You’ve got your itinerary, made your reservations and are ready to pack your bags. Don’t forget about keeping your home secure while you’re away! While you may already monitor a home security setup remotely, use these tips to give you added peace of mind.
If possible, load your vacation gear into the car while it’s in the garage so you’re not announcing to passersby that you’re on your way out of town.
Make your home appear occupied. Schedule lights throughout the house to turn off and on at various times after dark using simple plug-in timers or a smartphone app.
Close the window coverings on the first floor so would-be thieves aren’t tempted by valuables and other items visible from outside.
Use extra caution when referencing your vacation on social media, or better yet, don’t mention it at all. Information spreads quickly, and you don’t want it to get into the wrong hands. Hold off on posting photos and updates until you’re back home.
Tell your close friends and trusted neighbors of your travel plans. Let them know when you’re expecting to return and how you can be reached in an emergency.
Have the post office hold your mail, and suspend any
newspaper and package deliveries (or ask a neighbor to collect them for you).
Arrange to have the lawn mowed in your absence if you’ll be gone for more than a week or so.
Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway on occasion so it looks like there’s someone home.
Lock the garage, gates and sheds. Don’t forget to lock any side doors and doors leading into the house from the garage.
Relax and enjoy your well-deserved trip!
GREAT OUTDOORS
Top Tree Tips
Choosing the right types and locations of trees on your property can make your yard more enjoyable and prevent headaches down the road. Properly located and well-maintained trees can also add to your property value!
1. A common problem is trees that grow too large for their location. To avoid this, research how tall and wide a particular tree will be at maturity. That lovely sapling at the nursery could grow up to be a giant you don’t have space for.
2. Don’t plant trees too close to the house. At full size it may damage the roof, gutters or the structure itself and need to be cut back or removed.
3. If a tree you’re considering is deciduous (loses its leaves each fall) will the winter sun cause nearby rooms to be too bright?
4. Trees with invasive and/or shallow root systems shouldn’t be planted near the house, pavement or other surfaces as they can eventually cause serious damage to walkways, the driveway and even the foundation.
Local nurseries are a great source of information about what types of trees will thrive in your area. Their knowledgeable staff can help you make choices and provide planting tips so you can enjoy your trees for years to come.
The Ultimate Home InspectionTM
Gets Rave Reviews from Agents!
Technology coupled with deep knowledge allows us to provide an exceptional home inspection with unique and innovative features, all delivered within a seamless brand experience. This experience, and the people who deliver it, has made Pillar To Post North America’s largest home inspection company.
“The inspector was amazing, professional and caring. He answered all of our questions and addressed all concerns. He explained each item in detail and made the client feel at ease. He did an amazing job and I would definitely recommend your team again!”
“The inspection reminded me exactly why I love Pillar To Post. The inspector took his time and did a great job. He took time to go over every page with my buyers and answered many questions that gave my buyers the confi dence to proceed with the purchase. They got to take home their report and their PTPEstimates for repairs was returned before we left the inspection. It was that fast and gave a really reasonable estimate for the needed repairs that made it easy to share back to the sellers agent for review. I will continue to recommend them!”
“Our inspector was wonderful to work with, very friendly and professional, also funny! I also enjoyed the presentation and materials provided to my client – the photo walk through and printing out the report and presenting in a binder were very nice touches. Much appreciated.”
“I was very intrigued by the PTP360 summary and PTPFloorPlan that were offered. I recommended to my sellers that it would be a very good marketing tool to get all the inspections up front. It is phenomenal. Home inspection was very thorough as expected from Pillar To Post.”
“He did an excellent job with this inspection. Extremely thorough. Very easy to ask questions and get further explanations. The best part was his delivery of the inspection summary with the clients. Didn’t make them panic about things that needed addressing, but explained what the issues were completely. I would definitely use Pillar To Post again.”
Experience the Pillar To Post Difference. Schedule a home inspection today!
PTP360 is our interactive 360° Visual Inspection Summary, now included with all Pillar To Post Home Inspections.* PTP360 is an engaging tool that help buyers get to know the home, enabling them to make a confident home ownership decision.
View key findings from the inspection from within the PTP360 Inspection Summary
Buyers can revisit the home virtually from a smartphone, tablet or desktop
Share a link to PTP360 with family and friends
Delivered within 24 hours of the home inspection
PTP360 is one of 4 innovative features of The Ultimate Home Inspection including PTPEstimates, PTPFloorPlan and PTPHomeManual.
PTPFloorPlan FOR THE WIN
When your clients choose our Premium or Prestige Package they’ll also receive a measured PTPFloorPlan that includes every room in the home. It’s a great tool for planning furniture fit and placement and to help ensure a smooth move-in.
PTPFloorPlan reduces the need to revisit the home to take measurements, saving time and effort. It can also be shared with contractors to get accurate estimates for flooring, painting and more.
WHAT YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT
Buyer, seller and post-sale inspections available
Easy scheduling – just call or click
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.
Spring is the perfect opportunity for homeowners to make sure their property is in good shape and to help protect their investment, too. Here are some ideas to help homeowners get on track with maintenance in mind.
Look for cracks, peeling or chipped paint, and general wear and tear on siding and trim. Have damaged areas repaired and repainted as needed for lasting protection.
Clear gutters and downspouts of debris and gunk collected over the winter and repair any leaks.
Check patios and walkways for cracks and any loose bricks or pavers. These are tripping hazards and unsafe until repaired/corrected.
Clean window screens and repair any holes or tears, or replace the screen material. Wash accessible exterior windows before reinstalling screens.
Look around the property for damaged tree limbs and branches. If a large tree appears to be damaged, stay safe and call a professional for an evaluation.
Inspect the irrigation system for broken sprinkler heads and emitters. Also check for overspray and adjust the system to prevent water waste.
Get your home ready for spring and summer with these recommended tasks.
HEATING AND COOLING
Clean or replace furnace filters
Vacuum dirt and dust from around the unit
Have the cooling system services prior to the start of the season
Trim plants away from the air conditioner compressor unit
Change ceiling fan rotation to the summer setting
DOORS AND WINDOWS
Clean insides and outsides of windows
Checks screens for damage, and re-install if they were stored over the winter
Inspect weather stripping and replace if necessary
Make sure door and window locks function properly
Plumbing
Check the main water shut-off valve for operation and leakage
Look for evidence of leaks around sinks, showers, tubs and toilets
Check all faucets for leaks (indoors and outdoors)
Make sure laundry supply hoses aren't leaking and replace if necessary
Inspect irrigation system for leaks, exposed lines and overspray
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
PTP360*
PTP360 is our interactive 360° Interactive Visual Inspection Summary, included with all Pillar To Post home inspections. It’s a great way to expand your service offerings and add even more value for your clients.
The interactive features bring the inspection report to life
Key findings from the inspection can be viewed from within
the PTP360 Inspection Summary
Buyers can revisit the home anytime from their devices and
share with family and friends
Save time with fewer repeat visits to the home
Includes exterior, interior and every room, floor to ceiling
PTP360 has quickly become a favorite of agents and clients alike. Book your next inspection and find out why!
*Where available. Not all services are offered by every office.
AROUND THE HOUSE
Refrigerator Essentials
Keeping your refrigerator in top shape will help it last longer and run more efficiently. Here’s what to do:
CLEAN THE COILS
Dust or vacuum the condenser coils every few months. They’re located under, behind or above the unit, depending on your specific model. Specialized brushes are available for this task.
SUPER SEAL
Clean dirt and debris from the door gasket on all sides. Check for cracks or other damage and replace if necessary to make a tight seal.
PUT A FILTER ON IT
Change the water filter for the ice maker and water dispenser as recommended by the manufacturer. No one likes dirty ice!
COOL TO BE COLD
Use a refrigerator thermometer to make sure the temperature stays below 38°F /4°C in the main compartment to help ensure food safety. The freezer should be at 0°F /-18°C.
FILL IT UP
Keep both the fresh food storage and freezer sections at least half full if possible. Cold or frozen items help maintain the temperature inside, much like a cooler stays chilled longer when it’s full of cold items.
TIME TO MOVE ON?
If your fridge is 20+ years old, it’s time to consider replacement. Even though it might work well, your aging refrigerator might be using up to 3 times the amount of electricity than current energy-efficient models. Appliance delivery usually includes removing and recycling your old unit.
Following these steps will help your refrigerator last longer, perform at its best, and will save energy and money, too.
Experience the Pillar To Post Difference. Schedule a home inspection today!
There are no inspections available with this FBO within +/- 4 days of your preferred inspection date. Please pick another inspection date, or contact us.
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