Category: News

With these maintenance basics completed, your clients will enjoy the comforts of home all season long and protect their investment, too.

1. Clear gutters of leaves, sticks, and other debris. This may need to be done more than once during the season. If the gutters can accommodate them, leaf guards are real time-savers and prevent clogging.
2. Caulk around exterior door and window frames for a tight seal. Look for gaps where pipes or wiring enter the home and seal those as well to protect from water, insects and mice.
3. Use binoculars to check the roof for missing or damaged shingles. Water, wind, ice and snow can cause serious damage to a vulnerable roof, leading to a greater chance of further damage inside the home. Always have a qualified professional inspect and repair the roof.
4. Have the furnace inspected to ensure that it’s safe and in good working order. Most utility companies will provide basic, no-cost furnace inspections to their customers. Replace disposable furnace air filters or clean the permanent type according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. There’s nothing like a wood-burning fireplace on a chilly fall evening. For safety, have the firebox and chimney professionally cleaned before use this season.

A note on Realtor Safety

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is committed to the health and well-being of our clients. This is especially true during Covid-19 and Realtor Safety Month. We remain committed to providing the highest quality home inspection while adhering to the safety guidelines provided by the CDC and local governments. We also encourage you to take learn about precautions you can take to keep yourself and your team safe while showing homes and in the office. Realtor Safety resources are available at:

www.nar.realtor/safety

www.beverlycarterfoundation.org

A pre-listing home inspection can identify areas of concern prior to the home going on the market, even in today’s market conditions. Some of the many advantages of a pre-listing inspection include:

• Upfront knowledge of the home’s condition can lead to cleaner offers and smoother transactions and get you to closing faster.
• Sellers can decide what repairs, updates or replacements they want to make prior to listing their home. This can mean both a better listing price and more interested buyers.
• If the sellers opt to sell “as-is” the pre-listing inspection report is a great marketing tool that builds buyer trust through transparency, which reflects well on you.

BOOK A PRE-LISTING INSPECTION TODAY!

Experience the Pillar To Post difference for yourself. Schedule your next pre-listing inspection today!

With inventory at or near all-time lows, many homes are selling “as is” and moving quickly. In this seller’s market, is a pre-listing home inspection still a good idea? The short answer is “Yes.” Here’s why:

• Homes with a pre-listing inspection sell for more
• Get to closing faster
• Fully understand the home before listing
• Gain seller confidence that they’re getting the best price
• Create buyer trust through transparency about the home’s condition.

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors truly understands the challenges and opportunities this kind of market creates. As North America’s leading home inspection company, we have been ensuring confident home ownership for over 25 years. We are here to help.

Many buyers in today’s red-hot real estate markets are tempted to forego the home inspection. An otherwise strong offer may not even be considered if it has contingencies for the inspection or appraisal for example, yet there are abundant reasons why a home inspection should be a necessity even if it isn’t part of the sales contract.

First, the home inspection allows the potential buyer to learn about any major defects or damage that will need to be addressed. Things like a new roof or repairing a foundation are costly and will need to be budgeted for, on top of all the usual costs of homeownership like property taxes, mortgage payments, insurance and regular maintenance.

Second, the home inspection can reveal potentially dangerous conditions. The electrical system may be outdated or have faulty and unsafe wiring. The panel could be undersized and unable to meet a modern household’s needs. There could be safety issues with the furnace or fireplace that need to be addressed. If the buyer is unaware of existing conditions, it can put them in harm’s way.

Third, a home inspection is also the best way for a buyer to get to know the condition of the home in general. Is the attic adequately insulated? Is the water heater on its last legs? Is that water stain caused by an active leak, or is it not really a concern? These are just a few more examples of how buyers can really benefit from having the home professionally inspected. In short, the buyer needs to know what they’re buying. Whether or not it’s part of the transaction process or takes place after closing, a home inspection is in the buyer’s best interest and is key to their peace of mind.