Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Wind Mitigation Credits in Florida?
What Does a Wind Mitigation Inspection Include?
How Much Does a Wind Mitigation Inspection Cost?
Who Can Perform a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
How Long Do Wind Mitigation Credits Last?
What is a 4-Point Inspection?
What Are Wind Mitigation Credits in Florida?
The State of Florida requires insurance companies to offer discounts for protecting your home against damage caused by windstorms. These discounts are known as wind mitigation credits. In order to be eligible for them, a certified inspector needs to perform a wind mitigation inspection of your home.
Unlike other inspections – such as a “four-point inspection” – this one is not mandated by your insurance company or your lender. However, most wind mitigation inspections result in savings to your premiums that are covered by the cost of the inspection in the first year.
What Does a Wind Mitigation Inspection Include?
An inspector will come to your home and look for specific factors that would make your home more resilient to a windstorm. Specifically, they will be looking at your ROOF and openings into your home such as DOORS and WINDOWS. Florida wind mitigation inspectors examine these key safety features:
- Roof shape
- Roof internal bracing
- Roof deck attachment
- Roof covering
- Roof-to-wall connections
- Protection of openings (such as windows and other openings)
- Garage Doors
These features will be evaluated to determine how wind resilient your home is with its current features. All Florida homes built after 2002 were constructed to certain safety codes that will likely result in a savings to you. If your roof hasn’t been replaced since 2002 but was built after 1974, we still recommend having a wind mitigation inspection. Based on how it was constructed, there are some features that may still qualify you for discounts.
There are a few cost-effective measures you can take to safeguard your home and reduce your hurricane-wind premium: hurricane protection of windows, doors and other openings of your home. To qualify for the opening protection credit, all windows and openings must be protected including a hurricane-resistant garage door.
How Much Does a Wind Mitigation Inspection Cost?
A wind mitigation report will cost, on average, $100.00-$175.00. However, with minimal wind mitigation features in place, the inspection will pay for itself in the first year.
Who Can Perform a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
Only certain Florida-certified construction professionals can perform a wind mitigation inspection. This includes:
- Certified General, Building or Residential Contractors
- Certified Building Code Inspectors
- Professional Engineers
- Professional Architects
Homeowners cannot perform their own wind mitigation inspections.
How Long Do Wind Mitigation Credits Last?
The credits continue for the life of the insurance policy in which the inspection report was used to apply credits. However, the inspection report expires after five years, therefore if you change companies after five years of the inspection you will need to obtain a new wind mitigation report to submit to the new insurance carrier.
Please contact your Personal Insurance advisor to discuss wind mitigation credits and find out if you could benefit from the inspection!
What is a 4-Point Inspection?
A 4-point home inspection in Florida, typically checks the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems of a home. It’s often required by insurance companies, especially for older homes, to ensure these systems are in good condition. This inspection doesn’t include a foundation or structural issues.
The average cost of a 4-point inspection in Florida ranges from $150 to $250, depending on the home’s size, location, and inspection company. Our company offers discounts for bundling with a wind mitigation inspection.
A 4-point inspection provides an overview of four key home systems: roof, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing.
Common issues that can fail a 4-point inspection in Florida include an aging or leaking roof, electrical hazards, foundation structural cracking, poor or non-existent HVAC systems, and old or leaking water heaters.
A 4-point inspection in Florida typically is a limited inspection used for buyers or sellers to assess the property’s condition.
Here’s a breakdown of a 4-point inspection:
- – Roof: General condition, including skylights and flashings.
- – Electrical System: Examination of main distribution and sub-panels.
- – HVAC System: Inspection of the furnace, air conditioner, and water heater.
- – Plumbing: Assessment of the water main shut-off and other plumbing components.
- – A 4-point inspection covers electrical, HVAC, plumbing, roofing inspection. It typically costs between $150 to $250.
Florida inspections, especially for insurance purposes, often require a 4-point inspection.
Why get a 4-point inspection?
- – Buyers: Can identify potential issues before committing to a purchase.
- – Sellers: Provide transparency about the property’s condition and help with potential repairs or disclosures.
- – Homeowners: Evaluate the build quality of their existing property.
Get Your Wind Mitigation and 4-Point Inspections Today!
Ensure your home is safe and compliant with our expert inspections. Request a quote now to protect your property and save on insurance!
✓ Protect your home from hurricane damage with our thorough inspections.
✓ Save on your homeowners insurance by qualifying for discounts through our services.