Editor’s Note: Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. In the following Q&A, Dan Steward, Pillar To Post’s president, discusses the milestone, and how the company’s franchisees have been instrumental to its longevity.
Q: This year marks Pillar To Post Home Inspectors®’ 25th anniversary. To what do you contribute your longevity?
A: We’re just happy to continue as the No. 1 home inspection franchise in North America. This is the 19th year in a row we’ve been ranked as such by Entrepreneur Magazine. We credit our franchisees for doing great work that continues to let us grow, helping us service even more areas in the U.S. and Canada. We’re currently in 48 states and nine Canadian provinces.
Q: What are some innovations that you feel you’re leading the charge in?
A: Technology. This industry was born for technology, yet did well without it for years due to good old-fashioned hard work and great training. Our franchisees continue with training and education all the way and earn certifications in a variety of programs and processes. Most of these benefit homeowners, but we also offer a lot of back-office programs and support to our franchisees who are continuously learning and are literal founts of knowledge.
Q: Can you provide an example of a separate program or focus and certification?
A: Radon testing comes to mind. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that nearly 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year are radon-related. In Canada, that number stands at approximately 3,000. Formed by the breakdown of uranium—a natural radioactive material found in soil, rock and groundwater—radon is a dangerous gas that’s hard to detect because it’s colorless, odorless, tasteless and radioactive.
Q: Is there a special test and certification for radon testing?
A: Yes, and radon testing is the only way to know if it’s present in a home or structure. Pillar To Post Home Inspectors conduct a short-term test using a continuous monitor to provide a snapshot of the home to see if it has elevated levels of radon. Testing takes approximately 2-3 days. Results are then provided/interpreted, and the report is sent directly to the client. Recommendations will then be made for a mitigation system. Owners of condominiums and houses built on slabs also need to check on the air quality and the presence of radon in their living quarters.
Q: How can people contact Pillar To Post for this test?
A: They can visit www.pillartopost.com/radon for tools and resources, as well as for information on how to contact their local home inspector.
Q: Congrats on the 25th anniversary! What are you doing to celebrate?
A: It was hard work, but we compiled 25 tips—one for each year—with the help of our franchisees. These tips, which can be found at https://tinyurl.com/y6yqxe7r, can be shared with homeowners and are great for real estate professionals to have handy.
For more information, please visit www.pillartopost.com.
