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Home Inspection Types: The 8 You Should Know in 2026

Not all home inspections are the same. The full home inspection is just the starting point — depending on your state, your home's age, and your insurance, you may need 2-4 additional specialty inspections. Here's every type explained.

Jump to a type
  1. Full Home Inspection
  2. 4-Point Inspection (Florida)
  3. Wind Mitigation Inspection
  4. Sewer Scope Inspection
  5. Mold & Moisture Inspection
  6. Radon Testing
  7. Pool & Spa Inspection
  8. New Construction Inspection

1 Full Home Inspection

Typical cost: $300-$500 Duration: 2-4 hours Required: Optional but standard

The comprehensive head-to-toe inspection most buyers know about. A licensed inspector evaluates the home's major systems and visible components.

What's inspected:

  • Roof (covering, structure, drainage, flashings)
  • Exterior (siding, trim, grading, walkways)
  • Structure (foundation, framing visible from interior)
  • Electrical (service panel, outlets, fixtures, GFCI/AFCI)
  • Plumbing (supply, drain, water heater, fixtures)
  • HVAC (heating, cooling, ducts)
  • Interior (walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows)
  • Insulation & ventilation (attic, crawlspace)
  • Appliances (built-in)
When you need it: Any time you're buying a home. Pre-listing inspections are also useful for sellers wanting to fix issues before they hit the market.

2 4-Point Inspection

Typical cost: $75-$150 Duration: 30-60 min Required: FL insurance, older homes

A focused inspection of the four major systems most insurance companies care about. Required by most Florida insurers for homes over 20-30 years old.

The "4 points":

  • Roof — age, condition, remaining lifespan
  • Electrical — service panel, wiring type, age
  • Plumbing — pipe materials, water heater age
  • HVAC — system age, condition, function
When you need it: Buying or refinancing a Florida home built before 2000 — almost always required by insurance.
Deep dive: Florida 4-Point cost guide

3 Wind Mitigation Inspection

Typical cost: $75-$150 Duration: 30-60 min Required: Optional but saves $$$

Documents hurricane-resistant construction features on the official Florida OIR-B1-1802 form. Used by insurance companies to apply discounts — often saving homeowners $300-$3,000+ per year.

What's documented:

  • Roof shape (hip vs gable vs flat)
  • Roof deck attachment
  • Roof-to-wall connection (toe-nail vs clips vs straps)
  • Secondary water resistance
  • Opening protection (impact glass, shutters)
  • Year of construction / re-roof permit
When you need it: Any Florida homeowner — even older homes typically qualify for some discount. Valid for 5 years.
Deep dive: Wind Mitigation complete guide

4 Sewer Scope Inspection

Typical cost: $150-$300 Duration: 30-45 min Required: Strongly recommended

A camera is run through the home's main sewer line from the cleanout to the city connection. Catches issues invisible from above — root intrusion, collapses, bellies (low spots), Orangeburg pipe, cracks.

What you'll find:

  • Root intrusion (most common in older homes with mature trees)
  • Pipe material (cast iron, clay, Orangeburg, PVC)
  • Bellies / sags causing slow drainage
  • Cracks, breaks, or collapses
  • Existing repairs / patches
When you need it: Any home over 25 years old. Critical in homes with mature trees within 20ft of the sewer line.

5 Mold & Moisture Inspection

Typical cost: $300-$600 Duration: 1-3 hours Required: If concerns exist

Visual inspection plus moisture meter readings and (optionally) air samples sent to a lab. Identifies active moisture intrusion and visible mold growth.

What's tested:

  • Visible mold growth in attics, basements, bathrooms, behind drywall
  • Moisture meter readings on walls, floors, ceilings
  • Air samples (lab-analyzed, identifies mold species and concentration)
  • HVAC system mold contamination
When you need it: Visible water stains, musty smells, recent flooding, or after a roof leak. Also smart for properties with crawl spaces.

6 Radon Testing

Typical cost: $125-$250 Duration: 48 hours (passive test) Required: In radon zones

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that's the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Testing requires either a 48-hour passive charcoal canister or a continuous monitor.

What's measured:

  • Radon concentration in pCi/L (picocuries per liter)
  • EPA action level: 4.0 pCi/L
  • Test usually done in lowest livable level (basement)
When you need it: Especially in EPA radon zones 1 & 2 (Minnesota, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Dakota, Colorado, etc.). Many states require disclosure of radon levels at sale.

7 Pool & Spa Inspection

Typical cost: $150-$300 Duration: 1-2 hours Required: If pool/spa exists

Specialty inspection for in-ground or above-ground pools, spas, and pool equipment. Standard home inspections typically exclude pools.

What's inspected:

  • Pool shell and visible structure
  • Coping, decking, tile
  • Pump, filter, heater, automation
  • Electrical bonding and GFCI protection
  • Safety features (fencing, gates, alarms, anti-entrapment drains)
  • Spa heater and jets (if present)
When you need it: Buying any home with a pool or spa. The repair costs for an aging pool can rival a small home renovation.

8 New Construction Inspection

Typical cost: $300-$500 per phase Duration: 2-4 hours per phase Required: Strongly recommended

Multiple inspections during the construction process — typically pre-pour (foundation), pre-drywall, and pre-closing. Catches builder errors while they're still easy to fix.

Typical phases:

  • Pre-pour foundation — rebar, vapor barrier, plumbing rough-in before slab
  • Pre-drywall — framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, insulation visible
  • Pre-closing / final — completed home walk-through with builder's warranty list
  • 11-month warranty — one inspection before the builder's 1-year warranty expires
When you need it: Building a new home. Despite the builder's own inspections and the municipal inspector, third-party inspections consistently find issues both missed.

Which Inspections Do You Actually Need?

For most homebuyers, here's the practical minimum:

Existing Home (any state)

Florida (additional)

New Construction

Frequently Asked Questions

How many types of home inspections are there?

There are 8 common types: full home, 4-Point, Wind Mitigation, sewer scope, mold & moisture, radon, pool/spa, and new construction. Most homebuyers need at least a full home inspection; insurance and location often add more.

What's the difference between a 4-Point and Wind Mitigation Inspection?

A 4-Point inspects the four major systems (roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC) and is usually required by Florida insurance for older homes. A Wind Mit documents hurricane-resistant features for insurance discounts. They're often bundled but serve different purposes. See the full comparison →

How much does a full home inspection cost?

A standard full home inspection typically costs $300-$500 in the U.S., depending on the home's size, age, and region. Larger or older homes cost more; specialty inspections add to the total.

Which inspections do I actually need as a homebuyer?

At minimum, a full home inspection. Add a sewer scope if the home is over 25 years old or has mature trees nearby. In Florida, add 4-Point + Wind Mitigation. In radon zones, add radon testing. With a pool, add a pool inspection.

Are you a home inspector?

InspectorData has pre-built templates for all 8 inspection types — full home, 4-Point, Wind Mit, sewer scope, mold, radon, pool, and new construction. AI photo categorization, voice-to-text, and §535.223-compliant TREC reports included.

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