The Four Point Inspection, sometimes called the Insurance Inspection, was created after Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992. It is performed on behalf of the insurance companies and, typically, as a requirement for the insurer offering insurance to the new homeowner. The Four Point Inspection benefits both the insurance company and the insurer. The benefit to the insurance company is, obviously, reduced loss risk on home-owner's insurance policies. This is an area of business that has, for many years, been a money loser for insurance companies.
The Four Point Inspection consists of inspections of the following four systems:
- Roof inspection
- Electrical Inspection
- HVAC (Heat, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) Inspection
- Plumbing Inspection
The Insurance Companies are expecting the condition of the components listed above to be working as intended within the manufacturer’s specifications. If the home is an older home the Insurance Companies want to see that the systems have been updated. The criteria used to judge the components include:
- Current operating conditions
- Scheduled maintenance requirements
- Expected service life
In some cases, the forms are provided by the Insurance Companies to their clients, and we are frequently asked if they, as the home owner, can fill out these forms. The Insurance Companies require that these forms are filled out by certain qualified individuals, such as a Licensed Professional Home Inspector. We also have our own electronic forms that have been approved for use from most every major Insurance Company working in Florida, but you should check with your insurer to be sure.
We are sometimes asked if the standard Home Inspection they purchased from us can be submitted if their Insurance Company requests a Four Point Inspection. No, our standard Home Inspection contains far more detailed information on every aspect of your home than the Insurance Company needs. They are looking for a concise 2 or 3 page report on just the main Four Points of the home.
