So many clients are already here for the winter season! Isn't it exciting how quickly the desert became busy? So invigorating!
And while it's always wonderful when our snow birds return; their arrival can spell disaster for some of them who did not have absentee home care over the summer.
For the life of me, I cannot fathom why someone would not want to make sure one of their biggest investments is not monitored properly and professionally.
For example, last week one of my employees heard yelling and screaming outside near her home. She and her husband went to investigate and sure enough, her neighbor, a snowbird, just returned to find her whole house flooded!
Did she have someone monitoring her home? No she did not. And worse, her electricity was shut off as well. With the earlier evenings this time of year, she couldn't even see inside her own home to assess the damages.
Why no electricity? Unfortunately (and we see this all too often) absentee owners set up their utilities on auto-pay but when a credit card changes they forget to update it and guess what? The utility company has no qualms about shutting off your service for non-payment.
Had this person had an absentee home care service, not only would we have identified the water intrusion at the earliest possible time and would have likely saved her thousands of dollars; but we also would have identified and been able to resolve the utility issues well before the homeowner arrived for season.
In another case this year, a different client told us of a neighbor who arrived to find her home full of bugs (I know, it makes you squeamish! So sorry but if it's making you feel all itchy; imagine what it did to the person who found it!).
It is not only important to have your home monitored during your absences, but it is equally important to utilize a professional service. Yes, it may be less expensive in the short term to utilize a housekeeper or a pool man or even your pest control technician; but in the long term, using someone like that may end up costing you dearly.
We believe all these non-home-care-trained people have the best of intentions but often they don't know exactly what to do other than flush toilets or they don't know who to call (and thus may take no action) if there is an emergency.
Once upon a time, we learned of a homeowner who did have someone checking her home and asked the woman to have her carpets cleaned in anticipation of the client's seasonal arrival.
The person checking this home was not a professional company; rather she was someone who did this type of work for a handful of clients and had no insurance or any business credentials.
She scheduled the carpet cleaning and when it was complete, opened all of the windows -- then she left the home.
Sadly, the wind whipped the mini-blind cord around the kitchen faucet and pulled it on. When the woman returned to check on the carpet -- the home was completely flooded.
No one can predict a water intrusion -- it just happens. But in this particular case it seems the lady caring for this home was little negligent. Why would anyone open all the windows and then leave? Even if water wasn't a concern; what about security?
We could go on and on with heart-wrenching and scary stories like this. One other situation that comes instantly to mind is the person whose home manager was using his place as a kitchen for his side-catering business while the client was gone for the summer.
That client suspected something was wrong but it wasn't until he had cameras installed that the truth came out -- oh, and this same person -- the one doing the catering -- let a leaking HVAC condensate line sit for six months without telling the homeowner about it!!!!
That little fiasco set the homeowner (or his insurance company) back tens of thousands of dollars. Seriously, what are people thinking?
Look, we are ecstatic that our snowbirds have returned. The desert is abuzz with excitement and there are events nearly every day. It is so much fun this time of year.
But please don't be penny-wise and pound foolish -- utilize a professional home care company. One who is licensed, insured, bonded, and who operates their business like a business and yes, Executive Errands® has all those credentials.
Yes it may cost you a little extra and we can't promise there will never be water intrusion or some other problem. But what we can promise is to find these situations at the earliest possible time -- with weekly checks that means, worst case, a situation is only 6 days old.
That's far better than weeks or months. And because we are a full service lifestyle management company, we can assist with all your 'to do' lists and home maintenance projects.
We have a General B Contractor's license and do lots of projects for our clients too. Don't forget -- if you engage Executive Errands® be sure to check with your homeowner's insurance. Having us monitoring your home during your absences may qualify you for a discount.
Your home is a huge investment. Treat it properly. Let us enhance your desert living experience and set your mind at ease knowing we are here for you.
For more information or if you're ready to set up an account, please give us a call at 760.898.9604 or by email. No matter what you need, we are just a phone call or email away!
