Why You Need a 4-Point Inspection Before Buying Your New Home

Are you on the lookout for a home? Then the thought of a home inspection might have crossed your mind. While you are hunting for houses in Central Florida, the need for a home inspection is one significant thing to keep in mind. Though it is not legally required to get your home inspected, it is still deemed a fundamental part of the home buying process.

You can call for a wind mitigation inspection, a thorough home inspection, and many other kinds of home inspection whenever the need arises. One of the most prevalent types of home inspections is a 4-point inspection. In most cases, complete home inspections are the best and most thorough option, however, a 4-point home inspection might be exactly what you need. 

There are plenty of good reasons why prospective homeowners in Central Florida might need a 4-point inspection before settling into their home. In this comprehensive guide, we discuss what a 4-point inspection is, what 4-point inspections cover, and the reasons why you should consider a home inspection before you buy a new home in Central Florida. 

4-Point Inspections in Central Florida - Orange County

4-point inspections are more common in the coastal states of the USA, especially in Texas and Florida. Orlando is one of the destinations in Florida where you will most likely be asked to submit a 4-point inspection as a component of the underwriting process. 

Home Inspection Orlando usually plays an essential role in closing the deal for purchase, so you meet your mortgage’s eligibility criteria. You can find a rough idea of what a 4-point inspection covers on the internet. 

Still, each Orlando insurance agency comes with its own set of policies and rules on who really requires an inspection. The NACHI, short for the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, has a universal 4-point inspection form. However, the law does not require individuals to use this form. 

What Kind Of Home Inspection Is Right For You?

4-point inspections are explicitly required for homeowner’s insurance, so you must not confuse it with a buyer’s inspection (also known as a home inspection, real estate inspection, or full inspection). It is essential to distinguish between a 4-point inspection and a new home inspection. 

The former is just visual and usually takes about 30 minutes, while the latter takes around 2-3 hours to complete. A 4-point inspection will identify core areas that typically lead to insurance claims. If a home partly or wholly fails the inspection process, your home inspector will discuss what needs to be replaced or fixed to minimize the deficiencies. 

The process of getting a home inspection might seem a bit complex and daunting at first. Still, our goal is to make your home inspection experience and process much easier than it technically seems. If you are a home buyer or a home seller looking for some helpful insights on the best home inspection in Orlando, you have come just to the right place. 

During the process of buying a home, you will need to hire a professional home inspector and see to it that they offer 4-point inspection and full home inspection services. While most inspectors in Central Florida do this, you can also hire a certified real estate inspection firm that provides this service or a private contractor to conduct individual inspections, which usually costs more. 

However, insurance firms will only accept home inspections from certified and licensed home inspectors, which means you shouldn’t risk the entire process by having your friend sign off on the inspection form. 

At Osborne Property Inspections, we pride ourselves on being one of the best home inspectors in Orlando and throughout Central Florida. With over 15 years of experience, multiple 5-star reviews, and influential industry leaders as satisfied clients, we guarantee quality in all aspects of your service. We guarantee a comprehensive home inspection that will not only bring you peace of mind but will also educate you on the components and methods of maintenance for long-lasting homes.

Osborne Property Inspections is committed to providing you with the best property, real estate, and home inspections in many Central Florida counties, including Orange County, Lake County, Volusia County, Osceola County, Seminole County, and Brevard County. Read on for more insightful inspection advice.

What is a 4-Point Inspection?

A 4-point inspection is typically a way of examining the well-being of your home. It is termed a “4-point inspection” primarily because it analyzes the 4 primary and significant systems of a property: plumbing, electrical, HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning), and roof. 

Most insurance firms require it before providing or renewing home insurance coverage, especially in cases where homes are over 15 years old. This inspection is basically an opportunity for the insurer to get an unbiased opinion from a professional regarding the condition of a specific house. It enables an insurer to realize and understand the stakes of the real estate they will be insuring. 

There can be particular conditions in a home that can become a liability in the future. Thus, a 4-point inspection simply alerts the insurer and the insurance company to potential impending problems. Most new and modern-day homes do not really need to undergo 4-point inspections. 

However, it might be essential for older homes as they are more likely to experience wear and tear or disrepair and have likely undergone several repairs that might not precisely meet the Florida Building code requirements. A 4-point inspection basically covers the four most important and key components that can be found across most homes: 

1. Plumbing System

   Inspectors will also inspect different kinds of pipes in your home to see their likelihood of bursting. If polybutylene plumbing is detected during the inspection, the insurance agency will most likely deny the coverage as they are highly prone to bursting. 

   However, a few insurance firms might also insure you but with the exclusion of water damage coverage. In such circumstances, if a flood occurs due to the bursting of these pipes, you, as the homeowner, will be entirely responsible for paying the total expense. 

   
   2. Electrical System

   Our home inspectors will look for what kind of electrical panels and wiring is in your home. If your home has aluminum, knob-and-tube, or copper wires, there is a likelihood that it won’t be insurable, mainly due to the many risks associated with fire hazards. Faulty wires are accountable for almost 90% of residential fires. 

   Hence, this is something noteworthy that most insurance firms consider very seriously. If any home is deemed uninsurable on account of wiring issues, it is crucial for the homeowner to prepare a budget for the required upgrades. If you do not make the upgrade, the fire risk will be considerably greater than before. That is another reason why it can be a good idea to consult with an experienced insurance home inspector like Osborne Property Inspections. If you are concerned about insurance coverage issues in your home, we can even connect you with experienced contractors who can help you successfully complete your project. If you would like to schedule a consultation, our phone number is 407-283-7167.

   
   3. HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) System

   Is there central air conditioning and heating in your home? What is the condition of the units? Are there any visible signs of damage, like a leakage? Or are there signs of condensate line issues? Note that every insurance agency has a line between what is considered acceptable or unacceptable while insuring older homes, so working with an experienced home inspector can help clarify uncertainties. However, it is relatively unusual to see insurance coverage being rejected due to a lack of central heating or air conditioning.

   
   4. Roofing

   Existing conditions, material, roof age, and surrounding trees are some of the primary things that inspectors look for. On a general note, insurance firms are unlikely to insure shingle roofs aged over 20 years or metal or tile roofs that exceed 40 years. However, if your home’s roof is relatively new but has visible damage on the outside with water leakage inside, it becomes a probable cause for denied coverage.

   Home inspectors examine the components and structure of your home in person to look for the existing or forthcoming problems as they complete the 4-point inspection form. This report must contain pictures of all the systems along with the exterior and interior of your home. 

   
   4 Reasons Why You Should Do a 4 Point Inspection

We have touched on several important reasons why prospective homeowners in Central Florida must have a 4-point inspection before they finalize the process of home buying. However, here are the primary reasons why a 4-point inspection can be beneficial.

1. To make sure you purchase an entirely functional real-estate property or home

A 4-point home inspection provides a solid rundown of the 4 effective systems of a particular home:

• Plumbing

• Electrical systems, such as panels, wiring, and meters.

• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)

• Roofing system

Home inspectors will note any visible or significant issues along with the inspection of the systems mentioned above, should they show up. However, the main focus is on these 4 primary systems that make up a complete functional house. It is vital to understand the significant importance of these 4 systems in your home.

• Poor electrical systems, paneling, and wiring are highly likely to result in an unexpected and unacceptable fire hazard. 

• The roof is the only thing that stands between your entire building and the weather. 

• Without proper heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, your home will become totally unbearable and unpleasant to dwell in. Besides, you might be breathing in harmful and dirty air. Also, especially in Central Florida and Orlando, the mildew and mold might also get out of hand. This can result in many health problems too. 

• There are also few things that homeowners dread more than plumbing problems, pipes bursting, and unexpected flooding. 

While we always recommend a full home inspection due to the increased level of detail, we also offer 4-point inspection reports for insurance purposes, or as add-ons to our standard suite of home inspection services.

2. Your homeowners’ insurance firm will ask for it

Even if the state government doesn’t really require getting a 4-point home inspection, your respective home insurer will undoubtedly recommend you get it done if your home is over 15 years old. This is the 2nd primary reason to ensure you do not leave out this step in the home-purchasing process. 

The key reason is to get the approval. It is just not possible to go about buying or selling your house without homeowner’s insurance, not only due to the risk you would be carrying, but also because the person lending the mortgage will also need you to get a homeowner’s insurance. 

What happens if a specific home fails the 4-point inspection? The short answer to this question is the home inspection is not exactly a fail/pass kind of test. However, if a home is found with many problems concerned with the electrical, HVAC, roofing, and plumbing systems, you will likely need to fix them to be eligible for homeowner’s insurance. 

Sometimes, you might even come across an insurance firm that is willing to insure your home regardless. Still, that’s likely to exclude critical coverages (such as water damage for your bad plumbing) or require higher insurance premiums. This will only mean starting your life on the wrong foot in your new home. This emphasizes why it is not advisable to skip getting a 4-point home inspection.

3. 4-point inspections are vital for older homes

While all home purchases must go along with a 4-point inspection or any other inspection, it is more essential with older buildings and real estate properties. Home insurers will be bent on and require you to get a 4-point inspection if your home is over 30 years old and in the State of Florida, most will start requiring it when the home is over 15 years old. 

If you opt for a full home inspection, a 4-point inspection report can be included as an add-on as part of your service. In insurance inspection circumstances though, complete inspections are usually not required or won’t suit your best interests, which is why a 4-point inspection will likely be more than enough. 

Simultaneously, older homes are more vulnerable to issues and will most likely be exposed during home inspections. A few problems that might pop up during your 4-point inspection which you might have to upgrade or repair to get an excellent insurance quote from your insurer include:

• If it has very old or damaged roofing (for instance, asphalt shingle roofing more than 20 years old and way over its manufacturer’s warranty.)

• If there is zero central heating or air conditioning in the building.

• If there is an old and inefficient hot water heater.

• Anything that is 18 years or older can be a problem.

• Improper insulation

• If there is electric wiring that is prone to causing house fires, like knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring. 

• Polybutylene plumbing pipes as this material is often the culprit of burst pipes. 

• If the electric panels are made by brands like Federal Pacific Electrical Panels that have been confirmed to cause a higher than average risk of fire over time. 

Luckily, even the most significant problem with each of your home’s 4 primary systems can be easily detected even before you have finalized the purchase. Your seller might either fix this problem themselves or diminish the selling price, leaving you with extra money to resolve these issues on your own after the purchase. Call us today at 407-283-7167 or send us an email at osbornepropertyinspections@gmail.com to see what kind of home inspection is right for you.

4. 4-point inspections are easy, quick, and inexpensive

While 4-point inspections are incredibly essential, they are not as difficult as you may think. You can get 4-point inspections done in just one day in a span of a few hours by our licensed, trained, insured, and professional home inspectors.

You should plan on being present during the home inspection process if you have a contract or have paid money for the house. However, it is entirely your choice to attend or not. Either way, we would prepare a detailed report for you to review. You can also send over somebody else instead or solely rely on your home inspector.  Additionally, a 4-point inspection is valid for three years, so you can use it in the future as well if you plan to switch to another home insurance provider within that time frame. 

Conclusion

So, if your rental property or home residence in Central Florida is over 15 years old, your insurance firm will probably require you to obtain a 4-point inspection from a reputable and licensed home inspection company for you to get a policy. We would love to help you.

However, getting a full home inspection done with our 4-point inspection add-on not only helps you to acquire the best homeowner insurance on your property, it also grants you the peace of mind that your home is truly safe for you and your family. And if any inspection findings can become an issue in the future, your home inspector from Osborne Property Inspections can give you an idea of how to plan for repairs and what to budget for in the future. 

Call 407-283-7167 for your free, no obligation phone consultation today!