4-Point Preparation

If you’re a new homeowner, or perhaps a first-time home buyer in South Florida, chances are you may not have heard about a 4-point inspection. If your home is 20 years or older it’s likely your insurance agent will require a 4-point form in order to get homeowner’s insurance.

There are many misconceptions about this type of inspection, but the one that we at Florida’s Favorite come across often is the idea that it comes down to the inspector as to whether or not your home passes the inspection. Truth be told, your inspector is merely collecting information required by the insurance company and it’s ultimately up to your insurance company as to whether they want to insure you. There are some things you can do, however, to make sure you have the best chance at a satisfactory inspection. As there are 4 main systems being inspected during a 4 point inspection, below are the 4 main areas you can prepare ahead of time:

Electrical:

Clearance - As the inspector will need access to the electrical panel, make sure there is clear access to this. You’d be surprised by the number of times we’ve found millwork that has been built over the electrical panel. If this is your circumstance, you will need to remove the obstruction prior to inspection.

Knockouts - Knockouts are where an electrical box has been punched through (or knocked out) to allow for wiring to come through or for positioning breakers. This is one seemingly insignificant item, as it’s small and cheap, but missing knockout covers will be a problem on your report. You can buy filler plates or knockout covers for a few dollars a piece at your local hardware store.

HVAC:

Filters - Change the filters! With or without a 4 point, most homeowners don’t change their filters every 2-3 months as recommended. Not changing your filters regularly, puts strain on the equipment, which can end up physically damaging the filter and causing an air bypass, and could lead to problems such as a backed-up condensate line, which would be noted on a 4-point.

Leaks - If the condensate line or air handler is leaking, or the drip pan is holding water, we would recommend you have an HVAC contractor fix the issues prior to the inspection.

Plumbing:

Clearance - We’ll say this one over and over. If your vanity is full of personal items that you’d prefer not to be noticed by your inspector, you’re going to need to move these items. The same can be said for the water heater, as the plumbing connections on top and the base will need to be clearly visible, as will access to the data label. It’s no strain for the inspector to simply note your plumbing wasn’t accessible, but when your insurance refuses to write you a policy because of it, you’ll be required to have a reinspection for an additional fee and will have to move the items at a later date anyway.

Leaks - Run your faucets for a few minutes each and just observe if there are any leaks around the faucet or plumbing. If there are, call out a plumber and get them fixed prior to inspection, as this will most definitely be an unsatisfactory item on the report. Additionally, check the base of the water heater for leaks, along with the pipe connections and valves on top that may be leaking or show significant signs of corrosion. Not only will this avoid the need for a reinspection, saving you time and money, but it may have just saved you a bigger problem in dealing with mold if it had gone unchecked longer.

Roofing:

Tiling and shingles - Of course, you’re probably not a roofer and may not yet know if there is a problem with your roof or its life expectancy, but if you feel you can safely view your roof, it’s easy to note broken tiles or shingles. Unfortunately, broken roofing will have to be noted, which will most likely be a problem for your insurance. Fixing a few shingles is fortunately a fairly inexpensive task that most handymen are capable of fixing.

With all of the above items, we can’t stress enough that there needs to be clearance. If the inspector has to write “not accessible” anywhere on the report, it will be a problem and in most cases will require a re-inspection.

Florida’s Favorite Home Inspections knows that finding out about last-minute problems is never fun, so we encourage homeowners to do their best at preparing for inspection. Ultimately, any repairs made will only serve to provide better safety and help to increase the property value in the long run.