4-Point & Wind Mitigation Inspections
Insurance Inspection Reports
A Four Point Inspection is often required when obtaining a new homeowner’s insurance policy or renewing an existing policy. Four Point requirements vary from insurance carrier to carrier and may apply to homes 10 years old or older, depending on the insurer. A Four Point Inspection consists of a limited visual survey of the following systems:
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Heating and air conditioning systems
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Roof
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Electrical
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Plumbing
The purpose of the inspection is to determine the approximate age, general condition, and remaining useful life of these systems. This is a limited visual inspection that focuses on components the insurance company may consider unsafe or potentially problematic.
From the insurance company’s perspective, they are generally looking to determine whether the property has been updated to current standards and is in acceptable condition. After Hurricane Andrew, insurance companies in Florida began encouraging homeowners to make their homes safer in an effort to reduce insurance claims. Today, most—if not all—insurance companies, including the Joint Underwriting Association (JUA), request or require Four Point Inspections for homes older than 10 years.
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation requires a Four Point Inspection on every home 10 years old or older in order to obtain a new insurance policy or renew an existing policy.
Important Note: This is a limited visual inspection and does not replace a full home inspection, such as a pre-purchase or pre-listing (seller) inspection.
Insurance requirements and discounts are determined solely by the insurance carrier and are subject to change
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A Wind Mitigation Inspection is an effective way to reduce the overall cost of your homeowner’s insurance. When submitted to your insurance provider, the inspection may qualify your home for insurance discounts that can result in meaningful savings. Most existing homes have one or more construction features that may qualify for windstorm insurance premium discounts.
A Wind Mitigation Inspection verifies specific construction details of a home that are used to determine eligibility for insurance discounts. In general, the stronger a home is built to withstand wind damage, the greater the potential insurance savings.
A wind mitigation inspection is a specialized type of home inspection. Its purpose is to evaluate a structure’s ability to resist strong winds, such as those experienced during hurricanes and severe storms.
Homeowners with windstorm insurance can often submit the results of a wind mitigation inspection to their insurance carrier to receive premium discounts. In Florida, insurance discounts for certain wind-resistant construction features are mandated by state law and, in some cases, can result in savings of up to 45% of the windstorm portion of the insurance premium.
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What Is Evaluated During a Wind Mitigation Inspection
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A Wind Mitigation Inspection consists of the inspector evaluating the following eight (8) key categories:
Roof Covering
Inspectors determine when the roof covering was installed and whether it meets applicable building code requirements at the time of installation.
Roof Deck Attachment
Inspectors evaluate the type of roof decking used and how it is attached to the roof structure. This includes whether the decking is nailed or stapled, as well as nail type, length, and spacing when applicable.
Roof-to-Wall Attachment
This section focuses on how the roof structure is attached to the walls of the home. Inspectors look for attachment methods such as nails, clips, or straps. More secure attachments generally result in greater insurance discounts.
Roof Geometry
Inspectors evaluate the shape of the roof, such as hip or gable. Hip roofs—shaped similar to a pyramid—typically qualify for greater wind mitigation discounts due to their increased wind resistance.
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Secondary Water Resistance (Secondary Water Barrier)
This feature helps prevent water intrusion if the roof covering is damaged. Homes with roofs installed or upgraded prior to 2008 are less likely to have this feature. Proper documentation, including photographic evidence, is required to qualify for this discount.
Opening Protection
Inspectors evaluate windows, doors, and other openings for hurricane-rated protection such as shutters or impact-resistant products. To qualify for this discount, 100% of openings must be protected with approved, rated systems.
​Insurance requirements and discounts are determined solely by the insurance carrier and are subject to change
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Citizens Roof Certification Inspection
Roof Conditions Verification inspections are now required by Citizens and other insurance companies upon renewal or application for homes and mobile homes of certain ages. We are approved and properly certified to perform these types of inspections.
Are you are obtaining a new Insurance policy?
Most of the time, your insurance agent will require at least one of these inspections to obtain a policy. All you need to do is give us a call. We will perform the inspection, and send the information with all applicable pictures to you and your agent.
Insurance requirements and discounts are determined solely by the insurance carrier and are subject to change