10/15/2024
So I get the same two questions quite often: “What is a wind mitigation, and what is a 4-point inspection?” Most Florida realtors know the answer, but not their buyers. Most states do not require these reports!
A “Wind Mitigation” is a report that covers how well your home is protected during a hurricane. A home inspector will look at your window and door protection. We are looking for hurricane glass or shutters. Doors, we are looking to see if they are hurricane rated and this includes the garage door. A home inspector will also get into your attic and look to see how the trusses are tied down to the walls…we are looking for straps, clips and the number of nails holding these in place. All new roofs have to be brought up to code with 8D nails that are ribbed and 2 1/2 inches long, and the nails are spaced no more than 6 inches apart. Insurance also wants to know what kind of underlayment you have. A SWR (secondary water resistant) underlayment is the best. In construction, we also call the SWR, peal and stick. Before running out and spending a lot of money for upgrades, like new hurricane windows, call your insurance company first to see what your savings will be. I had a customer who went out and spent $25k on new hurricane windows, and the insurance savings was around $200-$300 per year. It takes a long time to make that money back. Peace of mind with good strong windows also goes a long way!
A four point inspection is usually required every year or every time you switch insurance companies. A four point inspection looks at the roof condition (shingles, tiles, or metal sheets). We also have to check the interior ceiling for any leak marks. The inspector will also look at the electrical panel and its condition. Some Square D breakers are made for two wires, but they have to be the exact same size/type of wire or it is considered a double tap. Insurance companies do not like double taps. The 4-point will also look at your AC unit and its condition. The 4th item to be looked at is your water heater and the water connections inside the home. We look at the water connections under every sink and at every toilet. So basically, your insurance company does not want to insure/pay for anything that is already damaged. They will ask you to repair it before they insure your home. So if you know something is wrong with one of these four items, then fix it before the inspector arrives to take pictures for the report.
If I find anything wrong during the inspection, I will ask the homeowner to fix it first before I write the report. You want to send your insurance company a clean report. Never send them a report that shows something is wrong. It may create a headache down the road with the insurance company.
