I hope this isn't to arrogant but I just had to share this info. Thanks to everyone in the Pillar To Post family, clients and all our realestate friends for making us #1 again for the 6th year in a row.
PRESS RELEASE
Tampa, FLA/Toronto CAN-January 15, 2008-For the sixth consecutive year, Pillar To Post, Inc., the leader in home inspection services, has been named #1 in the Home Inspection category by Entrepreneur Magazine's 29th Annual Franchise 500® issue. Overall Pillar To Post ranked #143 in the Entrepreneur 500 list.
"Earning a #1 ranking in Entrepreneur Magazine is one of the highest accolades we could achieve," said Dan Steward, president. "The foundation to our success is the relationships we have with our Franchise owners and the innovative programs we enact together. Having been acknowledged with such a high ranking from Entrepreneur is extremely gratifying."
Entrepreneur Magazine conducted extensive evaluations of franchise organizations covering a range of criterion to create the Franchise 500 lists. Key points included financial strength and stability, growth rate, and size of the system. Entrepreneur also considered the number of years in business and length of time franchising, startup costs, litigation, percentage of terminations, and financial data. Financial data was audited by an independent CPA firm. Every company with verifiable data received a cumulative score, with the highest scoring franchises becoming the Franchise 500.
"Pillar To Post has maintained our dominant position in rankings this year thanks to the dedication and success of our franchise owners and staff," said Steward. "We anticipate continued forward momentum and growth in 2008, and appreciate Entrepreneur's support as we pursue aggressive business objectives."
About Pillar To Post
Pillar To Post is the leading provider of home inspection services to home buyers and real estate professionals in North America. Operating more than 450 franchises in the U.S. and Canada, Pillar To Post offers the most comprehensive inspection program available to residential buyers and sellers and real estate professionals.
Founded more than a decade ago, Pillar To Post is today ranked #1 in the Home Inspections category by Entrepreneur Magazine. The company's home inspections and Ready For Sale services ensure that Pillar To Post supports home buyers, sellers and real estate professionals to provide peace of mind and informed decisions. For more information visit http://www.pillartopost.com/.
Over the last few years I have inspected many new homes for clients. Most of them I have inspected at the time of completion and a handful I have inspected during the construction process. I have found most builders to be respectful and understanding to the clients wants of a third party looking out for them.
While doing these inspections I try to be mindful of the builder, understanding that I am a guest on his property. I feel no need to beat up on the builder or to try and belittle them in some way. I just want to be sure the client is getting a properly built home. In many cases I feel as though I am a mediator between the builder and client since I have no intrest in the property except for the inspection fee. Having spent many years in the building industry I understand it is not all science. In fact in my opinion it is as much an art. Since most clients have never built a new home their expectations can be unreasonable so I try to help find common ground between the builder and client.
My question is this. How do you builders feel about home inspectors checking up on you? Are we a nuisance or do you feel we are providing a need? What say you builders?
I just ran into this news article and thought it was worth sharing. Seems to me the buyers lawyer is chasing the biggest money trail. This is a scary situation for everyone involved. both realtors, inspector, mortgage company.
What was the seller thinking? Does anyone in South Carolina know details of this story? Seems to me there is alot more to it.
When buying or selling a home, people are often surprised to find how appropriate that old maxim "The more things change, the more they remain the same" can be. That's because no matter the age, style, size or location of a house, there are common problems that are likely to turn up during a home inspection.
Knowing what these potential defects are, and preparing to deal with them, is key to making the most of the buying experience. Here is my top 10 most common list:
Structural damage: As the foundation settles, it can knock doorways, walls and support beams out of alignment. The end result could make the entire house a safety hazard.
Leaky roof: Roofs may leak due to poor construction or aging materials. The question is, will the subsequent repairs be minor (replacing shingles) or major (replacing the entire roof)?
Faulty wiring: Older homes often need electrical upgrades, especially if you plan on installing a lot of electronic equipment (computers, exercise machines) or a pool or hot tub. When electrical circuits are not overloaded, the risk of fire is reduced.
Defective heating system: If it's an older system, it can pay to upgrade to one that uses less energy and is more efficient. If you've got gas or oil heat, a carbon monoxide detector is advisable.
Poor drainage: If the property is not properly graded, water may not run away from the house. In addition, gutters and downspouts should be checked and replaced if necessary.
Plumbing problems: Older homes may have faulty pipes made of polybutylene -- popular in the 1970s till the mid-1990s-which are prone to leakage and should probably be replaced with newer, more reliable materials.
Poor ventilation: Check the bathrooms. Without sufficient ventilation, moisture may have built up, potentially causing structural damage inside the walls.
Water seepage: If water's coming in, be sure to add caulk and/or weather stripping to your shopping list. Water leaks can lead to mold,> mildew and dry rot.
Improper maintenance: Any did-it-themselves, nonprofessional repairs could be a source of aggravation down the line.
Hazardous materials: Older homes may contain lead-based paint, asbestos, carbon monoxide, radon gas or toxic molds. Any of these could eventually cause serious health problems.
Owners hope to head off trouble and speed sales by hiring their own inspectors. By Frank Nelson, Special to The Times August 26, 2007
JUDY MELLO wasn't looking forward to buying a new place to live, imagining a lengthy, complicated and perhaps stressful experience.
"I figured it was going to drag on for months and months," she says. "But it wasn't like that at all."
In fact, it took Mello, a retired registered nurse, a total of only 3 1/2 weeks to buy a $500,000 condominium in Carpinteria, a small coastal town a few miles south of Santa Barbara.
Although a number of factors smoothed the process, Mello says an inspection report commissioned in advance by the sellers played a large part in her decision to buy and helped speed the sale.
As housing sales continue to bog down -- last month Southern California sales were the slowest for any July since 1995, according to DataQuick Information Systems -- property owners are turning to new strategies.
One tactic increasingly bringing buyers and sellers closer together is a property inspection obtained by the seller before the home is even listed. A seller's inspection report is not in lieu of one commissioned by the buyer, but it often accomplishes the goal of signaling openness and good faith while at the same time unearthing any unpleasant surprises.
In some cases, a preemptive seller's inspection means repairs, such as leaks or faulty electrical wiring, will likely be completed in advance on the buyer's behalf; less pressing matters may be flagged and the asking price adjusted down accordingly. "To me, the report meant they were definitely interested in selling and cared about selling to somebody who was going to be satisfied," Mello says. "I felt comfortable that they were thinking of my interests."
Colleen Badagliacco, president of the California Assn. of Realtors, says not so long ago, when sellers were being bombarded with multiple offers, they didn't have to worry that much about the shape of the home.
"Now, the seller has to go the extra mile," she says. For some, the downside means making sure the house is priced right, taking disclosure to the next level -- the more they know, the more they legally have to disclose -- and offering to fix things.
But on the upside, a pre-listing inspection that gives buyers a better idea of where they stand and what, if any, additional work is needed, can also help sellers fend off demands for unrealistic price reductions to cover repairs.
According to Dan Steward, president of Pillar to Post, a nationwide home inspection company, buyers typically expect a $2 to $3 price discount for every $1 worth of defects turned up by their inspector.
With their own report, sellers can choose, for example, to spend a few hundred dollars fixing a plumbing problem that might otherwise mushroom into a claim for more than $1,000 off the price and, in the process, spark further potentially prickly negotiations.
"It definitely makes sense," says Chuck Miller, a 16-year veteran of the real estate business and now associate manager and sales agent with Coldwell Banker in Studio City.
In his own and other real estate companies, he's seen a marked uptick in the number of pre-listing inspections, perhaps a rise of 10% to 15% in the last year, and believes the ploy is helping sales move faster and more smoothly.
"Most people want to turn the key and walk in," he says. "They don't want repairs, and they certainly don't want surprises. If they know they have to do some work, they can at least prepare for that."
The National Assn. of Certified Home Inspectors, based in Boulder, Colo., also has noted a rise in the number of inspections carried out for sellers, though founder Nick Gromicko says they do not have national statistics.
However, on a local level, Gromicko does have some figures: "Our Denver chapter went from doing less than 2% of their inspections for sellers last year to doing 28% for sellers in 2007."
When Jack Lucarelli and his wife, Jeannie Wilson, decided to put their Toluca Lake home on the market for $3.75 million, they followed agent Miller's suggestion and first had an inspection.
The way it turned out, they need hardly have bothered. As Bob Wood, senior inspector with Sunland-based LaRocca Inspection Associates, combed through their 3,700-square-foot, two-story home, he was hard-pressed to find anything wrong.
A little dry rot in one post in the backyard, two faulty sink stoppers, a loose faucet and a cracked tile in the driveway. "It cost us about $18 for repairs," Lucarelli says, adding that the clean bill of health did not surprise him.
He says that he and his wife -- both of whom work in the entertainment industry -- have done a lot to the 1936 Spanish Mediterranean-style home and always kept the place in top shape. "But we thought the inspection and termite inspection were important to alleviate any fears or anxieties about any internal, hidden problems," he says. "It's an added convenience to the purchaser."
Chris Wrightsman, co-owner of LaRocca Inspection, sees these types of inspections becoming more prevalent and estimates that the number of homeowners choosing this option has risen about 5% in the last year.
He says the practice is much more common in Northern California, especially in the Bay Area, and he expects the trend to continue to grow. "When homeowners know the condition of their property, they can avoid a lot of problems and price accordingly."
Lisa Endza, director of communications for the Boulder-based national home inspectors group, says the cost of inspections ranges from $300 to $600, depending on the size and age of the property.
Tom Valinote of Thousand Oaks, who inspected Mello's Carpinteria condo for the sellers, runs Pillar to Post franchise offices in Camarillo and Goleta. Armed with a digital camera, laptop and a 1,600-point checklist, he typically spends two to three hours working through a house for an average cost of $425.
Inspections give sellers options, he says.
"They can say to the buyer: 'We found these problems. But we wanted to make sure we sold the house in the best condition possible. So, we fixed things, here are the receipts and now you don't need to deal with this.' "
That approach certainly appealed to Robert and Judy Parkinson. Longtime Los Angeles residents before moving to Oregon two years ago, they are in the process of selling a Montrose house they've owned as a rental for about five years.
Robert Parkinson says it was because they had never lived in the property, which is almost 90 years old, that they opted for the pre-listing inspection. "We wanted to do the due diligence and know the condition of the house before we put it on the market," he says.
"We didn't want to get into escrow and have someone do their own report and have a bunch of surprises. We mostly wanted to know that the price we're asking, $615,000, is a good, fair, solid price. We wanted to have a real clear idea of the condition of the house and do any work that needed doing. We felt that put us in a stronger position."
The inspection brought to light a number of issues, he says, the main ones being some plumbing, electrical and roof caulking work. They have now fixed most things and feel that having the inspection and spending about $7,500 on repairs were good moves.
The Parkinsons' agent, Gena Pinkerton, with Richard Keilholtz Realtors in La Cañada Flintridge, says the feedback from potential buyers to the roughly 30-page pre-listing inspection report has been very positive.
People assume because the house is old that it must need a lot of work, she says. "But the report shows that it doesn't. It's a huge relief for people to know that."
Whether it's a big project such as a bathroom remodel, something small like putting up shelves, or repairs and routine maintenance, many homeowners turn to handymen to get the job done. It used to be that everyone knew "a guy down the street" who could do everything, but these days finding a qualified, professional , and reliable handyman can be a real challenge. Here are some tips for homeowners to ensure that they have the right person for the job:
MAKE SURE THEY ARE QUALIFIED FOR THE WORK
Certain projects require specific skills that all handymen may not have. Make sure that they have the qualifications and experience to do the job. In addition, many states and provinces require persons performing certain work to be licensed; electrical and plumbing often fall into this category.
ASK FOR REFERENCES
Request at least two local references from previous customers. The handyman should be willing to do this without hesitation. Then, contact those references! Ask about the quality of the work, timeliness, professionalism, and how the handyman handled any changes that may have occurred during the course of the project. Also ask how satisfied they were with the work overall.
CHECK ON INSURANCE COVERAGE
Liability insurance is always a good idea. If the handyman or another worker is injured while working on your property, you may be held liable for medical costs. Ask for evidence of coverage before agreeing to any work. Uninsured handymen often charge less for their services because they lack the overhead expense of insurance, but using one could cost you in the long run.
GET WRITTEN ESTIMATES AND A CONTRACT
Ideally, you should ask three handymen for written estimates for the work you have in mind. Be sure that each estimate contains enough detail so that you can make a comparison between them. For example, are the specified materials of the same quality? Does the cost include cleanup and hauling away any debris or old/broken items? Read all contracts carefully and be sure to ask about anything that you are unsure of.
DETERMINE THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE BEFORE YOU SIGN
Beware if you are asked to pay for the entire job up front - this is not an accepted business practice and could leave you open to fraud. Handymen will often ask for 50% when the contract is signed, which will allow them to purchase materials for the job and assure them that you are committed. Be sure to request receipts for all payments.
Here's some advice on making your home attractive to potential buyers.
Get routine service done on heating and cooling systems. Pre-sale service will prevent big surprises uncovered by the buyer's home inspection.
Wash windows. In addition to improving the home's appearance, washing may uncover broken seals in thermal pane windows, which sellers may choose to repair prior to showing the home.
Have a home inspection performed. Current knowledge of a home's condition helps when pricing the home and negotiating with buyers. Sellers can repair damages pre-sale, and can save money on repairs-for instance, replacing damaged sections of the roof rather than re-roofing the entire home.
Repair windows and doors that don't operate correctly. Windows stuck closed may simply be painted shut, or a symptom of the foundation settling.
Have a garage sale or donate to a thrift store to clear out excess "stuff." The home will seem larger and more attractive, and offer improved accessibility to the home inspector.
To learn more, visit the Web site at www.pillartopost.com.
Experts say making your home inviting to a buyer can make a big difference
Prelisting Inspections: Head off trouble BY CHUCK PAUSTIAN
Sandy Schoon, ABR®, GRI, a sales associate with Arizona Best Realty in Scottsdale, knows firsthand just how quickly a deal can be put in jeopardy - or slip away altogether.
Schoon had a listing on an older house, built in the early '70s. Two weeks before the sale was to close, the air conditioning system broke down. After some scrambling by the sellers and a $2,000 repair, the deal went through, but Schoon says the added stress could've easily been avoided.
"If you do an inspection and make the necessary repairs before listing a home, the house basically has a clean bill of health," says Schoon, who has regularly recommended prelisting inspections to her clients during the four years she's worked as a real estate salesperson. "It's an opportunity to take care of things that could go wrong so that they won't come back and bite you."
Prelisting inspections - examinations paid for by the seller before a house is put on the market -are becoming an increasingly popular way for practitioners to not only reduce the possibility of last-minute surprises but also give their clients' homes a marketing edge.
Although some practitioners suggest prelisting inspections for older homes or those in obvious need of repair, Susan Spellman, ABR®, a salesperson with Long & Foster, REALTORS®, in Williamsburg, Va., recommends them to all her clients. Her average sales price is about $700,000, and her clients tend to live in gated communities. "Just because a home has granite countertops doesn't mean it's well built," she says.
She feels so strongly about prelisting inspections that if her clients don't agree to do one, she gives them two options: sign a letter acknowledging they're not following her advice or work with another practitioner. "I tell my clients not to be penny-wise and dollar-dumb," Spellman says.
In the end, "my clients feel it's been money well spent," she says.
Schoon and Spellman both mention the inspections in all of a home's marketing materials, and make the inspection reports, as well as any repair receipts or cost estimates, available during showings.
From the Experts
According to the "2005 Home Inspection Business Operations Study," conducted by the American Society of Home Inspectors in Des Plaines, Ill., the number of prelisting inspections has been increasing slowly but steadily during the past decade. The study, which is based on a nationwide survey of about 18,000 home inspectors (response rate: 14.7 percent) and covers business operations during the 2004 calendar year, found prelisting inspections accounted for about 2.6 percent of an inspector's annual business, up from 1.5 percent in 1996. On average, an inspector conducts about 200 home inspections annually.
OVER
Although the percentage of prelisting inspections is still relatively low, the increase is significant, especially as many real estate markets show signs of cooling, says Rob Paterkiewicz, executive director of ASHI based in Des Plaines, Ill. "Sellers are realizing it's not just their market anymore. Thanks to the Internet, potential buyers are walking into homes more knowledgeable than ever before, and sellers know they must do everything they can to sell their house," Paterkiewicz says. He estimates prelisting inspections might already represent as much as 5 percent of an inspector's business, and he expects the trend to continue.
"A lot of this activity is being driven by real estate practitioners," rather than consumers, says Dan Steward, president of Tampa, Fla.-based Pillar To Post Inc., a national franchise of home inspection companies, because practitioners want faster transactions with fewer surprises or hiccups.
Like Paterkiewicz, Steward's also seen an increase in prelisting inspection activity. "A prelisting inspection helps get buyers comfortable with the idea of making an unconditional offer. There's also a greater sense of security because the seller and practitioner are being very forthright, demonstrating that there's nothing to hide."
The need to make certain repairs-such as to mechanical systems (heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical) and to address safety issues (broken locks, loose handrails)-almost goes without saying. But the prelisting inspection can help the owner and practitioner decide which, if any, of the remaining projects to address before putting the house on the market.
Even if sellers decide not to make any of the suggested fixes, a prelisting inspection can still prove beneficial, Steward says. For example, it allows sellers to obtain cost estimates for needed work, so they can offer potential buyers an appropriate, not excessive, discount off the listing price.
A Smooth Ride
By bringing potential problem areas to light before sellers put their house on the market and creating an environment of trust and goodwill between sellers and buyers, prelisting inspections can reduce parties' stress level and eliminate many of the bumps that can throw a deal off track, says Long & Foster's Spellman.
"You want a smooth, successful transaction," she says. "If the house doesn't sell, it's a lose-lose for everyone."
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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