Concerned about home inspection required for homeowner's insurance

 I'm in Florida. My homeowner's provider - Metlife - is non-renewing my
policy, apparently pulling out of the state after the 2004 hurricanes.

I just signed up with a policy through an independent agency with a
company called Security First. After first being advised it won't
require what they're calling a four-point inspection, now they're
saying it will. That's an issue unto itself but...

There are some issues with the interior of the house - I've got some
of the tile pulled away in a shower stall that had some water seepage,
one wall in master bed with the sheet rock removed where I repaired
some carpenter ant damage. Also some holes in the sheet rock in the
garage - one where I knocked it away to determine where a leak was
coming from. Turned out it was just the hot water tank, also a couple
of other spots where I cut out a section of sheet rock to inspect for
other carpenter ant damage.

Could this be an issue? Should I scramble to patch these things up
before the inspection or is it not a concern? Otherwise the house is
in decent shape. Just had a new roof (shingles and paper) put on after
the hurricanes.

What I'm also concerned with is this turning into some kind of
extortion/scam - where they "find" problems that they claim need
fixing and oh, they just happen to know someone who will do the work,
knowing I have to have a thumbs up to get insurance coverage.

Any thoughts, experience with this kind of thing?  My recent
experiences with insurance agencies being less than forthright about
some things haven't served to raise my opinion of the industry.

 
I would make it look like all three things are in the process of being
fixed. This may sound funny, but put out objects which would convince your
wife that you really were working on this stuff while she was grocery
shopping, when in fact you were watching TV. Tools, rulers, pieces of
sheetrock, you know what I mean. If the inspector has any issues, you have
leverage. Tell the insurance agent you're going somewhere else with your
MONEY.

 

Certainly can't hurt to fix them. Every house has problems and you can find
some fault.  Garage or not, there is not much excuse to have holes in the
wall long term. If the inspector is a pro and realistic, he is not going to
bounce you for making normal maintenance type repairs.  Fixing hoes in the
bedroom keeps the wife happy also.

 

   Didn't seem to work for Gov. Spitzer.

Kurt (The Fates will get for that one....)

 Four-Point Insurance Inspection

A Four-Point Inspection (4-point insurance inspection) is typically
performed for a homeowner when requested by their insurance company;
often a requirement when a homeowner is obtaining a new insurance
policy or renewing an existing policy.


A Four-Point Insurance Inspection is not standard "Home Inspection" in
scope and depth. The Inspection includes a limited scope evaluation of
the roof surface covering, electrical system, central air conditioning
- heating system, and plumbing system.


Insurance companies are typically concerned that the systems are
currently in satisfactory functional condition and are not
"antiquated" (at or past their expected useful service life).


The Insurance company will typically require that the inspections be
performed by suitably qualified persons.  A State of Florida licensed
and ICC (International Code Council) Certified Residential Building,
Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Code Inspector performs all
inspections, therefore we are able to provide the various insurance
related inspections that are required.


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