The Villages Homeowner Risk Checklists
Reviewed 2026-08-20
Short checklists for contractors, storms, insurance, sinkholes, scams and financial exploitation.
Before hiring a contractor
Verify the Florida license, scope, permits, references, insurance, payment schedule and change-order process. Get two estimates. Treat storm urgency, door-to-door pressure, gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency and large cash deposits as stop signs.
Sources: [Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR)] [Florida Office of the Attorney General]
Before hurricane season
Confirm roof age and wind-mitigation documentation, review the insurance deductible, know the flood zone, photograph the property, test backup power plans and make a contact plan for an empty or part-time home.
Before closing
Pull the exact parcel record, current tax bill, bond and CDD lines, insurance quote, permits, deed restrictions, inspection results and relevant sinkhole or subsidence information. Record what is known, missing and professionally verified.
Sources: [Villages Community Development Districts (districtgov.org)] [Florida Geological Survey / Florida DEP]
If someone pressures an older adult
Pause the payment, call the financial institution using a trusted number, preserve evidence and use official reporting paths. Do not retaliate publicly or publish personal information.
Sources: [U.S. Federal Trade Commission] [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau]