4 Point Inspections

[dlewis2]

Hi to all,
Can anyone get me more information on Florida 4 point inspections?
and a general cost to the home owner to do One?

[wsiegel]

Daniel,

If you are doing them for Citizens you need to be ICC certified, or have a roofers and electricians license to do them. The other alternative is to be an ASHI or FABI member, as they have been approved by citizens to use a special form.

We have people doing them down here for $85.00, although I charge $150.00. The cheaper guys usually are in and out in under 5 minutes, and having someone sign off on them.

Other companies only require a one page report and do not require you to be a roofer or electricain.

[dlewis2]

Thanks William for the info

[Brett Racine]

Daniel
If you decide to proceed, send me an email after you get the ICC certifications and I'll give you whatever help I can to get you started.
The certification exams cost $150 each, $100 each if you take 2 in one day.

[Richard L. Bennett]

I have been doing them for Citizens with none of the listed requirments and have not had one bounce yet

Is this a case of one hand not talking to another???

rlb

[wsiegel]

Richard,

I dont know how you are getting away with it. They do require what I have listed above.

[Brett Racine]

I'm surprised too Richard. I didn't originally get the ICC certs for the 4-points. I wanted the knowledge and the confidence more than anything else, it was just a nice extra benefit.
I'm surprised nothing has been said.

[Doug Edwards]

I have done some for customers of Citizens, most recently they required a licensed Electrician only. I came in behind him and he missed a ****load of items that should have been noted. My customer asked me to go ahead and do the full 4 point for his own peace of mind. He said he was going to call the electrician back to correct some of the items. I believe the deal is now, Citizens has to charge 15% more than the next highest insurance carrier. They are trying to discourage people from using Citizens due to all the flack. It was always suppose to be be the carrier of LAST choice, but became carrier of first choice for many.

[Richard L. Bennett]

From what you all have said I too am surprised

I am wondering if other insurance companies will follow Citizens lead

Really do not understand why ICC for a simple 4 point but what do we know

rlb

[Doug Edwards]

Me either Richard, I did a lot of 4 points going back over 10 years now. Back then only a few people would ask for them but now it is almost automatic. It has only been within the last year or two that anyone stated the electrical had to be done by a licensed electrician. Ive never been asked if I was ICC certified.

[wsiegel]

Doug,

With the new legislation just past, Citizens is no longer the insurer of last resort. And they are cheaper than many other companies right now. They will also now be able to cover more items on their policies than before.

The reason for a licensed elecltrician (and I heard this through the grapevine) is that there were some problems with some of the inspectors glossing over the insepction. I also heard that there were a couple of lawsuits agianst inspectors due to fires in the home.

They are going to licensed roofers due to all the problems with the roofs and also due to the hurricanes.

I have heard that changes are coming across the board for insurance inspections, but we will have to wait and see what happens with that - you know how anything political goes.

[Richard L. Bennett]

Another 4 point issue

Home was bad -- (rental and trashed)

Owner had not seen the home in two years

I refused to complete the inspection and returned the check.

The owner called me back after needed updates and repairs were completed for the inspection -- Home was vacant

How do others handle homes that in your opinion are substandard 4 point wise like NO HEAT??

rlb

[wsiegel]

Richard,

I write them and charge them. I usually tell them not to turn in the report, but to have all the work done and then turn in the report with all the paperwork from the licensed contractor who did the work. There is no way I am driving to a home (anymore) and not getting paid for what I was hired to do. Just my little rant, because it has happened all too much in the past.

[Richard L. Bennett]

Hope the industry does put so many requirements on this type of inspection that we don't have enough inspectors to do the job

Another thing to look at is that it cost $$ to get all the required training that the home owner (not the insurance company) must pay

If it goes to all licensed trades the cost could be quite high.

Right now in my market a licensed plumber charges $120 for his inspection a general contractor is about the same.

Most of contractors of this nature do not have the time to mess with this crap. They are not inspectors they are DOERS

In some cases they have little knowledge of insurance inspection the want and need the update and repair business.

rlb

[Richard L. Bennett]

Bill

Understand -- How should a home owner handle repairs that do not require the services of a contractor - say well within the skill level of the home owner??

If this becomes a problem for me I will just charge for 2 four point inspections.

As you say, we can't always give away the store for every hard luck case or we will be out of business.

Not much profit in this type of inspection to start with.

rlb