Covid-19 update
Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is always committed to the health and well-being of our clients. This is especially true during this time of Covid-19. We remain committed to providing the highest quality home inspection while adhering to the strict safety and cleanliness guidelines provided by the CDC and local governments.
- Inspectors are prepared with PPE to keep everyone safe
- Home Inspection Reports can be presented virtually or printed on-site
- Your clients can choose not to attend or only attend the last hour of the home inspection
- Online or contactless payment options are available on request
While our processes may have changed, our commitment to ensuring confident home ownership has not. Our job is not complete until you no longer have questions concerning the home you have asked Pillar To Post to inspect.
SEASONAL SENSE
Home For The Holidays?
If you’re sticking close to home this holiday season, that’s even more motivation to create a cozy and festive feeling. Try these ideas for a dose of holiday cheer!
- There’s nothing like freshly baked cookies to fill your house with the scent of the holidays. Freeze cookie dough in portions so you can bake up a batch anytime.
- Winter-flowering bulbs like amaryllis and paperwhites are easy to grow indoors. Place them throughout the house to enjoy the color and fragrance at every turn.
- String holiday lights indoors around door frames and archways to add sparkle to your evenings. Color-shifting types are optional!
- Group battery-powered pillar candles on a table or mantel for a soft glow without the flame. Many flicker realistically and some can even be controlled remotely.
- Simmering mulling spices on the stove will add a homey touch and a fragrance that says “holiday!” Cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange peels are a classic combination.
Now you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your holiday home.
SAFE AT HOME
7 Tips For Holiday & Winter Fire Safety
Taking some simple precautions around the home can help keep your family safe during the holidays, especially when it comes to decorating.
- Always use non-flammable decorations both indoors and outdoors.
- Check holiday light strands for damaged or broken wires and plugs. Enjoy indoor lights only while someone is at home and turn them off before going to bed.
- Live Christmas trees should be kept in a water-filled stand and checked daily for dehydration. Dried-out trees are extremely dangerous and should be discarded immediately.
- Candles add lovely ambience to your holiday home. Place them in stable holders and keep them away from flammable items, drafts, pets and children.
- Children should not have access to or be allowed to use matches, lighters or candles.
- Keep space heaters away from bedding, curtains, paper—anything flammable. Never leave a space heater unattended while in use.
- Busy with holiday cooking and baking? Kitchen fires are a leading cause of house fires. Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher within easy reach and know how to use it.
Here’s to enjoying
a happy and safe
holiday season!
KNOWLEDGE BASE
Smoke Alarms 101
Smoke alarms are an important defense against injury, death and property loss in house fires. Nearly two-thirds of home fire fatalities occur in homes with non-working or missing smoke detectors. An early warning can save lives!
- Smoke alarms should be in installed every bedroom, outside every sleeping area, and on each level of the home.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement. High, peaked ceilings have dead air space at the top, so smoke alarms should be placed no closer than 3 feet from the highest point.
- Near the kitchen, use an alarm with a “hush button” that will silence nuisance alarms reacting to cooking smoke or steam. Or install a photoelectric alarm which will not be triggered by cooking. Never remove the unit’s battery to stop or prevent nuisance alarms.
- Test each unit monthly. Put a reminder in your calendar to do this on the first or last day of the month, for example. This is also an ideal time to dust off the unit so that it continues to work properly.
- Replace the batteries at least once a year. A common rule of thumb is to do this when changing to or from Daylight Saving Time in fall or spring. Many alarms now come with 10-year lithium batteries that eliminate the need for new batteries, but the unit itself must be replaced after its lifespan.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Pillar To Post Cost Guide
Spending more time at home has lots of homeowners eyeing new projects and home improvements. Sound familiar? Whether you’re considering an upgraded bathroom, new flooring or replacing a fence, our popular Cost Guide provides estimated cost ranges for repair and/or replacement of the major systems and components in a home. It also includes general guidelines for the life expectancies of those systems.
Request complimentary copies of the Cost Guide from your local Pillar To Post Home Inspector or download it at pillartopost.com/cost-guide.
HOUSEWISE
Home On The Range
Your kitchen range is one of the hardest-working appliances in your home. Taking care of it might not make you a four-star chef, but it will perform better and last longer. Here’s how:
- Wipe up spills from the cooking surface and around the burners daily.
- Clean the inside of that grimy oven window with a paste of baking soda and a small amount of dish soap to dissolve grease. Do this when the oven is cold.
- Check the oven seal and replace if it’s damaged or very dirty. Source the replacement part online to make it an easy DIY job.
- If you regularly use only one oven rack, store the others in a pantry or closet to keep them clean.
- Remove the control knobs and clean them in hot, soapy water, using a gentle brush to remove tough spots. An old toothbrush works well for this.
- On gas stoves, make sure the burner channels are clean and clear for best performance. Leveling the stove will help the burners flame evenly.
- Make sure the anti-tip mechanism is properly in place to avoid possible injury.
Experience the Pillar To Post difference. Schedule your next home inspection today!