What They Check and How They Affect Your Insurance
Buy a home in Central Florida and your insurance agent will likely ask for two short inspections that most out-of-state buyers have never heard of: a 4-point inspection and a wind mitigation inspection. Neither replaces a full home inspection. The 4-point tells the insurer whether the home’s major systems are in acceptable shape to insure. The wind mitigation inspection documents features that help the home survive a hurricane, and those features can lower your premium. Knowing what each one looks at helps you avoid surprises and claim every discount you’re owed.
Short version: A 4-point inspection covers the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, and records the age, type, and condition of each. Citizens requires one for homes more than 20 years old, and other insurers may too. Hazards like exposed wiring or active leaks generally must be fixed before a policy is written. A wind mitigation inspection uses the state’s uniform form (OIR-B1-1802) to document things like roof shape, how the roof deck and roof are attached, secondary water resistance, and opening protection. Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for these features and to accept the form when it’s signed by a qualified inspector, such as a licensed home inspector with hurricane mitigation training, a contractor, an engineer, or an architect. The form is generally valid for up to five years if nothing material changes. Falsifying one is a crime.
4-point vs. wind mitigation vs. a full home inspection
| 4-point | Wind mitigation | Full home inspection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Lets the insurer decide whether to insure an older home | Documents wind-resistant features for premium discounts | Tells the buyer the home’s overall condition |
| Covers | Roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC | Roof covering, deck and roof-to-wall attachment, roof shape, secondary water resistance, opening protection | The whole house, inside and out |
| Who asks for it | The insurer, typically for older homes | You, to get discounts; insurers must accept a properly signed form | You, during your inspection period |
| Form | A form the insurer accepts | State form OIR-B1-1802 | Inspector’s own report |
Many inspectors offer all three, so you can schedule them together during the inspection period. See the home inspection checklist.
The 4-point inspection
A 4-point inspection is a snapshot of four major systems. A Florida-licensed inspector reports the age, type, and condition of each:
- Roof: Covering type, age, remaining life, and signs of leaks or damage.
- Electrical: Panel type and capacity, wiring type, and visible hazards.
- Plumbing: Supply and drain pipe materials, water heater age and location, and visible leaks.
- HVAC: System type, age, and whether it’s working.
When it’s required: Citizens, the state-backed insurer, requires a 4-point inspection for homes more than 20 years old. Private insurers set their own rules, so ask your agent which age triggers one with the companies you’re considering.
What can cause problems: Citizens says serious hazards, such as exposed wiring or active leaks, should be repaired before you apply. Insurers also look hard at roof age. Citizens requires documentation of at least five years of remaining life for shingle roofs over 25 years old and tile or metal roofs over 50 years old. Beyond that, each insurer has its own guidelines on older wiring, panels, plumbing materials, and water heaters. If an inspection flags something, ask the agent before closing whether it will block coverage or just need a repair.
Roof age protections: Under Florida Statute 627.7011, an insurer can’t refuse to write or renew a policy solely because a roof is less than 15 years old. For an older roof, you can get an inspection at your own expense. If it shows at least five years of useful life left, the insurer can’t refuse coverage based on age alone. See Florida roof lifespan and replacement.
The wind mitigation inspection
Florida Statute 627.0629 requires insurers to offer discounts, credits, or other rate differences for features that reduce windstorm losses. A wind mitigation inspection is how you prove you have them. The inspector completes the state’s Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802), which rates seven areas:
| Section | What it records | Generally better |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Building code | Whether the home was built to the 2001 Florida Building Code or later | Built to the FBC 2001 or newer |
| 2. Roof covering | Roof type and whether it meets code, based on permit date or product approval | A newer, permitted roof meeting current code |
| 3. Roof deck attachment | How the plywood or decking is nailed to the trusses | Larger nails at closer spacing |
| 4. Roof-to-wall attachment | How the roof is tied to the walls: toe nails, clips, single wraps, double wraps, or anchor bolts | Wraps or stronger, rather than toe nails |
| 5. Roof geometry | Hip roof, flat roof, or other | Hip roof (sloped on all four sides) |
| 6. Secondary water resistance | Whether the roof deck is sealed beneath the covering | A sealed roof deck |
| 7. Opening protection | Impact ratings for windows, doors, skylights, and garage doors | All openings protected by impact-rated products |
The form records the weakest item found in each section. One unprotected window or one set of toe-nailed trusses can set the rating for the whole category.
Who can sign it: Under Florida Statute 627.711, insurers must accept the form when it’s signed by:
- A licensed home inspector with at least 3 hours of hurricane mitigation training who has passed a proficiency exam.
- A certified building code inspector.
- A licensed general, building, or residential contractor.
- A licensed engineer or architect.
The signer must personally inspect the home, though engineers and contractors can use qualified employees. An insurer may pay for its own independent verification before accepting a form.
How long it’s good for: The form states it’s valid for up to five years, as long as there are no material changes to the home and nothing on the form is inaccurate. Get a new one after a re-roof, new impact windows, or other upgrades, so the improvements show up in your premium.
Honesty matters: Knowingly submitting a false form to get a discount is a first-degree misdemeanor, and inspectors who falsify forms face discipline from their licensing boards. Inspectors and agents also can’t pay or take referral fees for these inspections.
Getting the most from the discounts
- Ask for the seller’s existing report. If the seller has a wind mitigation form less than five years old and nothing has changed since, your insurer may accept it.
- Check the discount notice. Insurers must tell policyholders about available windstorm discounts at issuance and each renewal, using a state-prescribed form. Compare it with your declarations page to make sure the credits were applied.
- Re-inspect after upgrades. A new roof brings new secondary water resistance and upgraded deck fastening. Under Florida Statute 553.844, both are required on roof replacements. Shutters, impact windows, and roof-to-wall straps are also documented on the form.
- Look into help with upgrades. Florida’s My Safe Florida Home program offers inspections and, for qualifying homesteaded homes, matching grants for wind upgrades, subject to state funding.
Discount amounts vary by insurer and by how each feature combines with the others, so compare quotes with the same wind mitigation report. See Florida homeowners insurance, 2026 insurance trends, and Florida’s hurricane code and wind zones. For older homes, see buying a fixer-upper in Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions
The roof, electrical system, plumbing, and HVAC. The inspector records the age, type, and condition of each so the insurer can decide whether to write the policy. It isn’t a full home inspection.
Citizens requires one for homes more than 20 years old. Private insurers set their own age thresholds, so ask your agent.
Usually, yes. Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for wind-resistant features, and the inspection is how you document them. The savings depend on the home’s features and the insurer.
The state form says up to five years, as long as the home hasn’t had material changes and the form is accurate. Get a new inspection after major upgrades like a new roof or impact windows.
Insurers must accept forms signed by licensed home inspectors with hurricane mitigation training, certified building code inspectors, licensed general, building, or residential contractors, licensed engineers, and licensed architects.
Sources
- Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Inspections
- Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802 (via Florida Division of Emergency Management)
- Florida Statutes, Section 627.711: Notice of premium discounts for hurricane loss mitigation; uniform mitigation verification inspection form
- Florida Statutes, Section 627.0629: Residential property insurance; rate filings (mitigation discounts)
- Florida Statutes, Section 627.7011: Homeowners’ policies (roof age)
- Florida Statutes, Section 553.844: Windstorm loss mitigation; roofs
- Florida Statutes, Section 215.5586: My Safe Florida Home Program
This article is for general informational purposes only and isn’t financial, legal, insurance, or tax advice – for guidance specific to your situation, talk to a licensed professional.