering contractors, trades, and builders how-to guidance based on an extensive bank of building science knowledge amassed from the DOE’s national laboratories, other federal agencies, and construction industry experts.