Which Home Inspections Are Required in Florida?

Many insurance companies are becoming rigid about insuring homes more than 25 years old in the state of Florida, as they assess their level of risk. Unfortunately, these homes are more likely to become an insurance liability and pose a higher risk of experiencing a major system failure. So, what is a Florida homeowner supposed to do to acquire and maintain the proper insurance coverage for their older house? Evolve Property Inspections will walk you through the types of home inspections that are required in the state of Florida.

A Wind Mitigation Inspection

As a Florida resident, you understand the hazards of living in an area prone to hurricanes and other tropical windstorms. Because of these risks, most insurance companies will require a wind mitigation inspection to determine the stability of the structure of your home in the event of powerful winds. The certified inspectors at Evolve Property Inspections will evaluate your home's potential to withstand high winds based on the age of the home, building codes at the time it was built, age of the roof and documentation that it was built to code, method of the roof's attachment, presence of a secondary water resistance barrier, and the opening protection rating of the home.

A Roof Certification

Typically, insurance companies will request a roof certification on a home when their documentation shows the roof is nearing the end of its life expectancy. During a roof certification inspection, the experts at Evolve Property Inspections will need a copy of the permit for your roof as well as a copy of the documentation for any work completed on your roof. If you cannot find your roof's permit, we will estimate the useful life remaining on your roof and include that in the report documentation. Our roof certification process will take about one hour, after which we will provide the certification document and photos of your roof.

A 4-Point Inspection

Rounding out the three required inspections for owners of older homes in Florida is the 4-point inspection. These inspections will satisfy your insurance carrier's requirements and are much shorter than a complete home inspection. The inspector will assess the four main systems of your home, including plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and the roof. Based on the findings of the inspection, your insurance company will determine if the home is insurable. 

Schedule Your Inspections

Remember that these three inspections may be required if you are buying a home, renewing your homeowners' insurance policy, or switching insurance companies. Evolve Property Inspections will gladly walk you through any type of inspection you need, as we have done for many other clients over the past 10 years. Contact us today at (305) 506-8969 to request a quote or to schedule your insurance inspections. We serve residents in Miami-Dade County and the surrounding areas of Kendall, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, and Broward County.