06/01/2026
As a follow-up to our recent post, "Who Owns the Home Inspection Report?", let's talk about two other reports that often create confusion in Florida real estate transactions: the 4-Point Inspection and Wind Mitigation Report.
Before we get into ownership and sharing, it's important to understand the difference between these reports and a home inspection.
The Home Inspection Report
A home inspection report is for you, the buyer.
It is a visual inspection designed to provide a snapshot of the home's overall condition and help you make an informed purchasing decision. We often call it a "Honey-Do List."
Every home has something. Whether it's a loose handrail, an aging roof, or a major defect, the inspection report is designed to help you understand the condition and operation of the home you're considering purchasing.
This report belongs to the buyer who paid for it.
The 4-Point and Wind Mitigation Reports
These are completely different documents.
The 4-Point Inspection and Wind Mitigation Report are insurance documents used by insurance companies to evaluate risk and determine eligibility, coverage, and discounts.
A 4-Point Inspection focuses on four major systems:
✔ Roof
✔ Electrical
✔ Plumbing
✔ HVAC
The form primarily documents the Manufacturer, age and condition of these systems and whether they are considered satisfactory or unsatisfactory for insurance purposes.
A Wind Mitigation Report evaluates features that may help a home withstand windstorms, including:
✔ Roof covering and age
✔ Roof-to-wall connections
✔ Opening protection (windows and doors)
✔ Roof deck attachment and other construction details
These reports are prepared for a specific property owner or purchaser and are submitted to insurance carriers as official documentation.
Why Names Matter
One of the biggest misconceptions we encounter is that a buyer can simply take a previous buyer's 4-Point or Wind Mitigation Report, change the name, and use it for insurance.
That is not how these documents work.
The information on these reports must accurately reflect the individual for whom the report was prepared. If a name change is required, a new inspection and new report may be necessary depending on the circumstances.
Simply editing a report to change names is not an acceptable solution.
A Real-World Example
Several years ago, a report was shared from one transaction to another. Eventually, a buyer received the documents, opened them in a PDF editor, changed the names, and submitted them to an insurance company.
About a year later, DNS received a phone call from investigators regarding those documents as part of an insurance fraud investigation.
Fortunately, DNS had not altered the reports. However, it serves as a reminder of how serious these situations can become.
Why Inspectors Say No
Just a few weeks ago, we received a call asking us to "simply change the names" on a report for a new buyer.
The answer was no.
For newer agents and buyers, this request may seem harmless. Many simply don't realize the legal and ethical implications.
But when you ask an inspector to alter an official insurance document, you're asking them to risk their professional license, their reputation, and ultimately their livelihood.
That's not a favor.
That's a risk no ethical inspector should take.
The Takeaway
Home inspection reports, 4-Point Inspections, and Wind Mitigation Reports all serve different purposes.
Understanding those differences helps protect buyers, agents, inspectors, and insurance carriers alike.
When in doubt, ask questions. The cost of doing things correctly is always less than the cost of fixing a problem later.
