The Florida 4-Point Inspection: What It Is, When You Need One, and How to Pass

You're shopping for Florida home insurance and your agent tells you the carrier needs a 4-point inspection before they'll issue a quote. If your home is over 20 to 30 years old, this is almost guaranteed. A 4-point inspection examines four critical systems in your home — roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC — to determine whether they're in acceptable condition for insurance purposes. It's not a full home inspection. It's faster, cheaper, and focused entirely on what insurance carriers care about. Here's everything you need to know: what inspectors look for, what can cause you to fail, and how to prepare.

What Is a 4-Point Inspection?

A 4-point inspection evaluates four systems that carriers consider the highest risk for claims:

1. Roof: Age, material type, condition, estimated remaining life, signs of damage or leaks.
2. Electrical: Panel type, wiring type (copper vs. aluminum), amperage, condition, presence of hazards like knob-and-tube or Federal Pacific panels.
3. Plumbing: Pipe material (copper, PVC, CPVC, galvanized, polybutylene), water heater age and condition, visible leaks or corrosion.
4. HVAC: System age, type, condition, functionality. Central AC vs. window units.

The inspector documents each system with photos and notes on the standardized form, then signs and submits the report. Carriers use this to decide whether to write your policy and at what rate.

When Do You Need a 4-Point Inspection?

• New policy on a home over 20-30 years old. Most Florida carriers require a 4-point for homes built before roughly 1995-2005 (the exact threshold varies by carrier).
• Switching carriers. Even if your current carrier didn't require one, a new carrier almost certainly will for an older home.
• Policy renewal on older homes. Some carriers require updated 4-points every 3-5 years at renewal.
• After major system replacements. If you replaced your roof, panel, plumbing, or HVAC, an updated 4-point documents the improvement — which can lower your premium.

A 4-point inspection typically costs $100-$200 and takes 30-60 minutes. The easiest way to book one: InspectFlorida.com matches you with a licensed Florida inspector in your area. Submit your request in 60 seconds, pick a time that works, and get your report.

What Causes a 4-Point Inspection to Fail?

These are the most common issues that cause carriers to decline coverage based on a 4-point:

Roof

• Roof over 15-20 years old (varies by carrier)
• Multiple layers of shingles
• Visible damage, missing shingles, or active leaks
• Wood shake roofing (high fire and wind risk)

Electrical

• Federal Pacific or Zinsco panels — immediate decline from most carriers due to documented fire hazard
• Aluminum wiring — some carriers decline, others write with surcharge
• Knob-and-tube wiring — automatic decline from virtually all carriers
• Fuse boxes instead of breaker panels
• Double-tapped breakers or exposed wiring

Plumbing

• Polybutylene pipes (gray plastic) — automatic decline from most carriers. These pipes, installed in millions of homes from 1978-1995, are prone to sudden failure.
• Galvanized steel pipes with visible corrosion
• Active leaks or water damage
• Water heater over 15 years old

HVAC

• No central cooling system
• Non-functional HVAC system
• Very old system (20+ years)

How to Prepare for Your 4-Point Inspection

1. Know your system ages. Have dates for your last roof replacement, electrical panel upgrade, plumbing work, and HVAC installation. Receipts or permit records help.
2. Ensure access. The inspector needs to see your electrical panel, water heater, HVAC unit, and attic access (for roof underside). Clear obstructions.
3. Fix obvious issues first. A dripping faucet, a missing breaker cover, or a cracked drain pipe are cheap fixes that can prevent a failed inspection.
4. Have your HVAC serviced. A recent service receipt showing the system is operational helps the report.
5. Don't panic about older systems. Many carriers will write older homes — the 4-point just documents what's there so the carrier can price accordingly.

Ready to schedule? InspectFlorida.com works like Uber for inspections — request your 4-point online, get matched with a licensed inspector, and pick a time that fits your schedule. No calling a dozen companies to check availability.

4-Point Inspection vs. Wind Mitigation Inspection

These are two different inspections that serve different purposes:

Pro tip: If you need both, book them at the same time with the same inspector through InspectFlorida.com. Most inspectors can do both in a single visit, saving you time and often money.

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