Guard your home. Start with knowing your risk.
Every property gets evaluated zone by zone against Wildfire Prepared Home standards through a guided walkthrough you complete yourself, then you get a clear, prioritized report that meets you where you are, with a clear next step.
The four zones we assess
A full picture of your property, zone by zone.
Tap a marker on the photo for a specific detail, or a zone below it for the bigger picture — from the ground right up to your roofline.
Tap a marker to see what we check
Seven points on the photo, grouped into the four zones we write every report against — shown here on a real assessed property.
From risk to coverage — know where you stand.
California’s insurance market has gotten unforgiving for homes in fire-prone areas. Your assessment replaces that uncertainty with something concrete — documented proof of what’s driving your risk, and what to fix first. Knowing exactly where you stand is where progress starts.
How your assessment becomes an action plan.
You don’t need to know anything about wildfire hardening going in — here’s every step, in plain terms, from entering your address to an entirely optional follow-up report at the end.
Enter your property address
That's all we need to start. We look up your California Fire Hazard Severity Zone — the risk category the state already assigns your area — so your assessment is scoped correctly before you answer anything else.
Answer a short questionnaire about your home
What's driving the assessment, whether you're renovating, and roughly how old the home is. No wildfire jargon required.
- Home insurance, selling, certification, or just peace of mind
- Any re-roof, re-siding, or renovation planned in the next 2 years
Get a recommendation for your home
Based on your answers, we recommend the right level of assessment for your property (more on what that means below) — you're never locked in, and can switch to the other option if you'd rather.
Talk it through on a 15-minute call
No pressure, no payment required to book it. Ask basic questions if this is all new to you, confirm scope, or skip straight to requesting your assessment.
Complete your guided photo walkthrough
A guided walkthrough you do yourself with your phone — no waiting on a scheduled visit. Every zone is checked against Wildfire Prepared Home (WPH) criteria — a published safety standard used by fire agencies and insurers, not just our own opinion of what's safe.
Receive your written report
An overall risk rating, a ranked action list, and photo-documented evidence for every finding, organized by zone — written in plain language, not inspector shorthand.
Work through your action list
Fix the highest-priority items first — things like adding ember-resistant mesh to vents or clearing vegetation near the house. Use any contractor you choose; there's no obligation to hire us, or anyone, for the work itself.
Ask about a follow-up report, if you need one
Once your fixes are done, additional documentation support — certification readiness for the official Wildfire Prepared Home designation (issued separately by IBHS, not us), or something formatted for your insurance provider — may be available on a case-by-case basis. Reach out and ask.
Serving property owners across Southern California.
From coastal chaparral to inland foothill canyons, every report is checked against the Fire Hazard Severity Zone your property actually sits in — not a generic checklist. Since your assessment is guided remotely, there’s no travel radius to worry about — we work with homeowners throughout Southern California.
Pick the level of inspection you need.
Guided Photo Assessment
From $200A guided walkthrough you complete yourself with your phone, reviewed and written up by us. Start today — no waiting on a scheduled visit.
Additional Services
Once your hardening work is done, follow-up documentation — for certification readiness, your insurance provider, or both — may be available on a case-by-case basis. Reach out to ask.
Price shown is a typical starting rate — answer a few questions to get your exact quote based on package and property size.
A look inside your report.
This is a sample page. Filter by priority, or click a finding to see why it matters.
142 Ridgeline Dr
Essential Assessment · Wildfire Prepared Home Base criteria
Bark mulch within 3 ft of siding
0–5 ft noncombustible zone · 2 photos attached
Wood-slat gate inside defensible space
5–30 ft defensible space · 1 photo attached
Class A roofing material
Structure · 1 photo attached
Frequently asked.
Is this the same as getting Wildfire Prepared Home certified?
No. Charred Guard's assessment is independent of the official Wildfire Prepared Home certification process. We measure your property against the same published criteria, but the actual designation is issued separately by IBHS after their own verification. Our report is meant to get you ready for that step, not replace it.
What's the difference between Essential and Enhanced?
They're our two package levels, named after Wildfire Prepared Home's own Base and Plus criteria. Essential covers ember protection — the 0–5ft zone, defensible space, roof, gutters, and vents. Enhanced adds structural hardening like siding, windows, doors, decks, and eaves, and fits best if you're renovating or building new. Either way, we look at the same property — the package determines which criteria your report is written against.
Do you inspect in person, or remotely?
Remotely. Our Get Started flow walks you through a short property questionnaire and a free optional call, then you complete a guided photo walkthrough yourself with your phone — no visit to schedule.
Is a phone-guided assessment thorough?
Yes. It's checked against the exact same Wildfire Prepared Home criteria as any professional inspection. Guided Photo Assessment walks you through exactly what to photograph and from what angle, so nothing gets missed — and it's faster to start since there's no visit to schedule.
How long does the whole process take?
You can start your guided walkthrough the same day — no waiting on a scheduled visit — and you'll have a written, prioritized report within about 48 hours of submitting your photos.
What happens after I get my report?
You'll get a ranked list of what to fix first, with photo evidence for every finding. Once the work is done, additional documentation support — for certification readiness at wildfireprepared.org, or something formatted for your insurance provider — may be available on a case-by-case basis.
I'm selling my home in a high fire-hazard zone — does this help?
It can. California's AB-38 law (Civil Code 1102.19) requires sellers in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone to give buyers documentation of defensible space compliance before closing. We don't issue that official paperwork — only your local fire department can — but our assessment flags likely issues ahead of time, so you're not scrambling to fix things mid-escrow. Real estate agents are welcome to reach out too.
Will this get me an insurance discount or official certification?
Not automatically — both depend on your specific property and, for insurance, on your individual carrier. Our report shows exactly where your home stands against Wildfire Prepared Home criteria, but whether an insurer offers a discount is entirely their own policy, and official certification requires every required criterion to be met, verified separately by IBHS. Some properties qualify after one round of fixes; others need more work first. We'll tell you honestly where yours stands, either way.
Ready to see where you stand?
Answer a few questions, get a package recommendation, and start your assessment.