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 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
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
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
Experience it today!
*Where available Not all services are offered by every office. Each office is independently owned and operated.
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 askingfor 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.
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
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
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
Experience it today!
*Where available Not all services are offered by every office. Each office is independently owned and operated.
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!
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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