FAQ

+ WHAT IS A WIND MITIGATION INSPECTION?

A wind mitigation inspection may qualify a property for insurance policy discounts. These discounts reward properties with wind-resistance features, which decrease the amount of damage that may occur during a windstorm. Less damage equals fewer costs to insurance companies. These savings are passed on to homeowners in the form of wind mitigation credits.

+ Why is a wind mitigation inspection required for my home?

Your homeowners insurance company may require an inspection to confirm some attributes of the construction of your home in the event of strong winds. One of the benefits of receiving a wind mitigation inspection is identifying the potential insurance savings available to you based on your home's current structure.

+ WHY DO I NEED PROTECTION AGAINST WINDSTORMS?

Windstorms may produce severe damage to a home for several reasons. When strong winds assault your home, several forces come into play that will simultaneously create uplifting, shearing, and lateral forces, causing massive destruction to a home. Often they will also destroy windows and doors, allowing water in, which will cause severe damage to the home's interior. High winds can also blow debris onto and into the home, further destroying the property. If the home's outer shell is breached, high powered winds can cause the roof to come off as the combination of forces wreaks havoc on an unprotected structure. Installing wind-resistance features will help protect your property and family from the damage of a windstorm.

+ WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A WIND MITIGATION INSPECTION?

To find out how well your home's features would withstand a hurricane or windstorm and what you can do if you don't have all the features to help protect your home and family. A wind mitigation inspection also determines credits you may qualify for to help reduce the cost of your Florida homeowners insurance.

+ HOW CAN I SAVE MONEY BY HAVING A WIND MITIGATION INSPECTION COMPLETED?

Typically, the way to reduce homeowners insurance rates is to have a safer home. The more prepared and reinforced the home, the more discounts insurance companies may provide. Discounts are called Wind Mitigation discounts. We help evaluate your home and let you know what steps you can take to make it more wind-resistive. Wind Mitigation discounts are applied toward the windstorm portion of your total insurance premium.

+ WHAT FEATURES ARE INSPECTED DURING A WIND MITIGATION INSPECTION?

The primary factors in wind mitigation discounts are a property's wind-resistant features. These features include concrete block construction, a hip roof, single or double roof straps, the type of roof covering, impact-resistant glass, reinforced garage doors, window shutters, the presence of a secondary water resistance barrier, and property opening protection.

+ WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING THE INSPECTION?

A Home Inspection Services Inspector will document and take photographs of both the inside and outside of your property. Photos inside the attic of the home are typically required when accessible. All impact roofing, windows and doors, and impact-resistant coverings will be documented and reviewed for potential credits toward your home insurance.

+ WHAT FORM DO YOU USE FOR YOUR WIND MITIGATION INSPECTIONS?

We use the standard Office of Insurance Regulation required Uniform Mitigation inspection form (OIR-1802). The form is valid for up to 5 years, provided no material changes have been made to the structure or is superseded by a revised windstorm inspection form. Check with your insurance agent if you are uncertain whether your wind mitigation report is about to expire.

+ WHAT IS A 4-POINT INSPECTION AND WHY DO I NEED ONE?

The purpose of a 4-point inspection is to give insurance companies a snapshot of the home they are insuring. A 4-point inspection examines the four major systems (roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC) in a home.

Your insurance company may require a 4-point inspection to either obtain or maintain homeowners insurance coverage. While you can get an insurance quote without an inspection, you may need an inspection before actually purchasing the policy.

When you own or purchase an older home, rental property, or condo in Florida, you will likely need a 4-point inspection before buying a homeowner's insurance policy. They want to know that an older home has been maintained and the major systems are in good working order. Some, however, require any newly-purchased home to have a 4-point inspection performed. Requirements vary based on your insurance company and their underwriting guidelines.

A 4-point inspection is not a safety inspection. It is done by a licensed inspector or building contractor.

+ WHAT WILL THE INSPECTOR DO DURING A 4-POINT INSPECTION?

The inspector will document as well as take photos of the following:

• Roof - Type of roof covering (shingles, tile, rolled). The age and condition of the roof.
• Electrical System - The type of wiring in the home (copper, aluminum, knob, and tube). The brand of the electrical panel. The condition of the home's electrical system.
• Heating and cooling - Is there central heat and air in the home? The age and condition of the system.
• Plumbing System - Type of supply and drain lines found in the home (copper, CPVC, galvanized, lead, polybutylene, etc. Is there evidence of current leaks? The age of the water heater.

+ WHAT IF I DON'T PASS MY 4-POINT INSPECTION?

Roofing materials that surpass age guidelines, roof damage, poor electrical conditions, or a water heater that exceeds its industry-accepted lifespan can cause a home to receive unacceptable results from a 4-point inspection.

Some insurance companies will not insure you if you do not fix the problems identified in your inspection. Others will insure you but may add an exclusion or surcharge to the specified items. Replacing or repairing deficiencies identified in a 4-point inspection is typically recommended and, in some cases, required. It may be an involved process, but it's usually better than risking potential damage to your home or prevent you from obtaining quality insurance coverage.

If your home does not pass a 4-point inspection, talk to your authorized insurance agent about the next steps.

+ WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 4-POINT INSPECTION, A WIND MITIGATION INSPECTION, AND AN OPENING PROTECTION INSPECTION?

A 4-point inspection is generally required by insurance companies because it gives them information they need about your home’s four major systems (roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC) to put together your insurance policy. You'll likely need a 4-point inspection before purchasing your policy.

While not required to get homeowners insurance, a wind mitigation inspection assesses all your home's wind-resistance features to help you qualify for insurance policy discounts.

An opening protection inspection verifies that your home's openings are properly guarded with wind-resistant features and meet Florida Building Code requirements. The inspection is completed as part of the wind mitigation inspection form and may qualify a property for homeowners insurance policy discounts.

+ WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 4-POINT INSPECTION AND A PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION?

A full pre-purchase inspection takes roughly two and a half to three hours. It examines the entirety of a home, while a 4-point inspection usually takes 20 to 30 minutes and focuses on the four major systems of a home.

+ DO I NEED A 4-POINT INSPECTION IF I HAD A PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION COMPLETED?

Your insurance company decides whether you need a 4-point inspection. Check with your authorized insurance agent to determine what inspections are required. Always provide all inspection reports you already have to your insurance agent, who can help you determine what additional inspections may be required.

+ DO YOU OFFER PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS?

We do not currently offer pre-purchase inspections.

+ WHAT IS AN OPENING PROTECTION INSPECTION?

Opening protection is the level of wind-resistant features in a home's opening structures, including entry doors, garage doors, windows, vents, and skylights. An opening protection inspection verifies a home's openings are properly guarded with wind-resistant features and meet Florida Building Code requirements. These features may have been built-in when the house was constructed or added later as protection upgrades.

Opening protection inspection may qualify a property for homeowners insurance policy discounts. These discounts reward those who have impact-rated protection on the openings of their home. The inspection is completed on the wind mitigation inspection form. Some carriers only accept the full wind mitigation report and not the opening protection only.

+ WHAT FEATURES ARE INSPECTED DURING AN OPENING PROTECTION INSPECTION?

The primary factors in opening protection discounts are the impact-rated openings or impact rated equipment installed to cover the openings in the event of a storm. During the inspection, the inspector will inspect the openings in a home, which consist of the entry doors, garage doors, windows, vents, and skylights.

+ WHY DO I NEED OPENING PROTECTION AGAINST WINDSTORMS?

Opening protection can help prevent major damage to your home during a storm. Once wind enters through a window, door, or skylight, the pressure in your home doubles, making the roof much more likely to blow off because of the external and internal pressures at work. Extreme damage can also be done to the interior of your home due to wind-driven rain and flying object.

+ WHAT IS A REINSPECTION?

Reinspections are repeat inspections carried out within a year of initial opening protection, wind mitigation, or 4-point inspections. A reinspection can be especially helpful if you’ve made changes to your property that may qualify you for home insurance discounts or credits. During a reinspection, an inspector will review and confirm specific changes you’ve made to your property since the original inspection. Once the reinspection is complete, the updated report can be used by your insurance company to apply Florida Building Code (FBC) discounts towards your policy.

+ DO I NEED A REINSPECTION?

A reinspection verifies the improvements or upgrades you’ve made to your home to qualify for home insurance discounts or credits. In some cases, changes can be made to a report without the need for a reinspection. That depends on the changes you’ve made to your property.

+ WHEN CAN I GET A REINSPECTION?

If you’ve already had an opening protection, wind mitigation, or 4-point inspection completed with Home Inspection Services, you are eligible for a reinspection at a discounted rate for up to one year following the initial inspection.