After Hurricane Andrew, insurance companies selling in Florida and the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation1 have encouraged (and to a degree required) homeowners to make their homes safer and to reduce claims. The four point home inspection came into being to ensure the integrity of a home’s elements that have a tendency for high insurance claims. The results of this inspection are used by insurance carriers in deciding whether or not to insure your home.
What Is a Four Point Home Inspection?
A four point home inspection generally includes but is not limited to a skilled inspection of the roof, the electrical system, plumbing and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Though we (and you) are not given specific requirements that must be met by the insurance companies, we have deduced from experience specific system elements that are important — age and type of system and its essential parts, the condition of the system, and whether the system has been updated to more current standards and/or quality. It’s the underwriter’s job, not to qualify you for homeowners insurance, but to determine if there is a reason to disqualify you. Our experience and skills in the four point home inspection means we can help you know what you can perhaps do to rectify possible disqualifying issues in your major home systems.
What It Isn’t!
A four point home inspection is not a pre-purchase/pre-sale home inspection, which is much more comprehensive in nature. The four point home inspection only satisfies insurance carrier requirements of particular home systems and lacks the necessary information for you to make an informed decision in buying a home or its condition for selling.
It also is not a guarantee that the insurance carrier will qualify you, that the home is insurable, that the carrier will require no other certifications or inspections, or that you won’t be required to have work performed after the home inspection. South Florida Home Inspection Association is an independent inspection association and does not work for any insurance company; thus, we have no control over their judgments and decisions.
Who Can Perform a Four Point Home Inspection?
We receive many questions as to requirements of the person(s) doing this type of home inspection. Many homeowners wonder if they can complete the forms themselves. It takes the combined efforts of a licensed roofing contractor, an electrical contractor, an engineer inspector, and a home inspector, who many times is required to sign forms certifying homes of a specific age. Not only does South Florida Home Inspection Association have contacts with trades people in these fields, but also we have ongoing, working relationships.
This means a quicker and more cost effective four point home inspection for you!
Additionally, we use streamlined forms that have been developed from our expertise in such home inspections. They satisfy the requirements of most insurance companies and mean a more organized and faster home inspection process for you.
Let South Florida Home Inspection Association take care of your insurance requirements.
Call us today for a four point home inspection!
