Author: oi_admin

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

Posted on September 16, 2024 by oi_admin - Post Notes

Real Estate Agent showing options to prospective buyers

postnotes

VOLUME 24, NO. 5

SEPTEMBER IS REALTOR SAFETY MONTH

8 Tips
for Personal Safety

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.
Touch base. Always let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll return. Have them call you to check in.
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.
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.
Don’t go it alone. Have an associate or other person host open houses with you.
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.
Go on the defense. Learn some self-defense skills. Martial arts studios, many community colleges and police departments offer basic classes.
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.

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

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 Inspection^TM

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

PTPEstimates

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

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 oi_admin - News

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

NEWS YOU CAN USE

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 oi_admin - News

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

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.

Pillar To Post Newsletter, Vol. 24, No. 4

Posted on July 15, 2024 by oi_admin - Post Notes

postnotes

NEWS AND INFORMATION

VOLUME 24, NO. 4

INSPECTION INSIGHTS

Home Inspection Myths – Busted!

Test your knowledge of home inspection misinformation – it’s more common than you would think! These myths and rumors continue to persist, so let’s set the record straight.

A home will either pass or fail a home inspection. FALSE! A home inspection is an unbiased evaluation of the home’s condition. The inspector will note issues that should be addressed and explain them in the inspection report. The home is not graded or scored in any way.
Getting a pre-listing inspection is just asking for trouble. NOT AT ALL! A pre-listing inspection (or as we like to call it, a Market Ready Inspection) gives sellers the opportunity to make recommended repairs and prevents surprise condition issues from cropping up during the transaction. Homes with a Market Ready Inspection get to closing faster and sell for more!
Newly constructed homes don’t need an inspection – they usually have a builder’s warranty anyway. NOT SO FAST! It’s common for new homes to have problems come to light during the first year. An unbiased, professional home inspection enables owners to bring defects or faults to the builder’s attention while it’s under warranty, when problems will still be fixed at no cost.

The buyer doesn’t need to bother attending the home inspection – getting the report is enough. NOT REALLY! While the inspection report is the key component of a home inspection, accompanying the inspector is a great opportunity for buyers to ask questions along the way and learn first-hand about the home.

NEW FOR YOU

Utility Setup Made Easy

Setting up essentials like gas, electricity, water, internet and more can be a headache for your clients when they’ve already got a lot going on. Pillar To Post Connects eases the burden on both you and your clients by streamlining the process – free of charge.*

Confidential, no commitment required
Saves time and simplifies the process
This service is 100% free

Your clients will enjoy complimentary setup for essential utilities along with comparisons for internet, television, phone and security services. Whether it’s just utilities or specialty connections, our team is ready to assist.

Be sure to ask your inspector about Pillar To Post Connects!

*Pillar To Post Connects is not currently available in Massachusetts.

Internet
Utilities
Security
Water
Gas
Cable
...and more!

SERVICE SPOTLIGHT

Why Get A Sewer Scope?

The sewer line isn’t aways on a homebuyer’s list of potential concerns. But it very well should be, depending on the age of the home and the material used to construct the sewer line (lateral). The lateral is the sewer piping that runs between the home and the public sewer line. Its maintenance and possible replacement are the responsibility of the homeowner.

The main concerns are:

The pipe may be blocked by roots or even collapsed, possibly causing sewage to back up into the house. Blockages, cracks and collapses can occur in multiple places along the pipe.
The pipe may be so badly damaged that the only solution is costly replacement.

A sewer scope inspection can reveal pipe damage, blockages and other problems. Detecting and addressing these issues can save money in the long run. A minor problem could cost $1000 to fix, while replacement of the lateral could run $10,000 or more.

Sewer scoping can be scheduled with the home inspection or as a stand-alone service. Being informed about the condition of their sewer lateral will help your clients assess next steps on maintaining this critical system.