You just got the notice in the mail. Your homeowners’ insurance intends to drop your coverage at the end of the current term. That means you get to go shopping for new homeowners’ insurance, and if you haven’t bought a home in the past five years, then you probably notice some differences on the insurance home inspection front.
Insurance companies now require an up-to-date wind mitigation and four point inspection in Florida. So, at the end of your homeowners’ policy term, you can expect to get an insurance home inspection.
Insurance home inspections is the umbrella term we use to describe the inspections that an insurance company requires when initiating or reinstating a policy. They include wind mitigation and four point inspections in Florida.
So let’s take a look at these insurance home inspections and what to expect from the home inspector.
What Is a 4 Point Inspection for Home Insurance?
A 4 point inspection for home insurance determines the basic condition of your home for the purpose of assessing risk. The home inspector isn’t looking for obscure code violations to write up; in fact, there’s a lot that a four point inspection doesn’t cover.
Your home inspector looks at the four main parts of your home that could cause damage to your home if they fail.
Here’s what a four point inspection in Florida includes…
1. Roof Inspection: The home inspector visually inspects your roof to check for overall soundness. Is it showing signs of wear like broken tiles or torn shingles? Are there water stains that may indicate a roof leak? Is the flashing installed correctly? The inspector may even use a drone to get a good look at places he can’t safely get to.
Buyer Guide Insider Tip: Sometimes when your roof is over 15 years old, an insurance company may “require” you to install a new roof – even if there’s no damage.
But if the inspector says there’s no damage. It’s a perfectly good roof, then the insurance company – by law – must accept the inspector’s conclusions.
Now, if you have a shingle roof that’s 25 years or older, then Citizens’ is going to make you replace it. Sorry.
2. Electrical Inspection: The home inspector checks the outlets, lighting and breaker box to be sure everything is up to code. The main threat he’s protecting against here is the threat from an electrical fire.
You may even notice your inspector using a thermal camera to take photos. These infrared images show hot spots from circuits that may be overheating.
3. Plumbing Inspection: the main cause for homeowners’ insurance claims is water damage. The refrigerator line bursts. There’s a leaky pipe under the sink that no one noticed. Or an upstairs toilet that wasn’t sealed properly.
There are so many ways that poor plumbing can damage your house. That’s why the inspector pays special attention to all aspects of your plumbing, from the bathroom sink to your water heater.
4. HVAC Inspection: Of particular importance for home inspectors in Florida is the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Now I worked as an HVAC contractor for the last seven years and I still hold my HVAC license, so I know first hand what happens when the HVAC system doesn’t function properly.
The house gets hot and cold spots. The humidity causes discomfort and makes you turn the air down lower. And in the worst cases, you could be creating the perfect environment for mold to grow – which can do worse than cause costly repairs. It can make your family sick¹.
And that’s it for your four point inspection. It’s quick and easy. But you’ll notice there’s a lot it doesn’t cover.
A Four Point Inspection Doesn’t Include…
Let’s start with the obvious. While a wind mitigation and four point inspection are usually done at the same time, they are two separate inspections.
The wind mitigation inspection is performed separate from the roof inspection because it has a different purpose.
The four point informs the insurance company of the condition of your house before a storm, the wind mitigation inspection tells them the likelihood of your house getting damaged during a storm.
The wind mitigation inspection looks at how the roof attaches to the house and how resilient are the openings into the home – namely, windows, shutters, doors, and garage doors.
If you want to read more about how a wind mitigation inspection could save you money on your policy, check this out.
On top of the valuable wind mitigation report, the four point inspection doesn’t include…
Checking for structural integrity
WDO (termite) inspection² – which is essential in Florida if you have a wood frame house.
Pool inspections
Testing basic appliance functionality
Truss webbing
In-depth HVAC evaluations
This is why simply getting a wind mit and four point inspection isn’t enough if you’re looking at buying a home. You’ll want a full home inspection instead.
How Often Do Insurance Companies Inspect Homes?
That being said, insurance companies inspect homes at the end of the policies’ term – which is usually every one or two years.
Now let’s alleviate some fears.
Insurance companies are not the Spanish Inquisition. They’re not looking to catch you – or your home – in a state of disrepair, so they can drop you. Nor can they conduct random inspections.
While the insurance company does have the right to inspect your home, they do not have free access to your home. You decide when to schedule the necessary insurance home inspections, and you can be present during the inspection.
Insurance home inspections don’t take long. Buyers’ Guide Home Inspectors usually take about an hour, maybe a bit more, to complete the inspection, and we file the report the same day.
Can I Refuse a Home Insurance Inspection?
If you own your home free and clear, then yes, you can refuse a home insurance inspection.
There are consequences to that, of course. If you refuse the home insurance inspection, then the insurance company can legally drop your policy.
Now, if you pay a mortgage, then technically the bank owns your home. And all banks like to protect their investments, so they require you pay for homeowner’s insurance.
Can You Get Home Insurance without an Inspection?
Good question. And, technically, yes, you can get home insurance with an inspection. But that’s only true if your situation meets the policy holders pre-existing criteria.
Here are some cases where carriers may decide to grant insurance without a home inspection.
1. New Construction: Having been built to code, it’s assumed that all new construction homes will pass a four point inspection, so the insurance agent won’t bother. But as we already discussed there’s a lot the four point inspection doesn’t cover, and even new builds should get a proper full home inspection before you invest your hard-earned money into them.
2. Favorable Appraisal on a Newer Home: If you’re looking at purchasing a new home that receives a favorable appraisal, then the insurance carrier may accept that in place of an inspection.
3. Low Risk Area: This isn’t the case in Florida because… hurricanes. But in areas that mother nature blesses with fewer natural disasters, the insurance carrier may choose to wave an insurance home inspection.
Home inspectors aren’t the boogeyman…
It’s natural to want to know what to expect from an insurance home inspection before you invite the home inspector into your space.
Here’s the process that we use at Buyer’s Guide Home Inspections:
Contact you to book a convenient time for your insurance inspection.
Arrive on-time and inspect your home starting with the roof and out HVAC unit, then moving inside to inspect the plumbing and electrical. (Incidentally, keeping the area under your sinks clear makes the plumbing part of the inspection super quick.)
Complete the Citizen’s Four Point Inspection Report.
Send the report directly to your insurance agent.
All you have to do is be there to allow access. The whole inspection takes 30 minutes to an hour, and I send in your report the same day.
It’s so easy a…
Well…you get the idea.