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The Importance of
Commercial Truck Insurance in Key West, FL
- Let's face it - truckers in America have always been the backbone of our great country. They still are in modern times. On any given day, thousands of trucks traverse our highways and local roads, delivering goods and products on time so that businesses and consumers have what they need to live life. And while commercial trucking can be an incredibly lucrative way to make a living and put food on the table, it can also be risky and expensive.
- Whether you're the owner of a fleet, an independent trucker, or have a business that uses big rigs to transport goods, you need commercial trucking insurance to protect you and your client's investments, shield you from liability, and more.
- That's where working with a reliable truck insurance agency comes into play. Unfortunately, for many commercial truck insurance providers, serving the needs of truckers is low on the proverbial totem pole. At Independence Insurance Agency, nothing could be further from the truth.
Service Areas
The Commercial Truck
Insurance Agency in Key West, FL You Can Trust
Much like you pride yourself on running a successful trucking business, Independence Insurance Agency prides itself on its years of experience providing truck insurance for hardworking men and women across the country. And in our experience, insurance rates for truckers are just too high - so high, in fact, that they eat away at their bottom line, making it more difficult to run a business and make a profit. Fortunately, at Independence Insurance Agency, we provide truckers the freedom they need from astronomically high insurance rates so they can stay on the road and keep driving America forward.
As one of the most trusted commercial trucking insurance agencies in the U.S., we understand the challenges that you face daily as a trucker. We also know how important it is to protect your business. That's why we go above and beyond to find you the best-priced coverage available, whether you're an operator, own a small fleet, a large fleet, or something in between.
We Put Truckers First Because Others Don't
Truckers across the country choose to work with Independence Insurance Agency because we put their needs first before anything else. As experts in transportation insurance, we proudly offer a range of quality insurance products that are both practical and affordable for them. Our industry-leading carriers provide coverage that caters to the unique challenges faced by the trucking industry, ensuring that your business is protected at all times.
At our core, we are committed to finding the best possible price for your coverage without compromising the quality of service you deserve. The truth is, we understand how essential truckers are to the United States and take pride in making their insurance experience more streamlined and affordable.
One way we do so is by simplifying the insurance process. Our transportation specialists take the time to understand your specific needs and budget to tailor a comprehensive plan that works for you. You won't ever have to worry about cookie-cutter plans or uninterested agents when you work with our commercial trucking insurance agency. We take an educational approach to ensure that the entire big rig insurance process is quick, painless, and easy to understand. If there's something you don't understand, we're happy to take the time to explain. After all, the success and safety of your business are on the line.
Looking to the future, we are committed to providing innovative new products that cater to the ever-changing needs of truck drivers. As your one-stop shop for commercial trucking insurance, we are dedicated to your success, one policy at a time.
If you're a commercial trucker looking to ensure your rig, you can rest easy knowing that Independence Insurance Agency provides:
- Affordable Trucking Insurance Plans for Any Budget
- Exemplary Customer Service
- Seasoned Transportation Specialists Who Customize Plans to Your Needs
- A+ Carriers Across the Country
- Simple, Easy Quote and Bind Process
- Multiple Insurance Carriers Quoted to Find You the Best Rates
- Truck Insurance for New Ventures
Call us or send us a message today to learn more about the best 18-wheeler insurance options for your trucking business.
The Commercial Truck
Common Types of Big Rig Truck Insurance in Key West, FL
At Independence Insurance Agency, we offer several types of insurance coverage for local, intermediate, and long-haul trucking needs. Here are just a few categories of trucking insurance coverage that our agency offers.
As the foundation of your insurance policy, liability coverage is required by law in most states in the U.S. It provides coverage for damage or injuries caused to properties or other people if your 18-wheeler is responsible for the crash. Without liability coverage, it's almost impossible to drive a truck or run a trucking business without major legal consequences.
Having physical damage coverage is an essential component that shouldn't be overlooked. This insurance is responsible for covering the expenses related to repairing or replacing your truck in situations such as accidents, theft, vandalism, and other damaging events. By having this coverage, you can rest assured that your business won't be affected significantly by unexpected incidents, and you can continue running your operations smoothly even in challenging times.
For trucking companies, the goods they transport are crucial to their operations. To protect these goods from damage, loss, or theft while in transit, cargo insurance is essential. This coverage provides much-needed peace of mind for both you and your clients, allowing you to reimburse clients for any losses sustained while protecting your reputation and brand identity.
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance is designed to cover property damage or bodily injury that may occur during personal time when the driver/truck is not under dispatch. This coverage can be applied with or without a trailer and is added to a commercial policy as an endorsement.
While Independence Insurance Agency has built a reputation of excellence in serving the needs of truckers, we also offer general liability. Also known as Truckers General Liability, this coverage insures for bodily injuries or property damage that happen due to business activities that are NOT the cause of operating a truck. It covers accidents that occur in parking lots, rest stops, also while loading or unloading. General liability can also cover losses related to theft and vandalism. Most brokers and shippers will require this coverage to work with you.
Bobtail insurance is a type of coverage that is comparable to non-trucking liability, which is designed to offer protection when driving a truck without a trailer attached. This is commonly referred to as "bobtailing." With bobtail insurance, the tractor is covered at all times, even when it is not attached to a trailer, regardless of whether or not the truck is under dispatch.
Trailer interchange insurance is a must-have if you're involved in a trailer interchange agreement. This essential coverage offers protection for trailers owned by other parties that you're using under a contractual agreement. It covers damages caused by collisions, fire, theft, and vandalism, providing assurance to all parties involved.
Curious whether our commercial truck insurance agency in cityname, state offers additional coverage? The following options can be bound in your insurance policy:
- Business Interruption Insurance
- Reefer Breakdown Insurance
- Occupational Accident with Contract Liability Insurance
- Rental Reimbursement Insurance
- Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Insurance
- Towing Insurance
- Electronics Insurance
- Much More
3 Safe Driving Tips to
Lower the Cost of Truck Insurance in Key West, FL
Keeping your drivers safe on the road is crucial not only for their own well-being but also for the safety of other motorists and the financial stability of your business. The Department of Labor has identified the trucking industry as one of the most hazardous sectors in the U.S. In fact, trucking and logistics fleets are known for their high injury and fatality rates. By improving how safely your truckers drive, you can help reduce expenses related to claim payouts, accidents, and insurance premium hikes.
Whether you own a large fleet or you're the owner and operator of a single rig, keep these safe driving tips in mind to help lower your insurance costs.
Implement Preventative Maintenance Plans
Ensuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.
This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.
Call NowPractice Defensive Driving
This approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.
Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:
- Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
- Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
- Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
- Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
Find Ways to Prevent Distracted Driving
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.
Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.
Call NowEnsuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.
This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.
Call NowThis approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.
Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:
- Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
- Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
- Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
- Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.
Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.
Call NowFAQs About
Independence Insurance Agency
If you're looking for a commercial trucking insurance agency for your business, chances are you have some questions - and we've got answers. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most commonly asked questions we hear from truckers like you.
Why go with a "jack of all trades" when you can work with specialists who focus exclusively on transportation insurance? We have excellent relationships with major trucking insurance carriers and, as such, can provide the best assistance and reasonable rates.
Typically, companies will look at claims that date back three years or less.
We proudly work with more than 20 carriers to provide our clients with the most advantageous options at competitive prices, catering to the needs of owner-operators and big fleets alike.
Permit filings are typically done by insurance companies on the next business day. Federal (FMCSA) filings are completed online and updated immediately, while some states may take up to three weeks to process.
Independence Insurance Agency: Committed to the Trucking Industry
There's no question about it - you've got to protect your staff, your rig, and your trucking business with insurance. But choosing the right insurance partner isn't always easy. Thankfully, with Independence Insurance Agency by your side, you can rest easy knowing you're covered no matter where the road takes you. If you're in need of a commercial truck insurance agency in Key West, FL that caters to truckers like you, pick up the phone and contact one of our transportation specialists today. That way, you can get back on the road with confidence tomorrow.
Latest News in Key West, FL
Florida Keys feel wrath of Hurricane Helene
Steve Maugerihttps://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-keys-feeling-effects-of-hurricane-helene-several-hundred-miles-away/
KEY WEST - The Florida Keys were not in the eye of Hurricane Helene, but they did get some strong winds and rough waves.Strong winds and rough waves overwhelmed the drains on Roosevelt Boulevard on Thursday morning, as all of South Florida was under a tropical storm warning.Eric Walzer lives in the area and knows better than to try to drive through i...
KEY WEST - The Florida Keys were not in the eye of Hurricane Helene, but they did get some strong winds and rough waves.
Strong winds and rough waves overwhelmed the drains on Roosevelt Boulevard on Thursday morning, as all of South Florida was under a tropical storm warning.
Eric Walzer lives in the area and knows better than to try to drive through it.
"I know this island well enough that it just gets worse once you get to that bend over there," Eric Walzer said. "That was flooded yesterday so I don't know how these people are getting through. If they're getting through."
Kerbee Bee, who was visiting from Utah, said this was the first time she's seen this kind of storm.
"I feel bad for the people who spent money on a vacation and don't get to enjoy it," Bee said.
After the water subsided by late morning, Leo Masters and his four pump trucks were tasked with clearing the crud out of each clogged pipe.
"We have higher parts of the island," Masters said. "This is a lower part of the island so this is a hotpot."
Monroe County remained under a state of emergency Thursday.
County offices will be back open Friday along with Key West's City Hall, waste collection and transit services.
Monroe County schools were closed Thursday and Friday.
Florida Keys Marathon International and Key West International Airport are open.
Crews will have to wait until it's no longer low tide.
Jo Mares, who has lived in the Keys for 25 years, said he's used to the tougher fishing weather, but he just moved into a house with hurricane windows.
"I don't know if they'll do anything," he said. "Gas for the generator. Plenty of food."
County Commissioner Craig Cates urged people who live on boats to move them to a shelter because it's not safe to stay out in the water with the rough waves.
"A lot of 'em are on anchors out there which will not hold in a storm like this," Cates said. "They'll drag, They'll end up on the bank."
Scott Mosby, who was visiting Key West from Texas, didn't drive, and he was hoping his condo can withstand the storm.
"I think the likelihood of being able to get out of here and catch a flight back to Houston today or tomorrow is not very possible so we're gonna let it pass," Mosby said.
On Wednesday, Suzanne Maywalt saved a baby chick that was stuck in storm water. She saw it getting swept into a drain.
"I don't think it would have made it because it didn't have its mom," Maywalt said. "And sometimes the streets will flood in little areas and cover them:"
She's helping out her fellow islanders as Helene makes its way toward landfall.
Steve Maugeri joined the CBS News Miami team in April 2024. Steve has always loved the beach and is excited to live this close to the ocean within a major city as well!
Gone Fishing Retirement Celebration
KEVIN ASSAMhttps://keywest.floridaweekly.com/articles/gone-fishing-retirement-celebration/
School board member Andy Griffiths, on stage in Key West, wants to continue his mission of improving education and access across the Florida Keys. SUSAN KENT /COURTESY PHOTOOne of the Florida Keys’ longest-serving elected officials, Andy Griffiths, a Monroe County school board member for over 30 years, will officially retire later this year.However, the boat captain, businessman, and public servant is not finished advancing his cause of improved education and access across the Florida Keys.Griffiths is inviting eve...
School board member Andy Griffiths, on stage in Key West, wants to continue his mission of improving education and access across the Florida Keys. SUSAN KENT /COURTESY PHOTO
One of the Florida Keys’ longest-serving elected officials, Andy Griffiths, a Monroe County school board member for over 30 years, will officially retire later this year.
However, the boat captain, businessman, and public servant is not finished advancing his cause of improved education and access across the Florida Keys.
Griffiths is inviting everyone to the Key West Beachside Resort on Saturday, October 12, for his “Andy’s Gone Fishing Retirement Celebration and Fundraiser,” which will financially support United Way of Collier and the Keys’ “Success by 6” program.
This initiative offers a dollar-for-dollar match that funds scholarships to cover a full year of high-quality preschool education for children from low—to moderate income families. It is done in collaboration with the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe County and has previously been supported by organizations including Ocean Reef Community Foundation and First Horizon Bank.
The soon-to-be-retired school board member and active boater is no stranger to raising awareness and finances for education in the Keys. In 2023, the Rotary Club of Key West, of which Griffiths is an active member, announced a new scholarship recognizing his years of service. The Andy Griffiths Scholarship will cover the tuition for a Florida Keys student pursuing a career in education.
The Beachside celebration will kick off with a cocktail hour on the veranda, followed by dinner, entertainment, music, and dancing with the famous and popular Miami-born DJ Cardi.
The event’s hosting committee features many elected officials, including Congressman Carlos Jimenez, Mayor Holly Raschein, Superintendent Theresa Axford, Monroe County Tax Collector Sam Steele, Representative Jim Mooney, Early Learning Coalition President Evelio Torres, Keys Weekly’s Britt Meyers, and College of the Florida Keys President Dr. Jonathan Gueverra.
Griffiths hopes that by assembling such a roster of members, each person can tap into their own network to invite guests.
In response to such a list of recognizable names, he acknowledged that when elected countywide, you will undoubtedly come to know the sort of people who can make things happen.
Griffiths hopes the successful celebration will add funding to expand “Success by 6,” which will help more families obtain preschool opportunities that otherwise could prove elusive. He pointed out that the high living costs in Monroe County are often at odds with federal rules. Locals critical to the labor force should qualify for preschool programs but are often deemed ineligible.
“These are vital families,” he says. “We need to assist them in any way we can.”
Andy’s Gone Fishing Retirement Celebration will be held on Saturday, October 12, at 5:30 p.m. at Beachside Key West.
For ticket information, visit uwcollierkeys.org/event/andy-griffiths-retirement-party. ¦
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Fantasy Fest Grand Marshals
CAROL TEDESCOhttps://keywest.floridaweekly.com/articles/fantasy-fest-grand-marshals/
A big honor for Key West author and paranormal specialist David Sloan, along with Robert, one of the world’s most famous haunted dolls. They are this year’s Key West Fantasy Fest Parade Grand Marshals.Most people cheered the choices, but some said, “Oh, hell no!” And that’s because of Robert, the doll with a long and eerie history. Just after the turn of the 20th century, Robert was gifted to a young child named Gene Otto, the son of a prominent Key West physician. Created by the Germany-based Steiff Comp...
A big honor for Key West author and paranormal specialist David Sloan, along with Robert, one of the world’s most famous haunted dolls. They are this year’s Key West Fantasy Fest Parade Grand Marshals.
Most people cheered the choices, but some said, “Oh, hell no!” And that’s because of Robert, the doll with a long and eerie history. Just after the turn of the 20th century, Robert was gifted to a young child named Gene Otto, the son of a prominent Key West physician. Created by the Germany-based Steiff Company, the doll dressed in a sailor-suited stands 41 inches tall, about the size of an average 4-year-old boy. But the doll soon became known for creating supernatural mischief and mayhem in his owner’s elegant Victorian mansion. He was also blamed for provoking strange behavior in young Gene. The child’s excuse for anything bizarre or naughty was, “Robert did it.”
David Sloan is an author, publisher, artist and paranormal specialist. He’s also the foremost authority on Robert and author of the book, “Robert the Doll.”
We caught up with Sloan to learn more.
Why were you and Robert the Doll selected as the 2024 Key West Fantasy Fest parade Grand Marshals?
Sloan: Robert is a powerful doll. He summoned Vince Neil from Mötley Crüe and Butch Patrick of The Munsters to his haunted living quarters in Key West, so I’m guessing he made this happen too.
You and Robert have a unique bond. Why do you think that is?
Sloan: I don’t think I can take credit for it. Maybe Robert chose me. Maybe that’s just how it was meant to be. My great-great-great-grandfather’s Union Civil War regiment helped build the fort where Robert lives, but I never knew the connection until a few years ago. What are the chances of that? Perhaps there is a cosmic connection, and this isn’t our first time around together.
You reportedly launched an investigation during the 1990s into a mysterious portal believed to be contained within Robert and, in the course of that investigation, “unleashed a curse into the island’s cosmic realm.” Is it true that you seek to reverse this curse during the Fantasy Fest Parade?
Sloan: If everyone along the parade route gets creative with their costumes and turns the celebration “up to 11,” we believe we can open the cosmic portal, transport Key West back to the 90s, and reverse the curse. Such magic is not uncommon in the Florida Keys.
Popular lore has it that misfortune may follow if a person takes a photo of Robert without first asking his permission. How do you think this could impact all the people snapping pictures during this year’s Fantasy Fest Parade? Are there any safeguards you’d recommend?
Sloan: People who report that Robert has cursed them are often those who have been disrespectful to him. I’m talking about sticking out their tongues or giving him the finger. If people are respectful, they have nothing to worry about. If they want to play it extra safe for their own peace of mind, they can certainly ask permission by emailing him via a link at HauntedKeyWest.com. I’ll read those emails to him myself. Those who prefer snail mailing can send letters (and gifts!) to him c/o Fort East Martello Museum, 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, FL 33040.
Isn’t it unusual for a non-human to serve as a parade Grand Marshal?
Sloan: Very unusual but not unprecedented. Kermit the Frog was Grand Marshal in the 1996 Rose Bowl Parade, but he was never reported to have cursed anybody. This is undoubtedly the first time a haunted doll has been the parade’s Grand Marshal.
Where does Robert currently reside, and can people visit him?
Sloan: The Key West Art & Historical Society took Robert and his stuffed pet “Leo” into their care in 1994 and ensconced them comfortably in a protective glass case at Fort East Martello Museum, where he is visited by hundreds of devoted fans yearly. For those desiring an after-museum hours experience, my company, Ghost Key West, operates nighttime ghost tours and The Robert the Doll Experience there.
Do you think Key West will ever be the same after this year’s Fantasy Fest Parade?
Sloan: It never has been “the same.” It’s always been different. They say, “2000- zero zero, party over, oops, out of time.” So this year I’m going to party like it’s 1999.
The 2024 Key West Fantasy Fest Parade will launch in downtown Key West at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 26. Visit fantasyfest.com for a full calendar of events, schedule and updates. ¦
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KEY LARGO FAMILY TAKES HOME EXPANSION TO NEW HEIGHTS
Kellie Butler Farrellhttps://keysweekly.com/42/key-largo-family-takes-home-expansion-to-new-heights/
Marketa and Jason Kendall say their unique home improvement project quickly became the talk of their Key Largo bayside neighborhood.“We’ve become like the showstoppers,” Marketa Kendall said with a laugh. “As we were there, there were people on a golf cart taking pictures and videos.”With the help of what is called a unified jacking machine, their three-bedroom, two-bathroom house was hydraulically pumped 23 feet into the air and supported by what Jason Kendall joked resembled Lincoln Logs.&...
Marketa and Jason Kendall say their unique home improvement project quickly became the talk of their Key Largo bayside neighborhood.
“We’ve become like the showstoppers,” Marketa Kendall said with a laugh. “As we were there, there were people on a golf cart taking pictures and videos.”
With the help of what is called a unified jacking machine, their three-bedroom, two-bathroom house was hydraulically pumped 23 feet into the air and supported by what Jason Kendall joked resembled Lincoln Logs.
“They would hydraulically go up as high as they could, they would restack the blocks, then they would compress the jacks down and then move them up again,” explained Jason.
After much research, the Kendalls decided to use this method to solve a dilemma. Like many Keys homeowners, they love their house and their neighborhood, but had outgrown the space.
“The square footage didn’t meet our family size,” said Jason.
“With the limitations that are in the Keys, we couldn’t go forward, we couldn’t go back, we couldn’t go to the sides, there was nothing else that we could do with the lot size that we have,” said Marketa.
“Our only option was to go up,” added Jason.
And up they went. Instead of tearing down their home and rebuilding or adding another story on top of their existing home, they sought a different approach.
“To me the simpler solution is take what I have, lift it up and build underneath it and set it back down,” said Jason, who found inspiration for the project during his time in the Pacific.
“I was stationed in Hawaii years ago and I remember seeing some of the Samoans there, they would lift the older Hawaiian houses and build underneath them,” recalled Jason, who has been in the U.S. Marine Corps for more than 20 years.
Jason and Marketa, the parents of two young daughters and a daughter in her 20s, soon set out to find a company that would take on the project by lifting their house in order to build an addition underneath it. It wasn’t easy.
“I talked to several contractors down here and told them what I wanted done and they all looked at me like I was crazy,” recalled Jason.
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Eventually, after a lot of research, Jason honed in on a structural lifting company based out of Tampa called Unified Foundations.
“It took us a little while to get through the permitting there, partially because they weren’t aware of what we were doing,” said the company’s sales manager and founding partner, Michael Ferraz. “Monroe County I think came around and really worked with us to get it done and find a solution.”
Over the years, Emily Schemper, Monroe County senior director of planning and environmental resources, and her staff have worked to implement changes to the building codes to make home elevation a more viable option.
“The Kendall project is a great example, because it shows how a method that may initially sound extreme is both feasible and even saved them money compared to the alternative construction option,” said Schemper.
After the permits were issued, crews began prepping the house to be elevated.
“Once they got the construction materials and jacks here it was like three days and the house was up 23 feet,” said Jason.
When finished, the first floor will be a carport that will sit a foot and a half higher than it previously did. The second floor will be the new addition made out of concrete block and it will be tied into the third floor existing structure.
Jason says the cost to lift the house, build the walls and put in the flooring will be about $160,000. When finished, the Kendalls home, which was 1,300 square feet, will be 2,600 square feet.
“It’s not the most expensive option, by any means; what would be most expensive for us would be to redo the house or add on top of it,” said Marketa, who after three years of being stationed in Germany for her husband’s job, is ready to put down roots in Key Largo.
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“It’s way less expensive, like a third,” said Unified Foundation’s Ferraz.
Although the goal for the Kendall’s project was to double their square
footage, Ferraz says the spate of recent hurricanes has more and more homeowners scrambling to get high and stay dry.
“Since Helene hit, I’ve been fielding about 150 calls a day,” said Ferraz, who is expecting another onslaught of calls post-Hurricane Milton.
“Right now the driving factor is getting away from the flood. The selling factor is the additional square footage, what that does to the investment of the home,” he added.
Ferraz says his company does quite a bit of work with FEMA. “There is a tremendous amount of grant money available. We write a lot of grants for a lot of counties every year,” he added.
Monroe County also has a program in place to help homeowners receive FEMA grant money to lift or elevate homes above flood. Mike Lalbachan is the county’s floodplain mitigation administrator.
“I think going forward, this is going to be a trend where people are either going to wait for the grant or they are going to find alternative money and get the work done, raise their house above the flood,” said Lalbachan.
Property owners wanting to learn more about the county’s elevation program can visit https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/768/Grant-Funding-Flood-Mitigation-Assistance.
As for the Kendalls, they are hoping to be in their new and vastly improved home by the holidays.
“While we’re hoping for Christmas, I’m thinking Valentine’s Day,” said Marketa. “I’m hoping this house will be the happily-ever-after house.”