Essentially, it’s a home inspection that focuses on a few key areas of the home: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and roofing. Why these areas? Because they are the primary source of expensive insurance claims. What it’s not is a comprehensive inspection. There are many areas of a house that are skipped over by a 4 point because they aren’t all that relevant to an insurance company. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t relevant to you as a home buyer. So, you should never use it to make a decision regarding the purchase of a house. There are simply too many things that 4 point inspections don’t cover.
Can’t I Just Get A Home Inspection Instead?
Most insurance companies are not going to want to sift through the bulk of a home inspection report just to get to the things they’re actually interested in. For some, this is a hard line. They just won’t accept home inspection reports at all. Others may begrudgingly accept them. Either way, there are benefits to doing this the proper way and getting a 4 point inspection. Mostly, it’ll help clarify things. Sending an insurer a huge list of every issue, major and minor, with a house is more likely to get your request for insurance denied.
Do I Have To Get One?
First off, if the house you’re looking was constructed more than 30 years ago then you’ll need a 4 point inspection. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. This is thanks to a Florida law that went into effect on September 1, 2018. Speaking more generally, the older a home is the more likely it is that an insurer will request a 4 point. That’s because an old house more likely to have serious issues. Issues like outdated electrical panels, faulty wiring, plumbing leaks, or damaged roofing. The point of a 4 point inspection is to help underwriters assess risk and older houses are riskier by nature.
Will It Save Me Money?
The answer to this varies from insurer to insurer. Some treat the 4 point as strictly pass/fail. You either get insurance or you don’t. Others may be willing to negotiate a bit if a home is in great condition. The bottom line is that there are no guarantees that you’ll save money here, but if you have to get the inspection anyway then the possibility that you might be a nice bonus.
Insurance companies are becoming increasingly reluctant to issue the homeowner’s insurance without an inspection. This is especially true of older houses. It’s understandable, they want to minimize their risk. But for many home buyers, it comes as a bit of a surprise. Fortunately, it’s not something you need to worry too much about. Especially with the right home inspector on your side. For more information about our inspection process or to schedule an inspection of your home just contact us at Super Inspection Pros. today.
