Inspection Information
What is a wind mitigation?
As a homeowner with windstorm insurance, state law entitles you to certain premium reductions, but without an inspection, you can’t get them! If you haven’t had a windstorm insurance inspection at your current home, you are PROBABLY PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR WINDSTORM INSURANCE! During a wind mitigation inspection, a certified inspector reports on the key features that may decrease the amount of damage your home suffers during a hurricane or strong windstorm. These features fall into several categories, such as exterior construction type, roof shape and construction methods, age of roof covering, door and window opening protection as well as the actual year the home was built. Another factor may be the elevation of a property and how it relates to wind speed.
What is a four point inspection?
A four point home inspection generally includes but is not limited to a skilled inspection of the roof, the electrical system, plumbing system and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The different systems on your home have a varying but somewhat predictable life span. Most of the information gathered for a four point inspection pertains to just that. However, the information is not limited to the life expectancy of the systems. Also, considered are issues such as type of wiring used in the home and even the manufacturers of the equipment. We also look for signs of equipment or system failures. Our report will help the homeowner know what areas need to be rectified in order to gain the coverage they need.
What a four point inspection is not!
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 particular home systems and lacks the necessary information for you to make an informed decision in buying a home or its condition for selling. It also is not a guarantee that the insurance carrier will qualify you, that the home is insurable, that the carrier will require no other certifications or inspections, or that you won’t be required to have work performed after the home inspection.
What is a roof certification?
A Roof Certification Inspection is usually done at the request of the insurance carrier. They will typically request it due to the information they have on file is indicating that the roof covering is approaching the end of it’s expected life. The inspection is used to document the most recent dated of complete replacement. Therefore, it is extremely important for the homeowner to have a copy of the permit and/or contract of the most recent work completed. If no documents of a recent re-roof are available, the inspector will estimate the useful life remaining.
What is opening protection?
Opening protection on your Florida homeowner’s policy is the level of wind- resistant features built into the structure of your home. It refers to steps you’ve taken to upgrade all openings to your home -- your home’s entry doors, garage doors, windows, and skylights -- with wind-resistant features that are verified to meet Florida Building Code requirements. Most homeowners protect their window openings, but some forget about other openings, such as the garage door.
All Florida insurance companies offer discounts to property owners who protect their home against damage caused by strong winds. Your home mitigation verification inspection will determine if you can receive these discounts. Passing the opening protection portion of the inspection is a critical factor for receiving discounts. Inspectors will be looking for items such as hurricane shutters, reinforced garage doors, and fully protected impact resistant coverings capable of withstanding wind debris. The quality of the protection devices installed will also be a factor in the inspection. To qualify for the discounts, all openings must be protected with hurricane rated impact-resistant protection. Proper opening protection can also increase the resale value of your home, providing you more value for the future.