Home guides · Inspections & buying

4-point and wind-mitigation inspections, explained

In Florida and other storm-prone states, the insurer often wants its own short reports on top of the home inspection. They are not the same thing, and they answer different questions.

What a 4-point inspection covers

A 4-point report looks at four things an insurer cares about: the roof, the electrical system, the plumbing, and heating and cooling. It notes age and condition and flags items many insurers will not cover, such as certain older electrical panels or plumbing materials. Insurers often require one for older homes; the age cutoff varies by insurer. It is not a full home inspection.

What a wind-mitigation inspection covers

A wind-mitigation report records how well the house is built to resist wind: the roof covering and how the deck is attached, how the roof is tied to the walls (clips or straps), the roof shape, any secondary water barrier, and protection on windows and doors. In Florida it uses a standard state form, and features it documents can earn discounts on the wind part of your premium. Florida insurers generally accept the form for up to five years.

How Joysts helps

Upload these reports next to the main inspection. Joysts keeps each finding with its page, so you can ask "what did the 4-point say about the electrical panel?" and see the page it came from. The reports stay on your home record with their dates, ready for the next insurance renewal or a sale. Joysts explains what the reports say; it does not inspect the home or set your premium.

ExampleA Florida home: 4-point and wind-mitigation reports

4-point, electrical
Federal Pacific panel notedPage 2. Insurers often ask about this panel by name.
4-point, roof
Shingle roof, about 14 years oldPage 1, as the inspector estimated it
Wind mitigation
Roof-to-wall: clips. Opening protection: none.Page 1 of the state form
Before you sign
Ask the seller for the roof permit dateInsurers price on roof age
Example with made-up findings, to show how Joysts lays these reports out. With your own reports, every item is your inspector's, with the page it came from.

Start your own home record.

Upload your inspection report. Joysts puts your inspector's safety items first, links each finding to its page, and answers your questions from the report. Free to start.

Start free →

Common questions

Is a 4-point inspection the same as a home inspection?

No. A 4-point covers four systems for the insurer. A home inspection covers the whole house for you, the buyer. Many buyers get both.

Who orders these reports?

Usually the buyer or owner, when the insurer asks for them. Ask your insurance agent which reports they need before you book.

← More home guides