What are 4 Point and Wind Mitigation Reports and why you may need them

Wind Mitigation and 4 Point Inspection reports are for Insurance companies.
They answer specific questions the insurance companies need to issue insurance and may provide you discounts on your policy.  Most often they are required on older homes.  

What is older you ask? Typically, this means homes older than 20 years, however, each insurance company seems to have their own definition. So we strongly advise you contact your insurance company when considering ordering these services. Be advised,  we have seen wind mitigation reports requested by many local insurance agencies here in Florida on new homes in order for them to issue discounts. These discounts often save you way more than the small fee charged for the report.  
Be sure to ask your insurance agent if you would benefit from these insurance reports, then schedule an appointment with us and we will provide you with any of these reports you need.

Wind Mitigation Inspection Reports

A wind mitigation report informs the insurance company of a home's construction in order to determine its stability in the event of strong winds. A homeowner with windstorm insurance can often submit the results of  this report to their insurer and obtain discounts on their windstorm insurance.

For instance, in Florida discounts may be applied for certain favorable wind mitigation features as mandated by State law and can total 45% of the original policy's premium.
​
The purpose of a windstorm or wind mitigation inspection is to determine the appropriateness of a given structure's construction in the event of strong winds, such as those present in a hurricane.

Wind mitigation inspections look for construction features that have been shown to reduce losses in hurricanes. The factors found during the inspection that help determine a home's stability are the age of the home, to determine what building codes were in place at the time of construction, the age of roof covering with documentation to prove if the roof was installed to any certain building codes, the method of attachment of roof to truss/rafters, the roof to wall attachment style such as toenails, clips, or straps, the shape of the roof which is hip, gable, etc. , the presence of a secondary water resistance barrier, and the opening protection rating of the home. This rating is determined by the rating stickers installed by manufacturers on windows and doors and by any form of hurricane shutters made for the home. The opening protection rating is an all or nothing factor, so having some rated windows and/or partial shutter will not qualify your home. Additionally, any hurricane shutters will only be visually inspected to ensure there is enough for all openings of the home, thus the shutters will not be installed and/or tested.

​In Florida, a wind mitigation inspection is performed by a licensed general contractor, building contractor, architect, engineer, building inspector or home inspector. The information gathered is presented on a standard wind mitigation form, OIR-B1-1802, commonly referred to as the 1802 form. As of Feb 1, 2012, all inspections must have photos showing each feature listed on the wind mitigation form.

The wind mitigation inspection is NOT an inspection of the overall structure of the home and does NOT determine the condition of your home. If you are interested in knowing the condition of the home we suggest also having a full home inspection done in addition to your wind mitigation.

4 Point Inspection
​Reports

A Four Point inspection is NOT a Home Inspection or a subset of a home inspection. This report provides specific information an insurance company needs in regard to four components of a home to determine if the home is insurable.
​
A four point home inspection is NOT a pre-purchase/pre-sale home inspection, which is much more comprehensive in nature. The four point home inspection only satisfies insurance carrier requirements of 4 particular home systems (Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Roof).  A 4 point report ONLY reports on specific items for these systems that the insurance companies need to verify if the home is insurable. This report lacks the necessary information for you to make an informed decision in buying a home or its condition for selling, which is why we always suggest having a full home inspection completed in addition to a 4 point inspection.

The roof covering of the home is inspected for overall quality and condition, but any chipped or cracked tiles or partially damaged shingles will NOT be reported in this report. For the HVAC portion of the inspection the units are visually inspected for presence and a temperature adjustment test is done to ensure the system is functioning at industry standards. However, this inspection does NOT examine the interior and exterior coil condition, filter condition, duct work, and refrigerant lines, which are inspected in the full home inspection. The electric of the home is inspected through a visual inspection of the electrical panel to ensure adequate power supply with proper wiring. Additionally, GFCI protected outlets are tested, but not protected outlets, lighting fixtures, fans, and meter will NOT be examined. Lastly, the plumbing of the home is inspected by running water in sinks, showers, and flushing toilets to make sure proper supply pressure and drainage is present. Also, the water heater is inspected visually and a heating temperature tested is completed. However, any potential safety hazards on the water heater are NOT noted in the report.

It also is not a guarantee that the insurance carrier will qualify you, or that the home is insurable, or that the carrier will require no other certifications or inspections, or that you will not be required to have work performed after the home inspection. 

Many insurance companies are opting out of homeowners insurance because of the increase in claims and the remaining few companies require either a wind mitigation inspection, a roof certification or full roof inspection as well as a 4 point inspection to be carried out to protect their liability prior to writing the policy. So we suggest always asking your insurance carrier if you need a 4 point inspection.
For more information on these services check out our blog post written by one of our very own certified inspectors.

These insurance reports should not be used in place of a full home inspection which is more thorough and detailed in nature.

With a full home inspection, you will receive a detailed 300+ item report with photos determining the condition and functionality of the home​
Some of the items inspected during a full home inspection that are not included in a 4 point or wind mitigation report:
  • Exterior of the home including: drainage, hose bibs, trims, soffit, facia, fences, gates, drivewyas, carports, awnings, wall coverings, and stairs
  • Outside deck/screen cage and patio
  • Pools and pool equipment
  • Interior of the home including: the walls, ceilings, floor coverings, light fixtures, fans, doors, and windows
  • Appliances such as: washer and dyer, refrigerator, ice maker, stove, oven, disposal, dishwasher
  • The plumbing is inspected by checking for leaks and water pressure by running faucets, showers, and flushing toilets
  • Water heater
  • Electrical outlets are tested
  • Electrical meter and panel
  • HVAC system interior and exterior units with a condition inspection of the filter, coils, refrigerant lines, and duct work
  • Thermostat
  • Crawl space
  • Roof
  • Gutters and downspouts
  • Attic space
  • Outdoor kitchens
  • Garage Doors
  • Fireplaces
  • and so much more
If you are interested in seeing a sample full home inspection report please click the button below

Questions? Contact Us

Hope Home Inspections LLC
6497 Parkland Dr
Unit: J
Sarasota, FL  34243
941-773-1144
info@hopehomeinspections.com