I am often asked why I feel so strongly about having a Home Watch Company regularly monitor a seasonal or vacation home. Here's one true-life experience that supports my opinion.
Several years ago while performing a routine home watch inspection, I encountered one of those moments every homeowner dreads. As I opened the door leading from the kitchen to the garage, I was shocked by what awaited me on the other side. Since my last visit, just two weeks prior, several sheets of drywall had fallen from the garage ceiling. Not only had they fallen but one piece landed directly on the homeowner's vehicle. WOW, imagine making that call to explain what happened!
My initial thought was that something had exploded or that someone or something had gotten into the attic and fallen through the ceiling. But when I looked more closely, I noticed the drywall was damp as if it had come in contact with water. It wasn't water-stained or moldy, so the moisture seemed to have been recent. Adding insult to injury, not only had the drywall fallen on the car but the sunroof was open and the car interior was wet as if soaked by a couple buckets of water. I climbed into the attic expecting to find a broken water pipe or signs of a serious roof leak, but with the exception of the hole, everything looked perfectly normal. This truly was a mystery to be solved.
With the help of a home contractor, I came to this conclusion. A few days prior to the discovery, we experienced a strong storm accompanied by driving wind and rain. The wind came from a direction that was not typical of our normal storm pattern. From this new direction, water was driven through the edges of the attic's decorative window that rarely receives a direct hit from the weather. Since this was a rare occurrence, the homeowner was not aware that the seal around the window was vulnerable. After the water was forced through the window's seal, it was “wicked up” by the drywall, water-logging it to the point where the screws could no longer hold it in place.
Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. The damage was quickly discovered before it became a bigger, more costly problem. The roof was examined for leaks, the drywall replaced, the window resealed, the car interior vacuumed and dried and the problem was resolved and has never returned. All of this was completed before the homeowner returned! Could you imagine the inconvenience, stress and mess if the damage sat unnoticed for months only to be discovered upon the owner's return?
So now I ask you. Do you agree that a Home Watch company is important for monitoring your seasonal or vacation home?
Just one true-life example of the importance of the services provided by
Aloha Home Watch Services, LLC.
Several years ago while performing a routine home watch inspection, I encountered one of those moments every homeowner dreads. As I opened the door leading from the kitchen to the garage, I was shocked by what awaited me on the other side. Since my last visit, just two weeks prior, several sheets of drywall had fallen from the garage ceiling. Not only had they fallen but one piece landed directly on the homeowner's vehicle. WOW, imagine making that call to explain what happened!
My initial thought was that something had exploded or that someone or something had gotten into the attic and fallen through the ceiling. But when I looked more closely, I noticed the drywall was damp as if it had come in contact with water. It wasn't water-stained or moldy, so the moisture seemed to have been recent. Adding insult to injury, not only had the drywall fallen on the car but the sunroof was open and the car interior was wet as if soaked by a couple buckets of water. I climbed into the attic expecting to find a broken water pipe or signs of a serious roof leak, but with the exception of the hole, everything looked perfectly normal. This truly was a mystery to be solved.
With the help of a home contractor, I came to this conclusion. A few days prior to the discovery, we experienced a strong storm accompanied by driving wind and rain. The wind came from a direction that was not typical of our normal storm pattern. From this new direction, water was driven through the edges of the attic's decorative window that rarely receives a direct hit from the weather. Since this was a rare occurrence, the homeowner was not aware that the seal around the window was vulnerable. After the water was forced through the window's seal, it was “wicked up” by the drywall, water-logging it to the point where the screws could no longer hold it in place.
Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. The damage was quickly discovered before it became a bigger, more costly problem. The roof was examined for leaks, the drywall replaced, the window resealed, the car interior vacuumed and dried and the problem was resolved and has never returned. All of this was completed before the homeowner returned! Could you imagine the inconvenience, stress and mess if the damage sat unnoticed for months only to be discovered upon the owner's return?
So now I ask you. Do you agree that a Home Watch company is important for monitoring your seasonal or vacation home?
Just one true-life example of the importance of the services provided by
Aloha Home Watch Services, LLC.
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