How To Look At A House

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Is the 4-point insurance inspection strictly pass or fail?

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Not exactly. The report is a questionnaire form created by an insurance company that is filled out by a home inspector and submitted, along with photo documentation, to be reviewed by a company underwriter. Some insurers require that their own form be used, while others allow a generic 4-point form.

    The underwriter, not the home inspector, is the one who determines if the findings are acceptable for issuing your homeowner’s policy. It is a moving target from the inspector’s point of view because each company has slightly different standards for acceptability, and they change over time. So the inspector cannot precisely tell you what the underwriter will determine. 

    There are three possible outcomes when a 4-point report is submitted to the company:

  1. It is approved.
  2. Coverage is denied because of one or more significant defects that are likely to cause a claim in the future, such as an older roof with an active leak.
  3. Coverage is approved with the stipulation that specific problems be repaired or replaced within a certain time frame, usually 30 days.

    While one company may decline to insure a property because of a defect, another insurer might issue the policy and stipulate a deadline for submitting proof of repairs for the same defect.

    If you want to see what a 4-point form looks like, click on the image below to download and view a CItzens Insurance 4-point form. It is the form most likely necessary for Florida homes 50-years and older.     Also, see our blog posts Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Four-Point Inspections and How do I get my home ready for a four point inspection for insurance? and Why does my homeowner's insurance want a four point inspection? and How do I get insurance if my home can't pass a 4-point inspection?

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Here’s links to a collection of other blog posts about 4-POINT INSPECTIONS:

Should I give a copy of the home inspection report to the bank or insurance compan?

Will a house without air conditioning pass a 4 point inspection?  

How is Citizens Property Insurance different from other Florida homeowners insurance companies? 

Do I need a home inspection to get insurance?  

Why is a fuse box/panel an insurance problem for homebuyers? 

Which water pipes are an insurance problem and possibly uninsurable? 

At what age of the house does an insurance company require a four point inspection to issue or renew homeowners insurance?  

What would cause a home inspector and roofing contractor to disagree on the remaining life left in a roof?

• Can a patched roof pass a 4-point inspection? 

Why are old electrical components not always "grandfathered" as acceptable by home inspectors?

 • Do I need to get a four point inspection for insurance for an older condominium? 

     Visit our HOME INSPECTION and INSURANCE pages for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.

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