Before you close, a full home inspection tells you the real condition of the house — not the four systems an insurer cares about, but the whole structure. It is different from a 4-point or wind mitigation, and it is the one most buyers actually need.
Florida's Standards of Practice for licensed home inspectors — rules 61-30.801 through 61-30.811 of the Florida Administrative Code — define what a full inspection examines: the structure, the electrical system, the HVAC system, the roof covering, the plumbing system, interior and exterior components, and site conditions that affect the structure. The goal is to tell you the condition of the house, not to qualify an insurance policy.
A 4-point inspection is narrower on purpose: it checks only four of those systems, and it exists to answer one question for an insurer — will this company write a policy on the house. A wind mitigation is narrower still, and it is about storm-resistance discounts, not condition. Most buyers need a full inspection first; a 4-point or wind mitigation only comes into it if you are also lining up insurance on an older home. See insurance inspections if that is what brought you here instead.
If you are buying under Florida's standard "AS IS" residential contract, the contract sets an inspection period — negotiated between you and the seller, not fixed by state law. During that window you can have the house inspected at your own expense, and under the AS IS form you can typically cancel and get your deposit back for any reason before the period ends. Book the inspection as soon as the contract is signed rather than waiting, since that right generally goes away once the period is over.
Every inspector's phone number is on their listing, so you can call and schedule directly.
A full inspection covers the whole structure and tells a buyer what condition the house is in. It is different from the 4-point and wind mitigation inspections an insurer asks for.
Florida's Standards of Practice for licensed home inspectors, adopted in rules 61-30.801 through 61-30.811 of the Florida Administrative Code, define what a full inspection examines: the structure, the electrical system, the HVAC system, the roof covering, the plumbing system, interior and exterior components, and site conditions that affect the structure. It is a much wider scope than an insurance-driven inspection — the point is to tell you the condition of the house you are buying, not to qualify a policy.
Source: 61-30, F.A.C., Home Inspectors
A 4-point looks at four systems and answers one question: will an insurer write a policy on this house. A full inspection, covered by the same state Standards of Practice, looks at the whole structure to tell a buyer what condition it is actually in. Most buyers need a full inspection; a 4-point or wind mitigation only comes into it if you are also arranging insurance on an older home. Some licensed inspectors offer both at once — ask when you book.
If you are buying under Florida's standard "AS IS" residential contract, the contract itself sets an inspection period, negotiated between you and the seller rather than fixed by state law. During that window you can have the house inspected at your own expense, and under the AS IS form you can typically cancel and get your deposit back for any reason before it ends. Once it ends, that right generally goes away, so book the inspection as soon as the contract is signed rather than waiting.
Often, yes — many Florida home inspectors are licensed to perform all three, and doing them in one visit can save a trip. They are still separate reports for separate purposes: the full inspection is for you as the buyer, and a 4-point or wind mitigation is for your insurer. Ask when you book which ones you need. See insurance inspections for how to check that any inspector is DBPR-licensed before booking.