If you’re a Florida homeowner, chances are your insurance company will require a home insurance inspection before issuing or renewing your policy. These inspections help insurers assess your home’s risk and determine coverage eligibility, and they can even save you money or prevent policy cancellations.
There are several types of inspections commonly required for insurance purposes. In this guide, we’ll break down the most important ones: the 4 point inspection, wind mitigation, and roof inspection.
What Is a Home Insurance Inspection?
A home insurance inspection is a property evaluation conducted to identify potential risks or liabilities. Insurance companies use these inspections to ensure your home meets minimum safety standards and is not likely to suffer from avoidable damage, particularly in a state like Florida, where hurricanes, flooding, and aging homes present unique risks.
4 Point Inspection
A 4 point inspection is one of the most common insurance inspections in Florida, especially for homes over 20 years old.
What It Covers:
- Roof – Age, condition, and estimated life expectancy
- Electrical – Panel type, wiring condition, and code compliance
- Plumbing – Pipe materials, water heater, and leak detection
- HVAC – Heating and cooling system functionality
Why It Matters:
Many insurance providers won’t issue or renew a policy without a favorable 4 point inspection. The goal is to confirm that the home’s core systems are safe and in good working order.
Pro Tip: When you bundle a 4 point inspection and wind mitigation inspection, you not only save time and money on your inspection, but a favorable wind mitigation can lead to significant savings on your home insurance policy!
Wind Mitigation Inspection
Florida law encourages homeowners to make their properties more storm-resistant, and rewards those who do. A wind mitigation inspection evaluates how well your home can withstand hurricane-force winds.
What It Covers:
- Roof shape and age
- Roof-to-wall attachments (clips, straps)
- Roof decking and nail spacing
- Secondary water resistance
- Impact-resistant windows, doors, or shutters
Why It Matters:
A favorable wind mitigation inspection can unlock significant discounts on your homeowners insurance. Even older homes can qualify for savings if they’ve had roof or window upgrades.
As mentioned in the previous section, the combination of 4 point inspection + wind mitigation is the most requested pairing for Florida homeowners needing insurance.
Roof Inspection / Roof Certification
The roof inspection is often part of the 4 point, but in some cases, insurance companies request a standalone roof certification inspection—especially if your roof is 10+ years old.
What It Covers:
- Roofing material (shingle, tile, metal, flat, etc.)
- Age of the roof
- Visible signs of damage or leaks
- Remaining useful life
- Compliance with current building codes
Why It Matters:
This inspection helps the insurer determine if the inspection roof findings show that your home is insurable without repairs, or if a new roof may be required. This inspection offers valuable insights into the health of your roof.
Why These Inspections Matter for Home Insurance
Florida’s extreme weather, older housing stock, and evolving insurance market make inspections more important than ever. Here’s how the right inspections help:
- Avoid coverage gaps: Meet insurer requirements to avoid denials or policy lapses
- Lower your premiums: Wind mitigation discounts can drastically reduce your rates
- Speed up underwriting: Provide clear documentation that satisfies insurer questions
- Increase home value: Upgraded systems and certifications improve resale potential
Schedule Your Home Insurance Inspections Today
At My Safe Home Inspection, we specialize in fast, reliable home insurance inspections across Florida. Whether you need a 4 point inspection, wind mitigation, or a certified roof inspection, our licensed home inspectors are here to help you stay covered.
Book your inspection today to protect your home and save on insurance premiums.