4 Point Insurance Inspection
What Is It?
- Understanding Your Home
4-Point Insurance Inspections What is This???
A 4-point insurance inspection is a limited home inspection that focuses on the four main systems insurance companies care about most: the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC (heating & cooling). It’s typically required for older homes (often 20–30+ years) to help insurers assess risk before issuing or renewing a policy. The inspector isn’t evaluating cosmetic condition or general home maintenance — they’re looking at the age, condition, and any safety concerns with those four systems. The end result is a short report with photos that helps the insurance company decide eligibility and pricing.
when did insurers start requiring them?
In California, this became noticeably common around 2017–2019, and then accelerated sharply after 2020, especially in:
Wildfire-prone areas
Older neighborhoods
Rural or foothill communities
By 2022–2024, many carriers were requiring 4-points for:
Homes over 20–30 years old
Properties in high fire severity zones
Homes with older roofs (15–20+ years)
Homes with older electrical panels
This wasn’t always standard practice here — it became much more aggressive after a series of costly disasters.
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SDM Home Inspections provides Home Inspections throughout Northern California from Sacramento to Redding
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