Looking for some peace of mind during the storm season?

Greetings!

If you have a second home on the East Coast, Hurricane Isaias either affected you…or it didn’t. If you have that house in Hawaii, Hurricane Douglas damaged your place…or it didn’t. No matter where your second home is, Mother Nature can visit anytime, and there are no certainties as to what effect she will have on you. With all the science, the severity of the storm is never a given. So, how can you make the right decision as to what to do? Do you fly in, or take a road trip to “batten down the hatches”? When you aren’t there to prepare your home beforehand and be there afterward to check for damage, you are probably at the mercy of a kind neighbor, the police department, or maybe your HOA to let you know what is happening at your place. I know that when I had my vacation home on the South Carolina coast but lived in New Jersey, hurricanes and tropical storms were the cause of most of my anxiety in my vacation homeowning experience. I would have to try and track down people to get a straight answer or any accurate updates. And nowadays, with the 24-hour news cycle, getting storm information without the hype is almost impossible.

This is just one more reason why hiring an NHWA Accredited Home Watch company makes sense. Storms and acts of nature are among the most discussed topics by our membership. Members attend webinars dealing with storms and are asked to follow the NHWA’s Best Practices regarding them. With the amount of experience and knowledge shared within our membership, we have established procedures for most any situation. Many of our members will handle the actual storm prep, while others will coordinate with local contractors to make sure the work is done. Post-storm, our members will visit your home to check for visible damage, take pictures, and document their findings. This is a very important discussion you’ll have with your NHWA Accredited Member. Spend time discussing exactly what they can and cannot do. We know from our client feedback that communication is the most important thing to them.  And, I can tell you from personal experience that having someone at my home, looking things over, was the only thing that relieved my anxiety. If there was damage, having someone there to take care of things made everything so much better for me.

NHWA Accredited Members are carefully vetted. All company principals undergo background checks. They carry the correct insurances to protect their clients. Having these coverages means that you have recourse. In other words, they are professional. Their prices are higher, but you are protected. And, while you might be approached by people with much lower prices, CAVEAT EMPTOR—buyer beware! It’s only your home we’re talking about.

To find your local NHWA Accredited Member, please go to www.nationalhomewatchassociation.org and click on “Find Accredited Members.”

Thanks for reading.

Jack