Get the insurance quote before the inspection report, not after

A buyer who waits until after the inspection to shop insurance is running the sequence backwards. In Florida the insurability of an older home is a live question, and it is answered by documents the seller may or may not have. Two inspections drive it. A four-point inspection looks at roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC, and carriers commonly require one on older homes. A wind mitigation inspection documents roof shape, deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections and opening protection, and it exists to lower the premium — which it often does substantially. The things that turn into a declination rather than a higher price are specific and repeat: a roof past a certain age or with limited remaining life, old wiring types, a panel brand with a known defect history, polybutylene supply lines, and prior claims history on the property itself. A buyer who learns about any of these in the last week before closing has no room to negotiate. The property's own claim history is retrievable, and past claims affect what a new policy costs regardless of who filed them. Flood is separate from the homeowner policy, always. Whether the lender requires it depends on the flood zone, but the water does not consult the map. Practical order: contract signed, four-point and wind mitigation scheduled alongside the general inspection, quotes requested from more than one carrier in the same week. The number that comes back belongs in the affordability calculation next to the mortgage payment, not below it. This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change and every deal is different — check your own case with a licensed professional. Alberto Zaltzberg — Adonait · adonait.com