Wind mitigation inspection near me: Palm Beach County homes and associations

Two different reports get called "insurance inspections" in Florida. A wind mitigation inspection documents the features of a building that help it resist hurricane winds, and it can earn the owner credits on the wind portion of the premium. A 4 point inspection in Florida reports the condition of four systems (roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC), and an insurer asks for it before it will write or renew a policy on an older home. People who search for wind mitigation and 4 point inspection near me are usually holding a letter from an insurer that asks for one or both.

Florida law, in sections 627.0629 and 627.711, is why the wind mitigation report exists: insurers must offer credits for the verified wind-resistant features, and the report uses the state's standard mitigation verification form. Whatever your insurer calls it, confirm exactly which report it wants and which form version it accepts before anyone climbs a ladder.

The inspector documents features, not general condition. The standard form records:

• Roof covering and whether it meets the building code in force when it was permitted.
• Roof deck attachment: how the sheathing is fastened to the rafters or trusses.
• Roof-to-wall connection: nails, clips, single wraps or double wraps holding the roof structure to the walls.
• Roof shape: hip, gable or flat, which changes how wind loads the roof.
• Secondary water resistance under the roof covering.
• Opening protection: impact windows and doors, shutters, or none, for every opening including garage doors.

Each feature that can be documented may earn a credit, and a missing one is simply recorded as not present. The roof covering, deck and opening protection items are the ones most often changed by a roof replacement or a window upgrade, which is why a new roof or new impact windows are usually the moment to order a fresh report.

A 4 point inspection is a condition report on the four systems insurers worry about on older homes:

• Roof: covering type, age, condition and visible damage or leaks.
• Electrical: panel, wiring type, visible hazards and any outdated components.
• Plumbing: supply and drain pipe materials, water heater and visible leaks.
• HVAC: the equipment, its apparent age and condition.

Insurers decide which homes need one, usually by the age of the home or its systems, and each sets its own rules, so ask the carrier rather than a neighbor. If a report notes a problem, the usual next step is a repair by a licensed trade contractor and a re-inspection or a signed repair record.

The statute that created the standard form lists the kinds of Florida-licensed professionals whose verification an insurer must accept: among them a licensed general contractor, a licensed roofing contractor, an engineer, an architect, a building code inspector and a home inspector. Randolph Scott Bell holds a Certified General Contractor license (CGC1528750) and a Certified Roofing Contractor license (CCC1332751), and he is a RESNET Certified HERS Rater (RTIN 4516301).

That is a credential statement, not a promise of availability. To ask whether and when an inspection of your property can be arranged, call (561) 779-3213 or use the form above. We do not publish a price on this page, because the scope depends on the property.

A single-family owner usually needs one report for one house. An association is different. A condominium or HOA board may have one building-wide roof and shared opening protection, individual owners with their own windows and doors, and an insurer that wants documentation at renewal. The board should know which features belong to the association and which to unit owners before ordering reports, because a good roof does not document an owner's old windows.

For associations, the inspection ties directly into reserve planning. Roof and window replacement are named components of a structural integrity reserve study for covered condominium buildings; our milestone inspection and SIRS guide explains how, and our HOA and condo hurricane guide covers the insurance record-keeping that decides claims. For board support on the management side, see HOA and condo association management.

1. Ask the insurer in writing which report it wants, which form version it accepts, and by what date.
2. Find the permits and invoices for the roof, windows, doors and shutters. They document the year, the product and who installed it.
3. Make sure the inspector can reach the attic, the roof and every opening, including the garage door.
4. For a 4 point report, locate the electrical panel, the water heater and the HVAC air handler.
5. Keep photos and the signed report with the policy, and send the carrier the exact form it asked for.

If the roof is near the end of its life or the openings are unprotected, the report itself is the least of it. See our roofing page and the impact windows and doors page for the work behind the credits.

When you compare wind mitigation companies near me, ask each one for three things in writing: the license or certification of the person who will actually sign the form, which form version it will use, and what is included if the insurer questions the report. The same questions apply to the wind mitigation inspectors near me that a home inspection company or roofer suggests. Never accept a report from someone who has not looked at the roof, the attic and every opening.