You’ve likely heard that you need both a wind mitigation inspection in Orlando and a 4-point inspection when buying or selling a home. You might not exactly know the difference between these two inspections, but rest assured that they are indeed different.
If you’re getting both of these done—and you should be because they’re both required in Florida—they’ll ensure your home is ready for harsh weather conditions and that you’re getting the best insurance rate too.
What Is the Difference Between a Wind Mitigation and a 4-Point Inspection?
When selling a home, the state of Florida requires both a wind mitigation and 4-point inspection, which will reveal the state of the house and how it can stand up to the elements. They may seem similar, but these inspections are both done for a specific purpose.
Wind Mitigation
As the name suggests, a wind mitigation inspection looks specifically at the home’s ability to handle any possible damage during a windstorm. The home inspector will take some time to check around the home and see how the structure will hold up.
Now, you can’t “fail” this kind of inspection. Instead, you’ll simply be told how your home can stand up to wind and may not receive as many benefits if your home doesn’t do very well in this inspection.
What They Look For
For the most part, a wind mitigation inspection will look at the outside of your home. This includes checking the roof, considering the building codes, how well the roof is attached, and whether there is a water barrier in the case of a hurricane.
This isn’t a complete inspection of your home’s overall structure but rather an assessment of the parts of your home that will be dealing the most with wind.
Benefits to Wind Mitigation Inspections
One of the best reasons to get a wind mitigation inspection is that insurance companies must hand out discounts for home insurance if you get a passing mark. In the end, the type of discount you receive will often be more than the cost of hiring an inspector.
4-Point Inspection
There are four main points to this inspection: the roof, the electrical system, HVAC, and the plumbing system too. The requirements for this inspection will vary, but some insurance companies need them when a home reaches five years old.
Others will want them done if the home in question is over 25 years old.
What They Look For
Your inspector will look at four different areas of your home, and they will be looking to make sure there are no significant problems.
As they check the roof, they’ll consider the type of roof, its age, and if there’s any possible damage. If there are any excessive issues, they will definitely need to be fixed.
The same goes for the electrical system too. Again, the inspector will consider the condition of the system and any repairs needed, which will ensure that there are no possibilities for fires.
Of course, that leaves the plumbing system, which your inspector will inspect to ensure no leaks or outdated heaters. Likewise, when inspecting the HVAC system, they’ll check that there are no leaks and that the ventilation is working correctly.
Benefits to the 4-Point Inspection
Ultimately, your most significant benefit to this inspection is knowing that your home is in good working order. You may get a lower insurance rate with this inspection, but this is the type of inspection that will at least provide you with peace of mind.
As a home buyer, a 4-point inspection will let you know the problems of your potential home before you make the purchase.
Conclusion
There’s a lot that goes into buying and selling a home—and that includes different types of inspections. Two of those inspections are the wind mitigation and 4-point inspection, which may seem similar, but are essentially different.
Book your wind mitigation inspection with us today to check how your home will hold up, while our 4-point inspection will ensure that everything is in working order in your home.