Wind Mitigation & 4 Point Insurance Inspections
Wind Mitigation
A wind mitigation inspection is really not an inspection, but a report for your insurance company. The wind mitigation report informs the insurance carrier of a home’s construction to determine its stability in the event of strong winds. The report assesses and notes the age of the home, the age of the roof covering, the method of attachment for the roof decking to the truss/rafters, the roof to wall attachment style (toenail, clips, straps), the geometrical shape of the roof (hip, gable, other), any secondary water resistance that may have been installed during construction/replacement, and the opening protection rating.... (The opening protection rating involves checking all windows and doors for any rating stickers installed by the manufacturers or any form of hurricane shutters that have been made for this home specifically. It is important to note that when it comes to your opening rating, the insurance company abides by an all or nothing rule. This means that having some rated windows and/or partial shutters will not qualify you for discounts. Additionally, an inspector will only visually inspect any hurricane shutters to determine that there are enough for all openings, meaning no shutters are installed or tested). A homeowner can often submit the results from a wind mitigation inspection to their insurer to obtain discounts on their insurance.
However, this is not a guaranteed deduction and homeowners should confirm with insurers that the discount will apply to their policy.
The wind mitigation inspection is not an inspection of your roof’s condition nor the condition of any windows/doors/skylights and overall structure unless to note defects that could negate their rating level. While the inspector might see defects while they are on site, the defects will not be listed in report.
4 Point
A four point home inspection is NOT a pre-purchase/pre-sale home inspection, which is much more comprehensive in nature. It is simply to provide the specific information an insurance company needs in regards to 4 components of a home (roof, HVAC, electric, plumbing). During a four point inspection the inspector will check the overall quality and condition of the roof covering and be sure it is free of damage or deficiencies. They will sometimes perform a LIMITED inspection of the attic to ensure no ACTIVE leaks are present if the attic access and space is easily accessible and/or visually inspect all interior ceilings for any signs of moisture intrusion. They will visually inspect your HVAC units and perform a simple temperature adjustment test to ensure the system is functioning to industry standards. The electrical panel is visually inspected and the cover panel is removed to ensure adequate power supply along with proper wiring and all GFCI protected outlets are physically tested to ensure proper function. The water heater is inspected visually along with a heating temperature check. The plumbing of the home is inspected by running water in sinks, showers and flushing toilets to ensure proper supply pressure and drainage is present. All upgrades to these systems are noted by manufacturing date and/or permit completion date via county/city databases. The components that are checked are not inspected as comprehensively as during a full home inspection. For example the HVAC system is only checked to ensure proper heating and/or cooling function is present to industry standards, it does not cover interior coil condition, filter condition, duct work, refrigerant lines and exterior coil. This is also true for the roof covering, while the roof is inspected for any possible leaks or missing covering it is not inspected for other deficiencies such as chipped and cracked tiles or partially damaged shingles. The insurance company is only concerned with fully missing coverings. While the water heater and plumbing are inspected to insure proper function and drainage are present, any potential safety hazards on the water heater are not noted. These are all details that are covered in a home inspection report along with all the following items:
- Household appliances
- Condition of any plumbing fixtures (faucets, toilets, shower head, etc.) or installations
- Condition of walls, ceilings, floor coverings, light fixtures, ceiling fans and electrical outlets not required to be GFCI protected
- Attic space; other than to check for potential roof leaks
- Function and condition of doors and windows
- Patios, screen cages
- Pools and pool equipment
- Outdoor kitchens
- Garage doors
- Infrared scans
- Fireplaces
- Fences or Gates
- Exterior of Home
- Driveways
- Crawlspaces; other than visually inspected all exposed plumbing for leaks
