What is a four-point inspection?
A four-point inspection is a focused report used in property-insurance underwriting. It describes the accessible condition of four major systems and provides requested information or photographs. The insurer decides whether the report satisfies its requirements and whether the property meets its underwriting criteria.
Requirements are not identical across insurers, policies, or properties. Ask your insurance agent whether a report is required, which form is accepted, who may complete it, and how recent it must be. Share those instructions before the appointment so the scope matches the request.
Investment Inspection can discuss four-point inspection scheduling in Hollywood and nearby South Florida communities. If you are buying a home, consider the insurance report alongside a full buyer home inspection.
The four systems in the report
Roof
The report may request the roof-covering type, available age information, visible condition, evidence of leaks, and other insurer-specific details. Bring available roof permits, invoices, and prior reports. A visible inspection does not uncover every layer or establish concealed conditions.
Electrical
Accessible service and panel information, visible wiring conditions, and observed concerns help describe the electrical system. Equipment identification and photographs can be particularly important to underwriting questions. A hazardous condition may require an electrician’s evaluation.
Plumbing
Accessible pipe materials, fixtures, water-heater information, and visible leaks are documented as required by the report. Pipework hidden in walls, beneath slabs, or underground is not fully evaluated through a four-point inspection.
Heating and cooling
Accessible system information and visible operating concerns are considered within the report’s scope. Utilities and access should permit safe use of normal controls. A system that cannot be operated should not be represented as tested.
Four-point versus a full home inspection
| Question | Four-point | Full home inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Requested insurance documentation | Broader property-condition information |
| Core scope | Roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC | Accessible systems defined in the inspection agreement |
| Main reader | Insurer or insurance agent | Buyer or property owner |
| Replaces the other? | No | Not necessarily; insurer forms may still be needed |
A four-point report is not a comprehensive evaluation of the house. It does not replace a buyer’s review of the structure, exterior, interiors, and other systems within a general inspection scope.
Roof age is not the whole insurance answer
Ask your agent how roof condition, documentation, and the specific policy interact. Florida law restricts certain refusals based solely on roof age and provides an inspection route for older roofs with sufficient remaining useful life. Other lawful underwriting considerations and statutory exclusions still apply.
Do not assume that reaching a particular age makes a home automatically uninsurable, or that an inspection guarantees acceptance. Review Florida Statutes section 627.7011 with your insurance professional when that question arises.
Before and after the inspection
Provide the insurer’s requirements, property address, deadline, and available equipment or roof records. Arrange safe access to panels, the water heater, heating and cooling equipment, and required roof observation areas. Confirm that the utilities will be on.
If findings require repairs, ask the insurer what evidence it needs after the work: invoices, photographs, a licensed contractor’s documentation, or a follow-up inspection. A finding should not be changed without appropriate evidence. The insurer determines whether the completed documentation is acceptable.
Ask about coordinating a wind mitigation inspection if your agent requests one. It documents a different set of features and is not automatically included in a four-point report.
Frequently asked questions
At what age does a house need a four-point inspection?
There is no single requirement for every insurer and policy. Your agent can confirm whether the property requires a four-point report and the applicable form and timing.
Will a four-point inspection guarantee coverage?
No. The insurer makes the coverage decision. The report documents observations and requested information; it is not an insurance binder or approval.
Can this be scheduled with a buyer inspection?
Ask about completing both during one appointment. Confirm the separate scopes, reports, price, qualifications, and access requirements before booking.