Hurricane Ian Disclosure Obligations
If your Fort Myers-area home was damaged by Hurricane Ian (September 2022) or any prior storm, you must disclose all known damage — even if repaired. Florida's Johnson v. Davis standard is clear: known material facts must be disclosed.
Document everything: insurance claim records, repair permits, contractor invoices, photos before/after. Buyers and their inspectors will probe for storm damage — concealing it is fraud.
Permit Verification
All post-hurricane repairs must be permitted and closed out by the county. Unpermitted work — even "cosmetic" work — can prevent buyers from obtaining financing and can expose you to post-closing claims. Check Lee County's permit portal before listing.
Flood Zone Disclosure
Much of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and the barrier islands are in FEMA flood zones. Disclose: flood zone designation, whether flood insurance is required, current annual flood insurance premium, and any flood claims filed. Get an elevation certificate if you don't have one — buyers will need it for insurance quotes.
Homeowner's Insurance
Florida's insurance crisis has made coverage expensive and hard to obtain. Proactively disclose your current insurer and annual premium. Many sellers now include this in listing remarks. Buyers who can't find affordable insurance may back out — better to surface this early.
Citizens Insurance
If your property is insured by Citizens Property Insurance (FL's insurer of last resort), disclose it. Citizens has specific eligibility rules and premium levels that buyers need to understand before closing.
Download FL disclosure forms at byownerhub.com/fort-myers#disclosures.