A four-point inspection is a Florida specific inspection (although other states are beginning to adopt their own version) that tells home insurance companies the condition of a home. Typically, insurers will request this report to be completed to write a new policy for homes 30 years old or greater. However, it has been heard that a few will request the form as early as 10 years old.
That being said, what are the four points you may ask? Good question. The four-points are the general working condition of the roof, electrical, plumbing, and A/C systems. Although the inspectors are looking for general conditions, there are a few items that insurers pay extra attention to. We will cover a few items here. Future posts will cover the points in more detail, but reviewing this post can warn you about hefty repairs. (NOTE: A Four-Point inspection is not a replacement of a home inspection. This inspection is made for insurance companies only due to many reasonings.)
Roof
Here are some warning signs to insurance companies:
- How old is your roof? Does it have a life expectancy of 3-5 years? As time progresses, insurers are looking for at least 5 years of life left on the roof before they insure.
- Does your roof show signs of current/active leaks? Your inspector should walk the roof and attic to find evidence of these.
- Is your flat roof have “ponding” water? This is a sign that your flat roof is not draining properly and can shorten the life expectancy.
Electrical
- Do you have aluminum wiring? Your inspector will remove your electrical panel covers to look for aluminum wiring. The main issue here is aluminum and copper wiring expand at different rates and when connected together, can loosen their connections overtime, therefore potentially creating a spark or fire.
- Do you have a particular branded panel? These are: challenger, FPE, and Sylvania. These panels have been known to have certain safety issues.
- Is your home wired properly overall? This is a general safety item that covers items like: exposed wiring, double tapped wiring, and grounding.
Air Conditioning
- Does your A/C system operate and cool the home?
- What kind of heat system do you have? Home insurance companies do not like space heaters.
Plumbing
- Do you have any signs of leaks?
- Do you have Polybutylene plumbing? This is gray flexible piping (typically through the attic) that has been known to leak at the connections due to poor installation.
This post is not to be taken as full coverage of the report, but as a quick reference to major defects insurance companies can request to be repaired or replaced before insuring your home.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out in the comments or contact us!
