Category: News

This month one of Philadelphia’s former finest will start his new life as a Pillar To Post Home Inspector. Along with wife Susan, Walt Brennan will serve Montgomery County, in all areas of home inspection including radon detection, mold detection and pesky termite detection. Brennan is a good detector. He not only served as an officer on the Philadelphia Police Department, but he also served as a detective for same.

Read more about how Walt Brennan transitioned his career from Police Detective, to owning a top rated franchise at Patch.com.

Paul Grise, Pillar To Post franchise partner from Western Kentucky, and Tennessee, was recently featured in Franchising World magazine.

Success changes people and sometimes, moving on from the most stellar of careers is the only way to step into visions of a new life cultivated by years of experience.  That is what Paul Grise, owner of Pillar To Post Home Inspectors of Western Kentucky had in mind when he left his job of four years as a private security contractor.

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is North America’s leading home inspection company, whose professional inspectors work in real estate communities and in buyer/seller markets, providing on-the-spot inspection reports detail more than 1,600 key components of a home and its condition, bringing rational thinking to what can be emotional purchases.

“I had an exciting career”, said Grise, “supporting various operations in many highly desirable and exotic locations. This is what I transitioned to after serving 10 years in the U.S. Army.

I always knew that the private security circuit was just a bridge to transition from the military into the civilian sector and that I wanted to be a business owner. My first contact with Pillar To Post was via a skype call while I was still operating out of Kandahar, Afghanistan.

I began searching a broad range of business opportunities, narrowed my search down to franchises, and eventually chose Pillar To Post Home Inspectors.  I chose the system because I identified that there was a need for their services in my territory and the system was well structured and a professional organization.  It was important to me to partner up with a system that was leading the way in its respective professional field and I have been happy with my choice since entering the system.  We truly are the “tip of the spear” in the home inspection industry, with our closest competitors a generation or more behind how we conduct our businesses.

I believe veterans are a good fit for the Pillar To Post system because the skillsets that we develop in our military careers directly transfer over in many ways.  Many of us may not have an MBA, but we do have our DD-214s that represent years of experience and skillsets that directly roll over into the skills necessary to be a successful entrepreneur.  Many of the intangible skills we develop in the military, such as leadership, organizational skills, mission planning/execution, self-driven initiative, and most importantly our ability to adapt and overcome adversity, are not appreciated by employers in the civilian marketplace and are difficult to quantify on a standard employment application.  These skills, honed over our years in the military however, directly correlate to the skillset needed to be a successful franchisee.

What I enjoy about having my franchise is that I operate independently, without direct supervision, and I am the driver behind where I can take my business.  I am three years into my career with Pillar To Post and feel like I am just beginning to scratch the surface of the potential growth and success that my team and I can achieve within the system. We have established relationships with a terrific group of realtor friends in the markets we service and are proud to be part of their teams in taking care of our shared clients.  Our realtor relationships are an extension of our services and are something we take great pride in.”

When you work hard, it is nice to get some recognition every once in a while. At Pillar To Post, we work hard to provide outstanding resources to our franchisees so that they can truly capitalize on our positive brand image to build strong businesses. We have created an amazing franchise opportunity that we are proud of, and our hard work has been recognized—for the 5^th consecutive year—by Entrepreneur.

Each year, Entrepreneur publishes a ranking of franchise opportunities in their Franchise 500 list. This list is widely recognized in the industry as the definitive ranking of franchises, and brands from all niches submit applications to be considered for the list.

#1 in Our Category

Pillar To Post is consistently a high performer on the Franchise 500 list, this year coming in at #58 overall. Not only do we rank in the top 100 franchise opportunities, but we are also top in the home inspection franchise category.

There are no other home inspection franchises that can compare to the Pillar To Post.

What’s the Big Deal with the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Ranking?

How did Entrepreneur become the name in franchise rankings? Through their thorough, definitive criteria by which they measure each franchise.

The Franchise 500 are determined by evaluating each company’s FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document) for the following 5 categories:

1. Costs and Fees: Entrepreneur compares initial franchise fees, total investment estimations, and royalty percentages.
2. Size and Growth: Measuring how many open units there are, how many locations closed in the last year, and the growth rate gives Entrepreneur an idea of the health and size of the brand.
3. Support: One of the biggest perks of investing in a franchise is the support that you get from an experienced group of professionals. Entrepreneur wants to know about the time franchisees spend in training, the support they get with marketing and operations, and whether the franchisor has been involved in any litigation.
4. Brand Strength: A strong brand is critical to a strong franchise, which is why Entrepreneur evaluates every brand’s social media presence, years in business, and system size.
5. Financial Strength and Stability: It is obvious that investing in a franchise with unstable financials is a recipe for disaster. In order to understand a brand’s financial strength and stability, Entrepreneur analyzes their audited financial statements.

Based on these criteria, each company receives a score based on more than 150 data points. These data points can sometimes change, as new factors become relevant or obsolete. Entrepreneur’s website mentions that social media presence is a relatively new metric that they measure, because it didn’t exist 38 years ago, when Entrepreneur started the Franchise 500 ranking in their magazine.

One of the most important aspects of the Entrepreneur ranking is that it is updated each year, meaning that each franchisor has to submit its FDD every year for a chance to remain on the list. This gives lower-ranking brands a chance to up their game in an attempt to gain a higher ranking. Or, in Pillar To Post’s case, it proves that some brands are consistently great.

Pillar To Post has been ranked #1 in the home inspection franchise category on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list for 12 out of the last 17 years. Find out what other franchise websites—Franchise Gator and Franchise Business Review—have to say about us!

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors Named to ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE’S Best of Best Franchise List

Pillar To Post was recently included in Entrepreneur magazine’s Best of the Best Franchises list, which recognizes the 105 companies that ranked at the top of their industry categories in Entrepreneur’s 2017 Franchise 500^® ranking.

 

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with this honor,” said Dan Steward, President & CEO of Pillar To Post. We are so grateful to our franchisees who drive our system and success on a daily basis”, Steward added. Earlier this year Pillar To Post was recognized as the best Home Inspection Franchise, as well as a top Low-Cost franchise.

“Prospective franchisees often already know what type of franchise they want to own,” says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur. “So by distilling our Franchise 500 list down to the No. 1 company in each category, we help them decide exactly where to start their search.”

Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 rankings are based on a comprehensive evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Pillar To Post’s position at the top of its category proves that it’s a leader within its industry.

Mike Becker is excited about his new home inspection business in Airdrie.

Becker recently launched his own Pillar To Post Home Inspectors business that will service property markets, by inspecting homes throughout the Airdrie region.

He has 19 years of experience in the oil and gas service industry as a Mechanical Engineer, but the uncertain economy led him to the business of home inspections.

“Alberta’s economic climate was challenging; and it did not take me long to discover that my qualifications and experience were not in high demand,” said Becker.

“An engineering degree and 19 years of oilfield experience posed perceived risks. Potential employers told me they would not hire me, predicting that the very minute the oil industry turns around, I will jump ship and leave.”

“I had to take it into my own hands, and I began looking for a business that fit my experience and would suit what I want from the remaining working years of my life before retirement.”

Becker travelled the world in his previous job, but he wanted to have a more permanent settlement for him and his family and they all wanted to be back home, so Becker made plans to start his business in Airdrie where he had lived for ten years.“It was just time to come home,” he said. 

“My family traveled with me and we lived for eight years is Southeast Asia. It made me appreciate the quality of life we have in North America and especially Canada.” said the University of Calgary alum.

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors have locations across North America. They continue to grow and last year, they added 78 new locations across the continent.

“Most home inspectors just offer a basic home inspection. At Pillar To Post we give you a few options. You can have a basic inspection, or you can get an inspection with higher values added to it,” said Becker. “We can inspect for mold and allergies and these kinds of things.”

Pillar To Post also tries to be as quick as possible when delivering information to its clients. The inspectors have an iPad program that they can use when inspecting a home and deliver the inspection report to a client as soon as the inspection is complete.

When buying or selling a home, an inspection is not required, but it is very wise to do so, and Mike offers just that. “When you’re buying a home, you want to know what you’re buying,” said Becker. “Most people want to know the house that they’re buying is safe and functional, and a home inspection can save you tons of money, instead of buying the house and then finding out about serious problems.”

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors was a good transition for Becker having a childhood where he observed and helped his parents’ home building operations, and having built, decks and garages for summer work during university years. “I think it’s a great fit,” he said.

“I love houses and in my engineering work gained great experience in auditing operations for safety, reliability and quality which I thought was a good fit for a transition to home inspections.”

Even if you’re not planning to buy or sell your house, a home inspection could be beneficial.

“People don’t always look at their furnace, their hot water heater, they don’t pay attention to the house, so a home inspection can help you find if something is not right,” said Becker.

Success changes people and sometimes, moving on from the most stellar of careers is the only way to step into visions of new life cultivated over decades of perfect performance. That is what a local, executive level IT quality assurance director, Eric McCoy had in mind when he left his three-decade IT career to launch a new venture; opening a Pillar To Post Home Inspectors franchise.

Of his IT career, McCoy shared, “It was a great and rewarding career but I just felt it was time to move on.” McCoy also served in the U.S. Navy as an Operation Specialist on board the Battleship New Jersey BB 62 before starting his IT career saying “My time on the Battleship was an experience that I will remember and cherish forever. It was my honor.”

In February, McCoy began operating his Pillar To Post Home Inspectors business where he offers property inspection services to North Atlanta Metro area markets.

Though the longtime Johns Creek resident and certified home inspector decided it was time to leave behind his 30 years of experience in quality oversight and monitoring for marquee companies such as John Deere, Computer Sciences Corp and Digital Generations; McCoy did not leave behind his desire to help others when making important, educated decisions such as purchasing a home.

“Coupling my extensive quality assurance background with my knowledge of home construction/remodeling/DIY made home inspection the perfect fit for me. I felt that the training and support of the Pillar To Post Experience provided the greatest opportunity for me to provide the best home inspections to my clients.”

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is North America’s leading home inspection company, whose professional inspectors work in real estate communities and in buyer/seller markets, providing on-the-spot inspection reports detailing more than 1,600 key components of a home and its condition, bringing rational thinking to what can be emotional purchases.

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors, last year, was widely acknowledged and heralded for its strong growth – it added 78 new locations throughout North America last year; and for its rate of franchisee satisfaction – Franchise Business Review ranked it among the top 50 franchises in terms of franchisee satisfaction. The company also has continually ranked as number one in its category in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 considered the gold standard in the industry.

“It is just good to realize that you are never stuck in the same old career just because you’ve done it for 30 years. Old dogs can learn new tricks and if you want to be in charge of your own destiny, you just have to go and do it,” says McCoy.

According to a recent article in the Toronto Star, the housing market is so hot in GTA many buyers are foregoing the important step of getting a home inspection before buying.

“We understand the competitive nature of supply and demand,” said Dan Steward, president and CEO of Toronto-based Pillar To Post Home Inspectors. “Buyers are afraid that if they put in an offer contingent on the outcome of a home inspection, they may lose the home to three or four other bidders who are willing to take the risk of buying the home without that contingency.”

Steward continued, “If you really feel you need to go this route, we suggest a new buyer immediately should call in a home inspector after closing. If there are minor issues, a home inspector can spot them and the problems can be fixed and eradicated before they become not so minor problems.”

Check out the full story here.

Water damage in newly built townhomes frustrates homeowners

There is a misconception that newly built homes do not need to be inspected. After struggling with some water damage issues in their Edmonton, Alberta home, Brandi Sadler brought some issues forward to CBC News.

Last week, CBC had Pillar To Post Home Inspector, Michel Bourgeois, a 22-year home inspection veteran, and owner of a local Pillar To Post office, come a take a look.

Check out the full story here, on the CBC News website.

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors, the largest home inspection company in North America, has announced impressive franchisee growth for the year 2016. Adding 78 new Pillar To Post locations throughout North America, the company was recognized today in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 (2017) as 58^th out of more than 3,500 franchises in North America! In addition, Pillar To Post was named the Top Franchise in the Home Inspection category by Entrepreneur.

This is the 17^th straight year that Pillar To Post has been named to this prestigious list having moved up from 102nd in the 2016 ranking where they were also Number One in Category.

Other Entrepreneur Magazine honors for the company in 2016 have included: Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Franchise for Veterans, Entrepreneur Magazine’s Best of the Best, Entrepreneur Magazine’s Fastest Growing Franchises, Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Home-Based Franchises and Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Low-Cost franchises.

“Pillar To Post is outperforming the real estate market five-fold,” said Dan Steward, President, and CEO.  “We have built a strong national brand and taken strategic initiatives that have positioned us to be a leader in the marketplace by focusing on the customer experience and by providing an unparalleled value in the inspection services we provide.”

Pillar To Post Home Inspectors continues to be an industry leader because of their constantly evolving and innovative programs.

“We credit our franchisees with making us Number One in Category in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 and for so much of our success,” said Steward.  “Great franchisees, a solid business plan and support are all key pillars that have contributed to our success”

Mark and Cate Stewart were recently featured on patch.com, sharing their experience as a small business owned by a couple. Check out the full story here.

On Valentine’s Day, one sometimes wonders how it is to be working with a spouse. Spending lots of time at home together could make spending the whole day together difficult. Yes or no? Per an article on fortune.com (Feb. 2016) 3 million small businesses in America are run by couples!

Recently local couple Mark and Cate Stewart opened Pillar To Post Home Inspectors of Canton. The nationwide franchise has been ranked Number One in the Home Inspection category by Entrepreneur Magazine for 16 years in a row. The couple said this made the choice easy for them. (Entrepreneur Franchise500-2017)

Mark is an Army veteran and has been a police officer for more than 23 years while Cate runs a successful small business specializing in residential and commercial rehabs, repairs and renovations. “Mark decided that owning a small business together would help to better our lives and the future of our family and since my business is already tied into the fields of construction and real estate, it made the choice and the transition to Pillar to Post Home Inspectors an easy choice,” said Cate Stewart.

The Stewarts are new to this arrangement having each had separate careers for years. They have quickly learned what it takes to make it work:

• Set goals together. It doesn’t work when you can’t agree on the best course of action so it is important to be on the same page from the beginning.
• Work together to find a solution. It only takes a small disagreement to want to hit your partner with a hammer so it is key to find an amicable solution and talk through problems as a team.
• Don’t forget to laugh! Don’t let any work arguments run over into personal time, be sure to make time to be a couple outside of work hours.