4 Point Inspections

Tampa FL 

 When you own or purchase an older home, rental property, or condo in Florida, you will likely need for a 4 point inspection before purchasing a homeowners policy.

 Most insurance companies will require a 4 point inspection when a home is older than 40 years, or a rental property is older than 30 years. You can get an insurance quote without an inspection. However, you will need inspection before actually purchasing the policy. We discuss below what an inspection looks at and what will cause a home to not "pass" a four point inspection.

 Each FL insurance company has slightly different guidelines on when a 4 point inspection is required, so check with your Independent Insurance Agent. A newer home does not need this inspection. You do not need this for a renters insurance policy.

 A 4 point inspection looks at the 4 major systems (Roof, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC) in an older home. An insurance company wants to know that an older home has been well maintained, and the major systems are in good working condition. Keep in mind that this is not a safety inspection. They are done by a licensed inspector or building contractor. 

 Some insurance companies like Citizens Insurance, require the inspector to use their form. Other insurance companies allow the inspector to use their preferred format. In addition to the written report, the inspector will take photos of each of the major systems to provide to the insurance company information about the property.

 You can provide your insurance company the full home inspection instead of a 4 point inspection. However, we strongly recommend that you don't do this. Insurance agencies, usually ask clients to provide only a 4 point inspection rather than the entire inspection. The reason is that a home inspection will also list other minor or major and/or cosmetic damages. We don't recommend sending all these issues to your prospective insurance company (unless you have been asked to do this).

 Reality is that any home can fail a 4 point inspection. If your home has problematic systems, or does not meet an insurance companies underwriting guidelines, you may be declined. If this happens, you can fix that issue, or contact another insurance company. Here are some common reasons that insurance companies won't insure older homes include:

1.- A shingle roof that is over 19 years old

2.- A tile roof or metal roof over 40 years old

3..- A damaged roof

4.- Aluminum wiring or knob and tube wiring due to fire hazards

5.- Certain brands of electric panels including Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Challenger, and Slyvania due to fire hazard

6.- Homes without central heat and air

7.- Polybutelene plumbing due to the high risk of plumbing bursts. 

8.- A hot water heater over 18 years old. 

 If you find your home has one of these issues, be sure to tell your insurance agent up front so you get an accurate quote.