Florida Homeowners Guide · Four-Point Inspections

Four-point inspections in Florida: what insurers check and how to prepare

If your Florida home is more than a couple of decades old, an insurer will probably ask for a four-point inspection before offering or renewing a policy. Here is what the inspector looks at, what causes problems and how it differs from other inspections.

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Written and reviewed by licensed Florida insurance advisors at Allied Insurance Group · Updated October 2026

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Executive summary

The short version

A four-point inspection is a limited inspection of the four systems most likely to cause an insurance claim: the roof, the electrical system, the plumbing and the heating and air conditioning (HVAC). Insurers use it to decide whether an older home is an acceptable risk.

It is not a full home inspection and it is not pass or fail in a legal sense. Each carrier applies its own guidelines to the report. Something one carrier declines, another may accept, which is why the report should go to an independent agent who can match it to the right company.

  • Four points: roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC.
  • Carriers commonly ask for it on older homes; the age trigger differs by company.
  • Common blockers: an aging roof, outdated wiring or panels, older pipe materials and an old water heater.
  • It is separate from a wind mitigation inspection, which earns credits rather than eligibility.
  • Fix what you can before the inspection, then have the report shopped across carriers.

What is a four-point inspection?

Short answer: It is a visual inspection of a home’s roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems, documented with photos, that an insurer uses for underwriting.

The four points

RoofAge, material, condition, remaining useful life and any signs of leaks.
ElectricalPanel brand and condition, wiring type, amperage and visible hazards.
PlumbingSupply and drain pipe materials, water heater age and any active leaks.
HVACAge and condition of the heating and cooling system and whether it works.

The inspector does not open walls or test every outlet. The goal is to answer one question for the insurer: is any of these systems likely to fail soon? The visit is short and the report is usually a few pages plus photos.

When do Florida insurers require a four-point inspection?

Short answer: Typically when you buy an older home, switch carriers or renew a policy on a home past the carrier’s age threshold.

There is no single statewide age rule. Many carriers ask for a four-point inspection once a home is roughly 20 to 30 years old or more, and some ask sooner. Citizens has its own inspection requirements and its own form. A carrier may also request an updated report at renewal after a number of years.

If you are buying a home, order the four-point and wind mitigation inspections at the same time as the general home inspection, during the inspection period, so that any issue is known while you can still negotiate repairs.

What the inspector looks for in each system

Short answer: Mostly age, material and visible condition. The table shows the items that most often lead to questions from underwriters.

System What is recorded Common concerns for insurers
Roof Covering material, age, permit date, condition, estimated remaining life. Little remaining life, missing or curling shingles, cracked tiles, signs of leaks. See roof age and insurance.
Electrical Panel type and brand, amperage, wiring type, visible hazards. Fuse boxes, certain older panel brands, aluminum branch wiring, cloth or knob-and-tube wiring, double-tapped breakers, exposed wiring.
Plumbing Supply and drain line materials, water heater age and location, leaks. Polybutylene or galvanized supply lines, older cast iron drains, an aging water heater, active leaks or corrosion.
HVAC System type, age, condition, whether it is operating. A system that is not working, very old equipment, or no central heat and air on some carriers.

Common underwriting concerns in the Florida market. Each carrier decides what it accepts, and guidelines change.

Electrical panels and pipe materials

Certain older electrical panel brands and certain pipe materials are declined by many carriers regardless of condition. If your inspector identifies one, ask us before you spend money: sometimes replacement is the only path, and sometimes another carrier will accept the home as it is.

Four-point vs. wind mitigation vs. full home inspection

Short answer: A four-point inspection is about insurability, a wind mitigation inspection is about credits, and a full home inspection is about the purchase.

Four-point Wind mitigation Full home inspection
Purpose Underwriting eligibility Premium credits Buyer due diligence
Who asks for it The insurer You or your agent The buyer
Scope Roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC Wind-resistance features The whole house
Typical length Short Short Several hours
Read more This guide Wind mitigation guide Home buyer guide

Many inspectors perform the four-point and wind mitigation inspections in one visit for a combined price, which is the most efficient way to do it.

How to prepare for a four-point inspection

Short answer: Fix small problems first, gather permits and make the panel, attic, water heater and air handler easy to reach.

  • Repair active leaks, including drips under sinks
  • Replace missing outlet and switch covers and any visibly damaged wiring
  • Make sure the air conditioning is running and the filter is clean
  • Find the water heater’s manufacture date on its label
  • Have roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits or invoices ready
  • Clear access to the electrical panel, attic hatch, water heater and air handler
  • Tell the inspector about updates that are not obvious, such as a full re-pipe

What if the inspection finds a problem?

Short answer: You usually have three paths: repair it, find a carrier whose guidelines accept it, or accept a policy with a limitation.

Working through a four-point issue

Send us the reportWe read it the way an underwriter would.
Identify the blockerIs it one item or several? Age, material or condition?
Price the repairGet a contractor’s quote so you can compare cost against premium.
Check other carriersGuidelines differ; we match the report to the companies that fit.
Re-inspect after repairsAn updated report documents the fix for the insurer.

Where no private carrier will accept the home, Citizens may be an option, subject to its own inspection rules. Some policies address older plumbing by limiting water damage coverage instead of declining the home, so read the offer carefully.

Questions Florida homeowners ask us

Frequently asked questions

The roof, the electrical system, the plumbing system and the heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

No. It is an insurance underwriting requirement, set by each carrier, not a state law.

It depends on the carrier. Many ask for one once a home is roughly 20 to 30 years old or more, and some ask sooner.

Carriers generally want a recent report, often completed within the past year for a new policy. Ask your agent what the carrier you are applying to will accept.

Inspectors set their own prices, which vary by area and home size. It usually costs less when combined with a wind mitigation inspection.

Usually under an hour for a typical single-family home.

A Florida-licensed professional such as a home inspector, general contractor, building code inspector, engineer or architect, depending on the carrier’s requirements.

There is no official pass or fail. The report describes conditions, and each insurer decides whether they meet its guidelines.

Fuse boxes, certain older panel brands, aluminum branch wiring, cloth-insulated or knob-and-tube wiring, and visible hazards like double-tapped breakers or exposed splices.

Polybutylene or galvanized supply pipes, deteriorated cast iron drain lines, active leaks and older water heaters.

It can. Many carriers want a water heater replaced once it passes a certain age, because tank failures cause water damage claims.

Yes. It records the roof’s material, age, condition and estimated remaining life. A separate roof certification may still be requested for an older roof.

No. A full home inspection covers the whole house for a buyer. A four-point inspection covers only the four systems insurers care about most.

Often, yes. The four-point report supports eligibility and the wind mitigation report supports credits. They can be done in the same visit.

Generally not. New and recently built homes are usually exempt because their systems are new.

Citizens requires inspections for many older homes and has its own form. We confirm the current requirement when we quote.

Some carriers ask for one on older condo units, usually focused on the unit’s electrical, plumbing and HVAC, since the roof belongs to the association.

Often, yes. Another carrier may accept the condition, or you may be able to bind coverage with a limitation or with an agreement to make repairs.

Fix obvious, inexpensive items before. For expensive items, get the report first and talk to your agent, because the right fix depends on which carriers are available.

It can widen the list of carriers willing to write the home and may remove coverage limitations, both of which can lower your cost.

Order it promptly. If it shows a problem, you will have time to repair it or have the home shopped before the renewal date.

Yes. Send it to us and a licensed advisor will tell you how carriers are likely to view it. Start with a home quote.

Keep reading

Related Florida homeowners guides

Florida Homeowners Insurance GuideFlorida Homeowners Insurance GuideHow coverage, pricing and underwriting work in Florida.Wind Mitigation GuideWind Mitigation GuideThe inspection form, the features and the credits.Roof Age & Insurance in FloridaRoof Age & Insurance in FloridaThe 15-year rule, inspections and roof settlements.Water Damage Coverage GuideWater Damage Coverage GuideSudden leaks, slow leaks, flood and what is covered.

Looking for something else? Visit the Allied Answer Desk, browse Florida insurance by city, or go back to the Florida Homeowners Insurance Guide.

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Have a four-point report? Let us read it the way an underwriter would.

Send us your inspection report and a licensed Allied advisor will tell you which carriers fit your home and what, if anything, is worth fixing first.

Or call (954) 475-8886

This guide is general information for Florida homeowners, not legal advice and not a statement of coverage. Coverage, eligibility, deductibles and pricing depend on the insurer, the policy form and your property. Laws, Citizens rules and carrier guidelines change; confirm current details with a licensed advisor and read your policy. Allied Insurance Group, 6600 Taft Street #100, Hollywood, FL 33024 · (954) 475-8886.

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