A 4-point inspection can pinpoint problems. What does a 4-point inspection not reveal?
Why Do You Need a 4-Point Inspection?
Perhaps your insurance company has requested a 4-point inspection before or after hurricane season. If your house has just celebrated its twenty-fifth birthday, investors or insurance organizations may want a “state-of-the-house” report.
The 25-year mark is officially “old age” in real estate. Insurance companies are gambling on Florida weather and its impact on your property so they want to ensure protections are in place. The 4-point inspection report can satisfy their concerns.
Some property owners are proactive and seek to lower insurance premiums. A 4-point inspection can justify their requests.
What a 4-Point Inspection Reveals…and Does Not Reveal
If you are buying or selling a home, the mortgage lender may request a more detailed inspection. A 4-point inspection visually focuses on four areas of a home:
- Electrical wiring, breaker box
- HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning)
- Plumbing fixtures, connections
- Roof condition
A 4-point inspection will not reveal:
1. Electrical Wiring
Your Florida home inspector will provide information about the circuit breaker and will share his or her opinion about whether or not the amperage is sufficient for current usage. Your local home inspection professional will not crawl behind the sofa or dismantle your breaker box. Visible hazards will be reported. If there’s a faulty electrical plug behind your king-size bed, it won’t be found.
2. HVAC
The type of heating/cooling systems in your home and if they work will be reported. A wood-burning stove or badly built gas fireplace will be reported as hazards. The age of your HVAC unit, its manufacturer, and when it was last serviced may not be reported.
3. Plumbing
General, visible conditions of appliances and fixtures (your water heater, too) will be reported. Pools or septic systems will not be examined during a 4-point inspection. If your pool looks bad, the inspector may recommend another inspection by a pool professional.
4. Roof
Visible signs of roof deterioration and overall condition will be reported. Its age, materials used and a best-guesstimate of longevity will be included in the 4-point inspection. The 4-point inspection pro will not climb onto your roof for closer examination.
The Eyes Have It
Four-point inspectors can’t determine if you have roaches, rodents, or infestations. They can report the smell of mold or visible droppings. Sagging floors or brown-spotted ceilings could indicate water damage. Black-spotted walls could indicate behind-the-scenes fungal growth. Exposed wiring is a hazard.
A 4-point inspection will not identify every little glitch, like scratched windows or chipped paint. “Normal wear and tear” will not be scrutinized.
SIP 4-Point Inspections
What you want most is for your local Volusia County inspection company to be honest and forthcoming. Super Inspection Pros wants homeowner safety first and foremost. We want low-cost insurance for families that provides adequate protection, too.
Call 386-279-0802 or contact us to discover if a 4-point inspection can save money and offer peace of mind.
