The 4 Point Inspection
4 point inspections focus in on the following aspects of a home:
- The Roofing
- The Electrical System
- The Plumbing
- The HVAC
As these are the biggest areas of concern for insurance companies. Naturally this means other areas don’t get much attention, but it also allows your inspector to provide a focus and distilled report containing only what the insurance companies want to see. When you’re trying to save money on homeowners insurance this can be beneficial as it lets the positive attributes of your home stand out more.
So, when should you get a 4 point inspection? If you already know you want to go through with a home purchase and are simply looking to save some money on your homeowner’s insurance or your home is older and the insurance company is requiring it, then you should definitely get a 4 point inspection.
The Full Home Inspection
A full home inspection will hit most everything that a 4 point inspection does, but go into greater depth and cover some areas that the 4 point doesn’t such as:
- Appliances
- Interior/exterior cosmetic issues
- Architectural features
- Structural and System issues
- Roof, Flashing, and drainage systems
These are things that an insurance company wouldn’t particularly care about, but as a home buyer they are very important. Even if they don’t affect the stability of the home and the risk that your insurance company is taking on, they can cause future problems when you have to repair or replace things down the line.
So, why would you want a full home inspection? Full home inspections are more thorough and will catch more issues than a 4 point inspection, so if you are still in the decision making process and aren’t entirely sure about a house you should definitely go for a full home inspection.
Bottom Line. What Kind Of Inspection Do You Need?
To summarize it in one line: 4 point inspections are a good choice if you just want to satisfy homeowners insurance requirements while full home inspections are better if you are still in the decision making process.
At this point you might be thinking it’s simply always better to get a full home inspection, after all it covers the same ground as a 4 point inspection and then some, right? While this is true broadly speaking, the report produced from a 4 point inspection will be more concise and a good home inspector will tailor it to exactly what the insurance companies want to see, so if your primary concern is your home insurance policy then a 4 point is your best bet. They are also cheaper and take less time to complete.
At Super Inspection Pros all of our inspectors have years experience performing fast but thorough 4 point inspections, and we know exactly what your insurance carrier wants to see. Please contact us today to learn more about our inspection process or to schedule an inspection for your home.
