Insure Kiawah, has issued an informational advisory for South Carolina property owners and custom homebuilders as peak Atlantic hurricane season approaches. The advisory addresses the elevated risk that severe coastal storms pose to properties under construction or major renovation, and it outlines the protective role that builder's risk insurance serves during these vulnerable periods.
Properties in the midst of construction present unique exposures. Framing, materials, and partially completed structures often lack the wind resistance of a finished building, leaving them susceptible to high winds, driving rain, and storm surge. When tropical systems develop, insurance carriers frequently impose binding moratoriums that temporarily halt the issuance of new coverage for properties in the affected region. Owners and builders who have not secured coverage before such a moratorium takes effect may find themselves unable to obtain protection until the threat passes.
Builder's risk insurance is designed to safeguard structures and building materials against unforeseen events throughout the construction process. Coverage typically extends to damage caused by high winds and severe weather, protecting the financial investment tied up in a project from the ground up. The advisory stresses that establishing this coverage well ahead of any named storm is the most reliable way to ensure uninterrupted protection.
Robert Phelan, a Property and Casualty Insurance Advisor with the agency, noted that timing is a central concern for anyone building along the coast during the summer and autumn months. "Once a tropical storm forms and carriers issue a moratorium, the window to secure builder's risk coverage closes very quickly," Phelan said. "Property owners who plan ahead and bind their policies early are the ones who remain fully protected when weather turns severe."
Phelan added that the construction phase is often overlooked when owners consider their overall risk. "A finished home carries its own insurance, but a project still under construction is exposed in ways that many owners do not anticipate," he said. "Reviewing coverage before the height of the season provides both financial protection and genuine peace of mind."
The advisory encourages custom homebuilders and property owners to review their current arrangements and confirm that active projects carry adequate builder's risk coverage before any storm threatens the coast. Early review allows time to address gaps in protection and to arrange coverage through carriers before seasonal restrictions limit availability.
Maury Donnelly & Parr, through Insure Kiawah, is a South Carolina-based insurance agency specializing in high-value home insurance and builder's risk insurance. Led by Robert Phelan, who brings more than 35 years of experience as a Property and Casualty Insurance Advisor, the agency is licensed nationwide and maintains direct appointments with a range of top-rated insurance companies. Insure Kiawah serves coastal communities including Charleston, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Hilton Head, Isle of Palms, and Sullivan's Island, offering tailored home, auto, flood, valuable items, and high net worth insurance solutions designed for the distinct needs of coastal property owners.
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For more information about Maury Donnelly & Parr, contact the company here:
Insure Kiawah
Robert Phelan
(843) 819-3304
Robert-Phelan@mdpins.com
3690 Bohicket Road, Suite 2C
John’s Island, SC 29455
