Calgary HOME CHECK

That was a very fast summer with lots of rain and of course the summer is a little over a month away..You should look at starting to winterize your home in case mother nature comes early with snow and frost..Just give me a call and I will help you with all of that..

Given the overwhelming requests, I am proud to announce Arizona’s best home watch service is returning and better than ever with even more services! Effective March 14th, 2025, SNOWBIRD HOME CHECK will be available to protect your Arizona investment full time. Call 480-997-5636 and 587-229-4044 to start your service.

Mention this invitation and sign up before February 28th to receive our introductory pricing of $35.00 per visit - rate guaranteed for for one year!

Legacy customers who return will receive one free home check!** Provide a referred lead that signs up, another free home check!**

With an improved photos service, and summary, right from your home you will have peace of mind. You will be treated to the same quality service I delivered in the past and I promise fast action on any service that is required.

**Free home checks credited at the end of the season.

CRAZY STORIES FROM YOUR HOME CHECK SPECIALIST

I literally have hundreds of stories, but this one was told to me by a future client after it happened… When the bottom fell out in Arizona a SnowBird from Edmonton purchased a property in Santan Valley… He got to know his neighbor from saying hello periodically and having a beer with him on the street when they were both outside … He had given his keys to him in case of an emergency while he was away… they would often email or phone each other when he was back in Edmonton… Well a month goes by and there’s no phone pick up… He sends an email and it bounces back… All concerned he grabs a flight down to Phoenix gets to his house and is worried because he sees the for sale/sold sign on the neighbors property… He opens his door and his house is completely cleaned out of all furnishings and large appliances(he was nice enough to keep the knives forks spoons and glasses)… What happened was he tried to short sale his house and on moving day when he moved all his stuff he just went next-door and cleaned out his neighbor stuff too… You can’t always trust your neighbor!

I get a lot of people that ask different questions about , and

House sitting typically involves someone living in your home while you’re away, taking care of day-to-day tasks like feeding pets, watering plants, and bringing in the mail. The house sitter usually stays overnight and performs basic upkeep to ensure the home remains in good condition.

In contrast, home watch services do not involve someone living in your home. Instead, a professional periodically visits your property to conduct thorough checks and address any issues that may arise. Home watch professionals are trained to identify potential problems, such as water leaks, pest infestations, or signs of unauthorized entry, and take action to resolve them. The focus is on preventive care and maintaining the overall security of the property, rather than the daily tasks a house sitter would handle.

Home Watch vs. Property Management

Property management is a broader service typically associated with rental properties. Property managers handle tenant relations, rent collection, property maintenance, and legal matters related to leasing. They are often responsible for the long-term care and financial management of income-producing properties.

On the other hand, home watch services are designed for unoccupied homes, particularly those owned by seasonal residents or frequent travelers. The main goal of home watch is to ensure that the property remains in good condition and secure during the owner’s absence. Home watch professionals focus on conducting regular checks, addressing maintenance issues, and providing peace of mind to homeowners, without the ongoing responsibilities of managing tenants or financial matters.

Home Watch vs. Security Services

Some might confuse home watch with traditional security services, which primarily focus on protecting the property from break-ins and monitoring for security breaches through alarm systems and surveillance.

While home watch includes elements of security, it goes beyond by offering a more comprehensive approach to property care. Home watch professionals not only check for signs of intrusion but also monitor the overall condition of the property, including mechanical systems, plumbing, and exterior maintenance. This proactive care helps prevent costly damages and ensures that the property is ready for the homeowner’s return.

The Unique Value of Home Watch

The reason home watch is sometimes referred to as house sitting, property management, or security services is due to the overlap in certain tasks. However, home watch is a specialized service that combines the best aspects of these roles to offer tailored care for unoccupied properties. It’s designed for homeowners who want the peace of mind that their property is being regularly monitored and maintained while they’re away, without the need for a live-in caretaker or the complexities of property management.

Part two

Colder climates

Why is it important to ensure that your doors are closed inside the home?

1. Heat Retention: Closing doors helps to keep warm air inside the house, preventing drafts and heat loss. This is crucial during colder months when maintaining indoor warmth is a priority…

2. Energy Efficiency: Just like in hot climates, minimizing air exchange can enhance energy efficiency. It allows heating systems to work more effectively and reduces heating costs…

3. Comfort: A well-contained space is generally more comfortable. Keeping doors closed can help ensure that heated rooms maintain a consistent temperature, creating a more pleasant living environment…

Why is it important to always ensure that the doors are closed in a home?

In Hot Climates like Arizona

1. Energy Efficiency: Keeping doors closed helps maintain cooler indoor temperatures by reducing the amount of hot air that enters the house. This can lead to lower energy consumption and reduced costs related to air conditioning…

2. Humidity Control: Closed doors can help manage humidity levels inside the home. In hot climates, high humidity can make it feel even hotter, and closing doors can help keep moist air from entering…

3. Pest Control: Keeping doors closed can prevent insects and pests from entering the home, which can be particularly bothersome in warm climates where bugs are more active..

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Three of the most important things to check when you’re doing somebody’s home is make sure you start the cars as it gets the fluids going and stops the tire flatting if you move it just a bit .. Check the mail as you don’t want it stopped by Canadian Postal Service or United Postal Service.. and finally make sure the thermostat is set properly before you leave. Otherwise, the home checker will be responsible for the huge increase in electricity.

This is an interesting read about Arizona as this was sent to me from a friend…

For those of you who may be new to AZ, here are 64 interesting facts you might not have known.
1. Arizona has 3,928 mountain peaks and summits, more mountains than any one of the other Mountain States (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).
2. All New England, plus the state of Pennsylvania would fit inside Arizona.
3. Arizona became the 48th state and last of the contiguous states on February 14, 1912.
4. Arizona's disparate climate can yie7ld both the highest temperature across the nation and the lowest temperature across the nation in the same day.
5. There are more wilderness areas in Arizona than in the entire Midwest. Arizona alone has 90 wilderness areas, while the Midwest has 50.
6. Arizona has 26 peaks that are more than 10,000 feet in elevation.
7. Arizona has the largest contiguous stand of Ponderosa pines in the world stretching from near Flagstaff along the Mogollon Rim to the White Mountains region.
8. Yuma, Arizona is the country's highest producer of winter vegetables, especially lettuce.
9. Arizona is the 6th largest state in the nation, covering 113,909 square miles.
10. Out of all the states in the U.S., Arizona has the largest percentage of its land designated as Indian lands.
11. The Five C's of Arizona's economy are: Cattle, Copper, Citrus, Cotton, and Climate.
12. More copper is mined in Arizona than all the other states combined, and the Morenci Mine is the largest copper producer in all of North America.
13. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, two of the most prominent movie stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, were married on March 18, 1939, in Kingman, Arizona.
14. Covering 18,608 sq. miles, Coconino County is the second largest county by land area in the 48 contiguous United States.(San Bernardino County in California is the largest)
15. The world's largest solar telescope is located at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Sells, Arizona..
16. Bisbee, Arizona is known as the Queen of the Copper Mines because during its mining heyday it produced nearly 25 percent of the world's copper and was the largest city in the Southwest between Saint Louis and San Francisco.
17. Billy the Kid killed his first man, Windy Cahill, in Bonita, Arizona.
18. Arizona grows enough cotton each year to make more than one pair of jeans for every person in the United States.
19. Famous labor leader and activist Cesar Chavez was born in Yuma.
20. In 1912, President William Howard Taft was ready to make Arizona a state on February 12, but it was Lincoln's birthday. The next day, the 13th, was considered bad luck so they waited until the following day. That' how Arizona became known as the Valentine State.
21. When England's famous London Bridge was replaced in the 1960s, the original was purchased, dismantled, shipped stone by stone and reconstructed in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where it still stands today.
22. Mount Lemmon, Tucson, in the Santa Catalina Mountains, is the southernmost ski resort in the United States.
23. Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch in Picacho, Arizona is the largest privately-owned ostrich ranch in the world outside South Africa.
24. If you cut down a protected species of cactus in Arizona, you could spend more than a year in prison.
25. The world's largest to-scale collection of miniature airplane models is housed at the library at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.
26. The only place in the country where mail is delivered by mule is the village of Supai, located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
27. Located on Arizona's western border, Parker Dam is the deepest dam in the world at 320 feet.
28. South Mountain Park/Preserve in Phoenix is the largest municipal park in the country.
29. Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, located about 55 miles west of Phoenix, generates more electricity than any other U.S. power plant.
30. Oraibi, a Hopi village located in Navajo County, Arizona, dates back to before A.D. 1200 and is reputed to be the oldest continuously inhabited community in America.
31. Built by Del Webb in 1960, Sun City, Arizona was the first 55-plus active adult retirement community in the country.
32. Petrified wood is the official state fossil. The Petrified Forest in northeastern Arizona contains America's largest deposits of petrified wood.
33. Many of the founders of San Francisco in 1776 were Spanish colonists from Tubac, Arizona.
34. Phoenix originated in 1866 as a hay camp to supply military post Camp McDowell.
35. Rainfall averages for Arizona range from less than three inches in the deserts to more than 30 inches per year in the mountains.
36. Rising to a height of 12,643 feet, Mount Humphreys north of Flagstaff is the state's highest mountain.
37. Roadrunners are not just in cartoons! In Arizona, you'll see them running up to 17-mph away from their enemies.
38. The Saguaro cactus is the largest cactus found in the U.S. It can grow as high as a five-story building and is native to the Sonoran Desert, which stretches across southern Arizona.
39. Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, grew up on a large family ranch near Duncan, Arizona.
40. The best-preserved meteor crater in the world is located near Winslow, Arizona.
41. The average state elevation is 4,000 feet.
42. The Navajo Nation spans 27,000 square miles across the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, but its capital is seated in Window Rock, Arizona.
43. The amount of copper utilized to make the copper dome atop Arizona's Capitol building is equivalent to the amount used in 4.8 million pennies.
44. Near Yuma, the Colorado River's elevation dips to 70 feet above sea level, making it the lowest point in the state.
45. The geographic center of Arizona is 55 miles southeast of Prescott near the community of Mayer.
46. You could pile four 1,300-foot skyscrapers on top of each other and they still would not reach the rim of the Grand Canyon.
47. The hottest temperature recorded in Arizona was 128 degrees at Lake Havasu City on June 29, 1994
48. The coldest temperature recorded in Arizona was 40 degrees below zero at Hawley Lake on January 7, 1971.
49. A saguaro cactus can store up to nine tons of water.
50. The state of Massachusetts could fit inside Maricopa County (9,922 sq. miles).
51. The westernmost battle of the Civil War was fought at Picacho Pass on April 15, 1862 near Picacho Peak in Pinal County
52. There are 11.2 million acres of National Forest in Arizona, and one-fourth of the state forested.
53. Wyatt Earp was neither the town marshal nor the sheriff in Tombstone at the time of the shoot-out at the O..K. Corral. His brother Virgil was the town marshal.
54. On June 6, 1936, the first barrel of tequila produced in the United States rolled off the production line in Nogales, Arizona.
55. The Sonoran Desert is the most biologically diverse desert in North America.
56. Bisbee is the Nation's Southernmost mile-high city.
57. The two largest man-made lakes in the U.S. are Lake Mead and Lake Powell, both located in Arizona.
58. The longest remaining intact section of Route 66 can be found in Arizona and runs from Seligman to Topock, a total of 157 unbroken miles.
59. The 13 stripes on the Arizona flag represent the 13 original colonies of the United States.
60. The negotiations for Geronimo's final surrender took place in Skeleton Canyon, near present day Douglas, Arizona, in 1886.
61. Prescott, Arizona is home to the world's oldest rodeo, and Payson, Arizona is home to the world's oldest continuous rodeo, both of which date back to the 1880's.
62. Kartchner Caverns, near Benson, Arizona, is a massive limestone cave with 13,000 feet of passages, two rooms as long as football fields, and one of the world's longest soda straw stalactites: measuring 21 feet 3 inches.
63. You can carry a loaded firearm on your person, no permit required.
64. Arizona has one of the lowest crime rates in the U.S.A.

This kind of stuff happens all the time… The last thing you really want is to come home late night from vacation and find your garage door won’t open.. This kind of stuff happens all the time.. In this case, the expiry date was nine years ago.. always check your batteries as it’s a little thing that turns into a big thing that people forget..

Weeds can be a real problem during the summer months. It’s always good to have a landscaper lined up before you takeoff for a couple weeks.