What Is a 4-Point Inspection, and Why Does Florida Require It?

Once a Florida home passes about 30 years old, most carriers will not write or renew it without a 4-point inspection, a snapshot of the four systems most likely to cause an expensive claim.

The four points

• Roof — age, condition, and remaining useful life.
• Electrical — panel type and wiring, with no recalled panels (Federal Pacific, Zinsco) and no old aluminum branch wiring.
• Plumbing — supply material (no polybutylene), no active leaks, and water heater age.
• HVAC — age and whether the system is working and maintained.

Why insurers require it

Aging systems drive the costliest claims: fires from old wiring, water damage from failing plumbing. The 4-point tells the carrier whether the home is insurable at all, and on what terms.

What commonly fails a 4-point

The usual culprits are recalled electrical panels, aluminum branch wiring, polybutylene plumbing, an HVAC or water heater past its life, and a roof with little life left. Any one of these can mean a decline until it is corrected.

4-point vs. wind mitigation

They are different reports. A 4-point looks at the condition of your systems to answer "can we insure this home?" A wind mitigation inspection documents storm-resistance features to answer "what credits do you earn?" Older homes often need both, and a failed 4-point is a frequent reason a home gets non-renewed.

Frequently asked questions