Save Money on Homeowners Insurance Premiums with Wind Mitigation Inspection

Wind Mitigation Inspection: A Smart Way to Save Money on Your Home Insurance

Homeowners in Seminole or Volusia Counties of Central Florida may be eligible for a significant discount on their home insurance premium. How? By getting a wind mitigation inspection from First Choice Home Inspections.

A wind mitigation inspection is an examination of your home's protective features that can reduce the damage caused by strong winds, such as hurricanes. These features include the type and age of your roof, the way your roof is attached to the walls, the type and spacing of the nails used to secure the roof sheathing, the type of underlayment that protects the roof sheathing, and the type and quality of the openings, such as windows, doors, skylights, and garage doors.



Insurance companies are required by law to offer discounts to homeowners who have these wind-resistant features in their homes. The wind credit discounts can range from 10% to 70% depending; on the level of protection your home already has. The only way to get these discounts is by having a certified wind mitigation inspector provide a report that verifies your home's features.

Wind Mitigation Inspector in Seminole and Volusia Counties

That's where First Choice Home Inspections comes in. We are a licensed and insured home inspection company that offers wind mitigation inspections in Seminole and Volusia Counties. Our inspectors are trained and experienced in identifying and documenting the wind mitigation features of your home. We use state-of-the-art equipment and software to produce a detailed and accurate report that you will submit to your insurance company.

Our wind mitigation inspection takes about 45 minutes to complete and costs $150.00. It can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your home insurance premium every year. It can also give you peace of mind knowing that your home is better prepared for severe weather events.

Don't let the insurance companies charge you more than you need to pay. Contact First Choice Home Inspections today at (386) 624-3893 to schedule your wind mitigation inspection and start saving money on your home insurance.

 

Frank Carr, Florida Licensed Home
Inspector

Frank Carr is the Owner / Inspector at First Choice Home Inspections in Deltona, FL serving Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Lake Counties. Formerly in the building trades, Frank’s focus is a safe home in the Orlando Metro and Daytona Beach areas of Central Florida and building FCHI. We believe that consumers have the right to expect the highest standards of thoroughness, fairness and effectiveness from their home inspector and that is exactly what we provide.
 

First Choice Home Inspections

Residential Home Inspections in Central Florida

(386) 624-3893 

Website:  http://1homeinspector.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/FirstChoiceHomeInspectionsLlc

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-choice-home-inspections

Twitter: https://twitter.com/1stChoiceHomeIn

Deltona 4 Point Insurance Inspection required for new insurance policies

Need new insurance?

What is a 4 Pt Inspection and why is it required?

A Four Point Insurance Inspection is often required when obtaining a new homeowners insurance policy or renewing an existing policy in Florida. The inspection includes a limited scope evaluation of the following four systems:

• Roof Inspection
• Electrical Inspection
• HVAC (Heat, Ventilation & A/C)
• Plumbing

 

The focus of the 4-point insurance inspection is to determine the approximate age, components, and general condition of these systems. A Deltona 4 Pt insurance inspection is NOT a comprehensive home inspection and can take less than an hour to complete. This type of insurance inspection should not be confused with a residential home inspection, which is more comprehensive in detail and scope.

 

4 Point Insurance Inspection History

The Four Point or 4 Pt Inspection is completed by a trained, licensed, and qualified inspector. The inspectors are required to be State of Florida Licensed Home Inspectors.

 

The 4 Point Insurance Inspection was developed after Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992. The inspection is performed on behalf of the insurance companies; it is a requirement for the insurer to issue insurance to the new homeowner. Insurance companies may also require four-point inspections on homes that have reached 15, 20 years, or more. After the 2004 round of hurricanes in Orlando and Central Florida, the Four Point Insurance Inspection has renewed importance.

 

Insurance companies see the benefit of the inspection; the program is extending to other areas of the United States. The insurance company desired result is reduced loss on homeowner’s insurance policies. Most Insurance companies require a 4 Pt Inspection on homes 20 - 30 years and older. Some require a four-point inspection for homes as new as ten years old.

New 4 Pt home requirements for writing an insurance policy

Insurance companies have new strict changes that the homeowner needs to meet. Insurance underwriters require insurance agents verify the homes meet particular standards. 

 

Roofs

Shingle roof must be less than 20 years old.

Flat roof must be less than 10 years old.

Tile roof must be less than 25 years old.

Metal roof must be less than 30 years old.

All roof must be free of signs of damage.

A Wind Mitigation Inspection is required.

If the roof age is over the age limit; only non-standard companies are available, and the roof may be excluded from coverage.

Plumbing

The plumbing should have been updated in the last 20 years.  

No polybutelyne plumbing, poly is ineligible and must by replaced.

Water Heater

The water heater must be 14 years or newer.

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning

The HVAC system must be in working order and updated within the last 20 years.

Electrical

Wiring

Aluminum wiring ineligible for most companies. Aluminum wiring with AlumiConns/Copper pigtails are accepted by one company.

All cloth wiring must be replaced.

Double tapped wiring must be repaired.

Electrical panels

Challenger, Sylvania, Zinsco, and Federal Pacific electrical panels are not acceptable panels for new or renewing insurance policies.

 

To schedule an Insurance Inspection; Wind Mitigation, 4 Pt Insurance, or Roof Condition Certification in Seminole or Volusia county contact our office at (386) 624-3893.

 

 

 

Frank Carr, Florida Licensed Home
Inspector

Frank Carr is the Owner / Inspector at First Choice Home Inspections in Deltona, FL serving Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Lake Counties. Formerly in the building trades, Frank’s focus is a safe home in the Orlando Metro and Daytona Beach areas of Central Florida and building FCHI. We believe that consumers have the right to expect the highest standards of thoroughness, fairness and effectiveness from their home inspector and that is exactly what we provide.
 

First Choice Home Inspections

Residential Home Inspections in Central Florida

(386) 624-3893 

Website:  http://1homeinspector.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/FirstChoiceHomeInspectionsLlc

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-choice-home-inspections

Twitter: https://twitter.com/1stChoiceHomeIn

How to Get Your Home Ready for an Inspection

 By Jason McGuire, Guest Blogger

Are you selling your home?

All homeowners face pre-sale inspections. This is a standard part of the home selling process. In most cases, the home inspection is organized after signing the purchase agreement and before the final closing date.

As an owner, you should get everything in top shape for the inspection. When something is seriously amiss, your buyer has the right to withdraw the offer and find another home, warns rmxipm.com.

In this article, we'll go over the main tips on how to get your home successfully through the inspection. You'll understand the inspector's working procedures and know what to do before the big inspection day.

How do home inspections work?

Home inspections are carried out to make sure your home conditions meet all the standards.

Some homeowners get an inspection done before entering their property in the market. The early discovery of any issues allows them to fix these issues before showing the home to potential buyers.

However, this isn't how it usually plays out. The regular steps are:

• A buyer is looking for a home.
• After finding a suitable property, the buyer makes an offer.
• Negotiations follow to set the price and closing date.
• Once the purchase agreement is signed, the buyer contacts a home inspector and pays for this service.

There is always the risk that the inspector finds hidden issues. When the buyer learns about these problems, they have the right to back out of the deal. Home inspections act as a guarantee for buyers.

You may see home inspections as a formality. But when you consider its implications on your home sale, the inspector's arrival becomes something you should be well prepared for.

What is the focus of a home inspection?

After entering your home, the inspector has a list of high-risk areas that they will check. The areas and issues include the following: 

• Roof and attic
• Ventilation and sub-systems
• Foundation issues
• Yard
• Appliances
• Structural elements
• Electrical work
• Plumbing
• Wear and tear in the garage

Depending on the agreement, the inspector may focus on other areas as well. But it's more than likely that all the listed items will be scrutinized in any case.

How to prepare for your home inspection?

Let's take a look at some practical tips to make your home inspection as smooth as possible.

1. Prepare all the paperwork
2.  If your home has recent remodeling or renovation done, you should gather all the associated documents. Any other projects are important too, such as installing a new roof.
3.  Your home inspector is likely to only check the building department and county website information. But your buyers may want to know whether the projects are safe and sound both in reality and on paper.
4. Leave all the utilities turned on
5.  Take care to leave on your utilities before the home inspector does his job. During the inspection, the examiner needs to run appliances in your home and test the HVAC system.
6.  Most inspectors will check your receptacles for grounding and reverse polarity. All these activities are impossible when you have turned off the power. The inability to conduct these tests will result in rescheduling and a re-inspection fee.
7. Prepare the exterior
8.  Home inspections focus on a lot on the interior. But the inspector will take a good look at your home's exterior too. Make sure that everything is prepared for this part of the examination.

Here are the steps you can take to minimize any exterior issues:

• Clean your downspout drainage.
• Are some of the trees really close to the roofline? Trim these trees before the inspection.
• Any accumulated debris on the roof should be pressure washed off its surface. The exception is asphalt roofs, which you should never pressure wash.
• Check that your downspouts direct the water away from the home's foundation.
• Thoroughly clean the gutters to remove dirt and debris.
• Keep the AC compressor and its adjacent areas free of loose waste.

Allow complete access to your rooms

Ensure attic access panel
is free of obstructions

The home inspector needs access to your attic and basement. Some homeowners have boxes or other items stacked against the walls, making access difficult or impossible. Remove these physical barriers before the inspector enters your home.

You should leave keys for outbuildings, electrical boxes, and similar areas of your property. Definitely label the keys because this makes the whole inspection quicker. Should you have any remote controls, such as a garage door opener and then label these for convenience as well.

Another obstacle home inspectors often face is finding cars blocking the attic access. And sometimes there is clothing in a closet that provides the only entrance to the attic. Take care to remove these obstacles before the home inspector arrives.

In a nutshell: home inspection preparations

Home inspections serve an important need in a property transaction. The buyers want to have peace of mind that there are no major issues with their planned purchase. A qualified home inspector will find and describe serious hazards and faults in the property.

Sellers can take practical steps to make the process smoother for all parties involved:

• Gather all the relevant paperwork
• Prepare the exterior for inspection
• Leave on the utilities
• Allow complete access to the premises

Jason received his Real Estate License in 2004 where he quickly became a multi-million dollar producer within his first full year. He graduated from the Realtor Institute a few years later and then went on to achieve his Broker’s License in 2009. In 2008 he was asked to start up and lead the Property Management Department. He has served as President of the local National Association of or Residential Property Managers for numerous terms. In 2019 Jason officially took over as Managing Broker for RE/MAX Infinity and now works to provide an exceptional experience for all of the agents and clients. 

Deltona Dryers are a Leading Cause of Home Fires

Not Cleaning the Clothes Dryer and Duct is the Major Cause of Deltona Dryer Fires!

Modern home appliances are safer today than they were just a decade ago, but the amount of fires has not decreased. Failure to clean the dryer and ducts accounts for more than 34 percent of the dryer fires in the United States. This is the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires. Other causes include manufacturing defects and poor installation. Foreign manufacturing and foreign component suppliers are another cause. Increasing quality issues are associated with the extremely rapid growth of fires connected with appliances. More home clothes dryer fires occur in the fall and winter months and peak in January. 

You should check your dryers and appliances out for manufacturer defects and recalls at https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls .

What Type of Dryer is Your Home Designed for?

The dryer manufacturers set limits of the length and type of duct that can be used with their dryers. These limits are based on the type of equipment installed in the dryer. Damp lint requires a certain volume of air to move it through the ducts. Homeowners will often select a dryer and make it fit their house. Some dryers are designed with larger motors and fans to move the lint farther.  Economy or inexpensive dryers often have the smallest motors and fans. All dryers are not created equal.  

Dryer Duct Design and Orientation Limits the Length .

The type of duct material, vent hood, the number of turns the duct and orientation, horizontal or vertical affect the length of the duct.  Below is the dryer manufacturers' requirement based on the model of dryer.

Ducts should have no mechanical fasteners.

The type of material used for the duct is very important in venting lint and moisture. Each 90-degree turn decreases the length of the duct by 5 feet. The use of a flat hood decreases the length by half. Using flexible vent ducts also cuts the length by half.  Rigid metal ducts are required to be taped at the joints and not fastened by screws.  The screw shank protruding into the duct creates and place for lint to accumulate.

Flexible and vinyl ducts are not allowed

because they collect lint and are a fire hazard!

Homeowners often choose flexible metal or vinyl duct for their ease of installation. These types of ducts are not allowed for use on a dryer in many areas due to the fire hazard. Flexible ducts have many areas for lint to accumulate within the duct. Vinyl and PVC when heated create an electrostatic charge that attracts lint, these are not allowed.  Most municipalities and building codes require rigid metal ducts without mechanical fasteners. These rigid ducts have fewer areas to collect lint and obstruct the airflow.

 

Clogged gooseneck dryer vent on the roof.

Gooseneck dryer vent hoods are common in Deltona and often clogged due to the location on the roof. The homeowners are either unaware of them or just forget about them until they become a problem. Most of these types of vents we inspect are clogged. Many of these types of vent hoods when clogged cause the duct to separate in the attic. Damaged ducts pump moisture and lint into the attic causing moisture damage, wood rot and mold growth. Gooseneck hoods because of their location on the roof should be scheduled for yearly inspection and cleaning by a professional. 

 

 

Annual Dryer Duct Inspection and Cleaning

All dryer ducts should be inspected and cleaned yearly. Check with your Home Inspector when you buy your home. A dryer duct inspection may reveal improper installation or materials. If you have a larger family and use the dryer daily or more often, your ducts may require semi-annual cleaning. Less frequent use may only require biennial cleaning.  Protect your family and sleep soundly at night.  Have your ducts inspected and cleaned in the fall when you change your smoke detector batteries. 

Frank Carr, Florida Licensed Home
Inspector

Frank Carr is the Owner / Inspector at First Choice Home Inspections in Deltona, FL serving Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Lake Counties. Formerly in the building trades, Frank’s focus is a safe home in the Orlando Metro and Daytona Beach areas of Central Florida and building FCHI. We believe that consumers have the right to expect the highest standards of thoroughness, fairness and effectiveness from their home inspector and that is exactly what we provide.
 

First Choice Home Inspections

Residential Home Inspections in Central Florida

(386) 624-3893 

Website:  http://1homeinspector.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/FirstChoiceHomeInspectionsLlc

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-choice-home-inspections

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/+FirstChoiceHomeInspectionsDeltona

Twitter: https://twitter.com/1stChoiceHomeIn