STEP ONE: PRE-RETROFIT
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Once you have received notification that you have been accepted into the ESS program, you will have up to 12 weeks to submit the required pre-retrofit photos and documents, and choose a contractor from the ESS Contractor Directory.
We recommend you start your search for a contractor immediately after you receive approval from ESS, as the process of obtaining bids and hiring a contractor can be time-consuming. Login and track your progress in your Homeowner Dashboard.
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You must choose your retrofit contractor from ESS’s Contractor Directory of licensed contractors, who have completed FEMA P-1100 seismic retrofit training.
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Meet with contractors, receive and review bids.
- If the retrofit bid is more than $10,000, you must get more than one bid.
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Select a contractor.
- Choose and hire your contractor.
- Upload contractor(s') bid(s) to your Homeowner Dashboard.
- If the contractor's bid was over $10,000 and you submitted more than one bid, and you chose the contractor who submitted the higher bid; state the reason on your Dashboard.
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Get a building permit and upload it to your Homeowner Dashboard.
- Important! You or your contractor must get the building permit after your ESS acceptance date. If your permit is dated prior to your acceptance date, you will not be eligible for an ESS grant.
- Before getting your permit, check your Homeowner Dashboard for specific directions on what wording must be included on your building permit.
- You or your contractor can get the building permit.
- You can use our Building Department resources page to help you find the right building department with which to apply for your permit.
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By week 12 (earlier if possible) you or your contractor must have uploaded these items to your Homeowner Dashboard for approval:
- Copy of your building permit
- Plans/Drawings
- Photos of house exterior, garage interior, and crawlspace photos if required; (your Dashboard will provide you with specific instructions and examples)
- Bid(s)
- Proof of occupancy such as a utility bill, if indicated on your Dashboard that it's required
- A completed W-9 form if indicated on your Dashboard that it’s required
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Important! To remain eligible to receive the ESS grant, do not begin your retrofit construction work before receiving ESS’s approval of your uploaded documents (Step 2).
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STEP TWO: APPROVAL OF PRE-RETROFIT DOCUMENTATION
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Funding for the ESS program grants comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA must review and approve the Pre-Retrofit Documentation submitted on your Homeowner Dashboard in Step One before you can proceed with the retrofit.
- FEMA will review your ESS Pre-Retrofit documentation. This step can take up to 10 weeks.
- ESS will notify you when your documentation has been approved, and that you can move forward with your retrofit.
- Important! Do not start your retrofit until ESS has notified you that you can proceed.
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STEP THREE: THE RETROFIT
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You will have six months from the day you received ESS approval to schedule and complete your Earthquake Soft-Story retrofit.
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After ESS has approved your uploaded pre-retrofit documentation, you will have six months from that approval date to complete your retrofit.
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STEP FOUR: POST-RETROFIT
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Within 30 days of completing the retrofit, gather and submit your post-retrofit documentation using the online Homeowner Dashboard.
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Upload the following post-retrofit documentation to your Homeowner Dashboard:
- Required photos, as indicated on your Homeowner Dashboard:
- An image of the signed building permit after the retrofit is complete and signed off.
- Your contractor's invoice that includes:
- Your contractor's business name, address, phone number, and contractor license number;
- Address where the seismic retrofit was performed;
- Start and end dates of work performed; and
- Pricing broken out by labor, materials, overhead, and profit.
- If the final total amount of your ESS grant is greater than $5,000, and your house is in Flood Zone, you will need to submit a signed, notarized, and recorded Special Flood Hazard Area Conditions Form (fillable PDF), and a copy of your flood insurance policy.
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STEP FIVE: PAYMENT
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Grant payments typically will be mailed within four weeks following final ESS approval of your post-retrofit documentation.
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- Follow directions on your Homeowner Dashboard for how to complete and submit an electronic Payment Authorization Form.
- Indicate whether the payment will be sent to you (the homeowner), or directly to the contractor.
- Grant payments from the ESS program are not subject to federal or state taxation.
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