Author: oi_admin

Fall Maintenance

Posted on September 30, 2024 by - News

Close up showing some one cleaning leaves from a roof top gutter
PTP

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Close up showing some one cleaning leaves from a roof top gutter

SPOTLIGHT:

Fall Maintenance

Tackle these recommended tasks now to ensure your home is in good shape inside and out for fall and winter, and help protect your investment, too!

DOORS AND WINDOWS

  • Inspect caulking for deterioration at the openings and joints, especially at the top
  • Check weather stripping and replace if necessary
  • Remove screens if possible, clean and store in a dry place

HEATING AND COOLING

  • Clean or replace furnace filters
  • Lubricate fan and motor bearings (only where indicated)
  • Vacuum dirt and dust from around the unit
  • Have the system serviced prior to the start of the season

FIREPLACE & CHIMNEY

  • Have the fireplace and chimney professionally inspected
  • Have chimney cleaned if needed
  • Use binoculars to check chimney for loose, deteriorated or missing mortar or bricks
  • Have gas fireplaces serviced

FOUNDATION AND EXTERIOR

  • Clear gutters and downspouts of leaves and other debris
  • Check for moisture or leaks in crawlspace or basement
  • Check that water will flow away from the foundation
  • Inspect wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure
  • Check brick and stucco surfaces for cracks

The Ultimate Home Inspection has more for you and your clients!

Pillar To Post Home Inspection Packages have technology-led features that bring more information and engagement to the inspection itself and our industry-leading report. These innovative features save you time, get you to closings faster and have quickly become agent and client favorites.

Standard with every
Home Inspection:

PTP360*

Interactive 360° Visual Inspection Summary

PTPEstimates

A third-party cost estimate for Inspection Summary items

Also included with our Premium and Prestige Packages:

PTPFloorPlan

A measured floor plan of the entire home

PTPHomeManual

The digital owner’s manual for the home

*Where available Not all services are offered by every office.
Each office is independently owned and operated.

Download Here

WE’RE READY FOR YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS

  • Easy scheduling – just call, click or book online (where available)
  • Get a Market Ready inspection for your listings
  • Buyer, seller and post-sale inspections available
  • Add even more value to your services
  • E&O insured to protect you
  • Ask about our added inspection services

Pillar To Post Newsletter, Vol. 24, No. 5

Posted on September 16, 2024 by - Post Notes

Real Estate Agent showing options to prospective buyers
ptp logo

postnotes

VOLUME 24, NO. 5

SEPTEMBER IS REALTOR SAFETY MONTH

8 Tips
for Personal Safety

  1. Know who you’re dealing with. Meet a new client in the office first and take a photo of their I.D. and license plate. A criminal won’t be comfortable with this and may be thwarted.
  2. Touch base. Always let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll return. Have them call you to check in.
  3. Don’t get lost. Know the exact address of your destination. If you use a navigation app, pull over and stop in a safe place if you’ve made a wrong turn.
  4. Sense your surroundings. Is there questionable activity in the area of a property you’re showing? Is anyone loitering or making you uncomfortable? Follow your instincts if you feel you should leave.
  5. Don’t go it alone. Have an associate or other person host open houses with you.
  6. Park for protection. At open houses or showings, park on the street instead of in the driveway so you can get away quickly if necessary.
  7. Go on the defense. Learn some self-defense skills. Martial arts studios, many community colleges and police departments offer basic classes.
  8. Choose flight over fight. While self-defense is a good idea, the primary goal in any threatening situation is to escape from immediate danger and call for help.

Be aware and be safe!

Source: NAR Realtor Safety Resource Kit.

Real Estate Agent showing options to prospective buyers

Additional Resources

Your safety is of utmost importance to all of us at Pillar To Post. For more personal safety information, tools and resources please visit:
nar.realtor/safety
beverlycarterfoundation.org

FALL & WINTER
MAINTENANCE

Tackle these tasks and make sure your home is in shape for the months ahead!

Check

the roof for missing or loose shingles with binoculars

Clear

leaves and other debris from gutters

Direct

water away from the foundation

Repair

damaged caulk and weatherstripping

Arrange

for fireplace inspection and cleaning

Replace

the furnace filter

SERVICE SPOTLIGHT

We're Here For You

Agent and clients and a desk

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is committed to helping you help your clients. Technology-led features including our Virtual Open House, PTP360 interactive inspection summary and measured PTPFloorPlan can help you increase your service offerings and deliver even more value for your clients.

Contact your local Pillar To Post home inspector to learn more.

The Ultimate Home InspectionTM

Pillar To Post Home Inspection Packages include even more exclusive and innovative features than ever. These new services deliver speed, ease and convenience, getting you to closings faster, saving you time, and delighting your clients.

Standard with every
Home Inspection:

PTP360*

Interactive 360° Visual Inspection Summary
  • Brings the inspection report to life
  • Includes every room and the exterior
  • Accessible any time
inside of a home with a slightly transparent image of a floor plan overlayed

Also included with Premium and Prestige Packages:

PTPFloorPlan

A measured floor plan
of the entire home
  • Use to determine furniture fit and placement
  • Share dimensions with contractors for estimating
generic floor plan

PTPEstimates

Powered by BOSSCAT
Cost estimate for Inspection Summary items
  • Learn what recommended repairs will cost
  • Estimate based on local costs
  • Request an estimate with just a click

PTPHomeManual

Powered by Centriq
The digital owner’s manual for the home
  • Download user manuals/warranty information
  • Find safety recalls on appliances
  • Indicates age and useful remaining life of systems
Mobile phone featuring the PTPHomeManual app

Experience
it today!

QR code for Ultimate Home Inspection link

*Where available Not all services are offered by every office.
Each office is independently owned and operated.

Realtor Safety

Posted on September 2, 2024 by - News

Real estate agent showing a house for sale to a client entering home
PTP

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Real estate agent showing a house for sale to a client entering home

SPOTLIGHT:

Realtor Safety

Showing Empty Properties

Your personal safety is of utmost importance to all of us at Pillar To Post. Take these smart steps to protect and empower yourself against attack or theft when showing a property.

  • Use the lock/key/app procedure that has been established so that keys or codes don’t fall into the wrong hands.
  • Show properties before dark. If you must show a property after dark, alert or bring along an associate, turn on all lights as you go through, and keep window coverings open.
  • Check in with someone on your team once an hour to let people know where you are.
  • Prepare a scenario so that you can leave, or to encourage someone who makes you uncomfortable to leave. Examples: Your cell phone alerts and you have to call your office; you left some important information in your car; another agent with buyers is on the way.
  • Leave the front door unlocked for a quick exit while you and the client are inside. As you enter each room, stand near the door.
  • Lock your purse in the car trunk before you arrive. Carry only non-valuable business items (but hold on to your phone). Don’t wear expensive jewelry or watches, or appear to be carrying large sums of money. 
  • Park at the curb in front of the property instead of in the driveway. It is much easier to escape in your vehicle if you don't have to back out of a driveway. And while parked in a driveway another vehicle could purposefully or accidentally trap you.

Sources: Louisiana REALTORS® Association; Washington Real Estate Safety Council; City of Albuquerque, NM; Nevada County Association of REALTORS®; City of Mesa, AZ.

The ultimate home inspection experience infographic
Download Here

WE’RE READY FOR YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS

  • Easy scheduling – just call, click or book online (where available)
  • Get a Market Ready inspection for your listings
  • Buyer, seller and post-sale inspections available
  • Add even more value to your services
  • Printed and digital reports
  • E&O insured to protect you
  • Ask about our added inspection services

Don’t Ignore a Leaky Roof

Posted on July 29, 2024 by - News

Pillar To Post blog post
PTP

NEWS YOU CAN USE

SPOTLIGHT:

Don’t Ignore a Leaky Roof

Roof leaks are one of the major types of property damage caused by storms, flooding and high winds. A leaking roof is disruptive, costly and can eventually cause mold, damage to interior finishes, and structural damage. Any of these can adversely affect a home’s value.

Older roofs or those in disrepair are at greater risk for leaks, but one of the most common causes of roof failure is faulty workmanship during installation. This isn’t always readily apparent because it often takes a few years for a poor installation to manifest itself as a leak. Using a licensed, qualified roofing contractor for any installations or repairs is always recommended.

What causes leaks? Wind and rain in just the wrong combination can cause a roof to leak by compromising critical components. Many roof leaks can be traced to poorly installed or worn flashing. Flashing usually consists of pieces of metal that cover gaps between the roofing material and items that penetrate through the roof such as chimneys, skylights, dormers, and roof/wall intersections. In cold climates, ice damming can cause a perfectly good roof surface to leak. In this situation, ice blocks the flow of water to the edge of the roof or to the drain. The water can then back up under the shingles and leak into the house.

Leaks can have interior causes as well. Condensation in the attic due to leaking household air or heating and/or air conditioning ducts can cause damage to the roof decking and structural framing. In severe cases it can cause water to drip back into the house. This can lead to mold and even structural damage if not corrected. 

Proper installation and maintenance of roofs are key to preventing problems down the road. After the storm, reach out to your Pillar To Post home inspector to make sure everything is okay.

Are You Legally Protected When You Refer a Home Inspector?

When you refer your clients to Pillar To Post, you are. Unlike some other home inspection companies and many independent home inspectors, all Pillar To Post home inspectors must carry E&O insurance. We take seriously our responsibility and our accountability to provide to your clients – and therefore to you – a home inspection experience that does not put you at legal risk for wrongful referral.

If the home inspector you refer doesn’t carry E&O insurance, you could be at risk if a client includes you in a legal claim against the inspector. To us, that is an unacceptable and avoidable occurrence. You can always refer Pillar To Post with confidence that you will be protected from such legal claims.

Why you need a home inspection infographic

Why You Need a Home Inspection

WE’RE READY FOR YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS

  • Easy scheduling – just call, click or book online (where available)
  • Get a Market Ready inspection for your listings
  • Buyer, seller and post-sale inspections available
  • Add even more value to your services
  • Printed and digital reports
  • E&O insured to protect you
  • Ask about our added inspection services

*Where available. Not all services are offered by every office.