What Florida Home Inspections Explained: 4-Point, Wind Mitigation, vs Carrier Inspection

Home insurance can be complicated with coverages, deductibles, and terminology many haven’t heard of. Then you come to Florida and the complexities increase. If you own a home or are looking to buy a home in Florida, you’re about to get well acquainted with the Florida inspection process – whether you like it or not. Your agent, lender, carrier or inspector might start mentioning 4-point inspections, wind mitigation reports, and roof inspections, and these are all different. Knowing what they mean can help you avoid delays, improve your insurance options, and potentially lower your premiums.  

What is a 4-point inspection?

In Florida, these 4-point inspections must be done by a licensed inspector. The primary focus of this is to evaluate the condition and make-up of the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC (heating and cooling) systems. When it comes to insurance, carriers need to know the condition of these systems and the materials used. Older homes may use materials that are less favorable. This inspection will help show any major improvements made to these systems to get better results for you and your home, opening the door to more carriers and better coverages.  

What is a wind mitigation inspection?

Due to the inherent risks of being in Florida, insurance carriers need to know the type of roof, construction types, opening protection, and water resistance. Sounds complicated? To make it easy, think about this as a report to show how well your home will hold up in storms with high winds. The “wind mit” looks at the outside doors and windows, the shape of your roof like a gable or a hip roof, and the tie-down connections the roof has. These can give your home significant discounts on your home policy, and many carriers require this report to bind your policy.

What is a carrier inspection?

Even with the 4-point and wind mitigation report, many carriers will want their own internal inspection. This sometimes means they will send their own inspector to do a visual inspection of the outside of the home. This is an non-intrusive walk around the home; most carriers do not need you there. They are looking to make sure the home is in proper condition without any added risks that were not disclosed. A good insurance agent will ask all these questions ahead of time to ensure everything is documented and assessed.  

Some carriers will allow you to do a self-inspection. They may have an app or just have you upload some pictures to get this step approved.  

When do Florida homeowners usually need a 4-point inspection?

Each carrier is different. Many carriers in Florida require older homes to provide a 4-point inspection when they receive your policy application or when they are renewing the policy. These inspections can also get some major discounts added to your policy. Your agent should be recommending when to get inspections and let you know which inspections will be needed. If the carrier needs their own inspection, your agent should let you know as well as send communications to you.

How do I make this simple?

Here is the simple truth. At Tueri, we are experts and will let you know when and what kind of inspection is needed. You may be buying an older home, trying to lower your premium, renewing a policy, or recently making some home improvements. No matter what the situation, our agents will talk to you about your goals and recommend the proper inspections to get.  

Common mistakes Florida homeowners make

It’s easy to think that “I already got an inspection done; I’m all set.” Especially if you’re buying a home, you’ve got the home inspection complete but that is not the one your insurance carrier may need. We also see some homebuyers or customers renewing and looking for better discounts waiting too long before getting their inspections. The key is to get on top of this early – well before your closing date or renewal.  

Don’t know where to start?

Not sure which inspection your carrier needs? Not sure who to trust or how much to pay? At Tueri, we have partners all around the state who help our clients. We vet our partners to make sure you get the best experience and price for your inspection. Reach out and we will get you in touch with one of our partners in your area – don't overpay for your inspection and make sure you go with someone that hits all the criteria you need. Call us today and let us help you navigate the Florida home insurance market.  

‍