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!
Any home, anywhere, can have a radon problem. While some geographic areas are more prone to elevated radon in general, radon can and does occur everywhere and levels can vary from home to home, even within the same neighborhood.
Why test for radon?
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking
Colorless and odorless, radon can accumulate to dangerous levels in the home
Testing is the only way to know if radon is present and at what level
Your local Pillar To Post Home Inspector uses continuous monitoring technology to conduct the test, then will report on results. If an elevated level of radon is detected, steps can be taken to reduce the concentration to or below acceptable levels inside virtually any home. These measures can be as simple as installing a radon vent pipe that can prevent radon from entering the home in the first place.
Request radon testing with your next Pillar To Post home inspection for your clients’ health and peace of mind.
INSPECTION INSIGHTS
Pre-listing Inspections For The Win
In a challenging market, it’s more important than ever to give your listings every possible advantage. A Pillar To Post pre-listing inspection is a smart choice for you and your sellers. Here’s why:
Homes with a pre-listing inspection sell for more
Opportunity to make recommended repairs
Prevent condition issues from cropping up during the transaction
Get to closings faster
Gain seller confidence that they’re getting the best price
The inspection report is a great tool you can use to market your listings with greater confidence.
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
PTPEstimates
Powered by BOSSCAT
Now your clients can easily learn “How much will these repairs cost?” With PTPEstimates they can request a third-party estimate to repair items called out in their Pillar To Post home inspection report. PTPEstimates is included with their home inspection and is just a click away.
Repair estimates are based on local costs
Estimates are provided within approximately 24 hours, helping your transactions stay on track
Saves you time and delights your clients
Adds even more value to your service offerings
There’s no additional cost to your client to request their easy-to-access estimate. Contact us to book your next inspection!
*Where available. Not all services are offered by every office.
Homebuyers give Pillar To Post Home Inspectors their highest praise!
“I highly recommend Pillar to Post. Our inspector was more than thorough and answered every question we had for him. I walked into the inspection feeling uneasy and walked out educated and excited about our new home purchase. I was especially impressed with the PTP360 video inspection summary and PTPFloorPlan. Well worth every penny we spent for peace of mind. Thank you.”
“Pillar to Post was extremely thorough in their inspection and provided quality, easy- to-understand feedback, which, as a first time homebuyer, I greatly appreciated. In addition, the PTP360 video, PTPEstimates and the PTPFloorPlan were extremely useful as we made preparations to move in. I would highly recommend using their services!”
“The entire process was seamless from booking to completion of the inspection. Our inspector was absolutely wonderful! He took his time explaining every detail of the inspection and answering all of our questions. We were very impressed with the timeliness of the report and enjoyed sharing the PTP360 video with our family.”
“We were able to request a no-cost third-party estimate for fixes recommended in our report. I don’t know any other home inspection company offering anything like PTPEstimates.”
“Great experience! The inspector was super thorough, reached out to us as soon as the inspection was done, walked us through all the issues (small and large), and provided a professional report and PTP360 video of the house. Would be more than pleased to use Pillar To Post again.”
“I am a first time buyer and was referred to Pillar To Post by my agent. I had an excellent experience with Pillar to Post, from my initial intake and options discussion to the actual inspection and the timely follow up I received. Our inspector was extremely thorough and made sure I understood every aspect of the inspection and what each of his findings meant. I found the inspection report – as well as the PTP360 Video and PTPFloorPlan – to be extremely helpful tools to solidify and confirm my eventual home purchase. Highly recommended!”
Experience the Pillar To Post Difference. Schedule a home inspection today!
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is caused by fuel-burning sources such as furnaces, water heaters, generators, stoves and fireplaces. Very high levels of CO can lead to incapacitation or death, with victims sometimes never having been aware they were being poisoned. Take these precautions to help prevent a tragedy in your home:
Place CO alarms according to the manufacturer’s directions. This is the most important step you can take to keep your family safe from CO poisoning.
Learn what to do if the CO alarm activates. If anyone in the home experiences symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, or confusion, everyone should leave immediately and seek medical attention. If no symptoms are felt, open doors and windows immediately and shut off all fuel-burning devices that may be potential sources of CO. Be sure to check on pets, too.
Make sure the furnace, gas-powered water heater, gas dryer and range are properly installed and vented to the outdoors.
Don’t use a gas stove or oven to heat the home, even temporarily.
Never use camp stoves or charcoal grills indoors.
Generators must only be used outdoors and kept at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and vents. Do not operate a generator in a garage.
Never start or idle a vehicle in the garage, even if the door is open.
For wood-burning fireplaces, have the chimney professionally inspected and cleaned annually.
Thousands of people are accidentally poisoned each year by carbon monoxide, and hundreds die. Taking these steps will help lower the risk to yourself and your loved ones.
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
PTPHomeManual
Powered by Centriq
PTPHomeManual puts information about appliances, systems and more at your clients’ fingertips with a convenient and easy-to-use app.
Pre-loaded with existing appliances and systems
Safety recall monitoring on all appliances
Add new items anytime
Start a home insurance inventory
Download user manuals
Access how-to videos
Maintenance reminders
Indicates age and remaining useful life of systems
Included with our Premium and Prestige Packages
PTPHomeManual is yet another way Pillar To Post helps to ensure confident home ownership.
*Where available
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Protect Your Home From Water Damage
Water damage can lead to mold and odor problems, and worse. If left unmitigated, it can eventually cause structural damage, which can mean significant costs to repair and can affect a home’s value.
Prevention is the first line of defense. Here are some basics on preventing water damage and its effects:
Water supply lines and connections to and from washing machines and dishwashers should be regularly inspected for cracks and leaks. Replace the hoses every five years or so. If the laundry room is located on the main floor or above, damage to the floor and ceiling below can be especially problematic.
Over time, tank-style water heaters can rust out and release the contents of the tank. An overflow valve will conduct leaking water to a pipe that drains either to the outside or to an appropriate interior drain. Homeowners should check with a plumber who is familiar with local codes for this type of overflow pipe.
Another common source of water leaks is the icemaker supply line; this should be regularly checked as well. Consider shutting off the icemaker and the supply line if leaving home for more than a few days.
Check gutters and downspouts to ensure that water flows away from the home’s foundation. Make any needed adjustments, and check the flow again using a garden hose.
Leak detectors can be installed at floor level near water heaters, washing machines and interior air conditioning units. Simple, inexpensive wireless models are widely available and will sound an alarm or alert you via an app when water is detected on the floor near these appliances.
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.
icon and select "Add to Home Screen".
