Four Point Insurance Home Inspections

The Four Point Insurance Home Inspection was created after Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992. It is completed on behalf of the insurance companies and, typically, as a requirement for the insurer to offer insurance to the home owner. After 2004's barrage of hurricanes that affected Florida, the four point insurance inspection has taken on added importance. As insurance companies are beginning to see the benefit of the inspection, the program is spreading to other areas of the country. The benefit to the insurance company is reduced loss risk on home owners insurance policies. This is an area of business that has for many years been a money loser for insurance companies. Basically the insurer wants to know that the home is worthy of insurance and that the important elements are in good shape and up to date.

In 2002, the Florida Legislature passed a law that combined the Florida Residential Property and Casualty Joint Underwriting Association (FRPCJUA) and the Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association (FWUA.) This resulted in the creation of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (commonly known as just Citizens), which more efficiently and effectively provides insurance to, and serves the needs of, home owners in high-risk areas and others who cannot find coverage in the open, private insurance market. Mainly these homes are either built close to the shoreline or are older than 20 years. Citizens is funded by premiums paid by the insured and from other insurance companies paying into the program to reduce their overall losses.

The Four Point Insurance Home Inspection consists of a visual survey of the following four primary components of a house: 

               1. Roof 
               2. Electrical 
               3. HVAC (Heat, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) 
               4. Plumbing

Click for a Sample 4 Point Inspection Report

Insurance Companies are expecting the condition of the components listed above to be working as intended within the manufacturers specifications. They are looking for the four systems to be in generally good working condition and fulfilling their intended function. If the home is an older home the insurance companies want to see that the systems have been updated.