20 Jan Tips to Prevent a House Fire in Uncategorized by Gulfshore Home Watch and Concierge A recent report by the National Fire Protection Association found that in the years 2014-2018, fire departments responded to approximately 353,000 home structure fires per year. Perhaps not surprisingly, the most common causes of fires included cooking, electrical distribution, lighting equipment, heating equipment, and smoking materials. Fires started by smoking materials, such as cigarettes and cigars, were the leading cause of home structure fires. The second most prominent cause of fires was heating equipment, such as including central heating installations, portable heaters, and space heaters. Fires started by lighting equipment, such as plugs, cords, extension cords and electrical wiring, ranked third. Suffice to say, if you’re a part-time resident (or you’re a full-time resident who plans to travel for a few weeks), you’ll want to make sure your home is protected in your absence. Below are just a few of the things you can do to keep your household safe. Maintain your yard Have the shrubs or plants along the exterior back wall of your home started to die? If you’re unable to revive them, have them removed. Additionally, you’ll want to keep your trees, bushes and lawn maintained and trimmed. Protect your roof by using fire resistant materials when you reroof your home Is it time to reroof your home? If so, be sure to talk to your roofing contractor about the pros and cons of a tile roofing system. In addition to being resistant to foul weather (such gale force winds), tile roofing is also fire resistant. Don’t use combustibles materials near the house Lots of people enjoy cooking outdoors- but if you use your barbeque too close to your home, that could pose a danger. Don’t keep or use combustible materials, including barbeques and tiki torches, in close proximity to your home. Consider a fire alarm that links to a mobile app Did you know that there are “smart” smoke detectors that can send notifications to your cell phone? If your home starts to fill with smoke, you’ll be alerted immediately. (You can also get a smart-device that doubles as a carbon monoxide detector.) Hire a home watch service If you’re going to be out of town for a while, you might want to consider hiring a home watch service. At Gulf Shore Home Watch & Concierge we have years of experience in helping our clients keep their homes safe. For more information about how we can help protect your home when you’re out of town, call us today to get started. TAGS: benefits of home watch, fire safety, home safety, home watch southwest florida

13 Jan How to Organize and Declutter Your Garage in Home Cleaning by Gulfshore Home Watch and Concierge Last week we provided some tips aimed at helping people organize their closets and kitchens. For this post, we wanted to offer some tips for organizing and decluttering your garage. But before you get started, you’ll want to gather a few things, including a broom (or shop-vac, if you have one), heavy-duty trash bags, and plastic storage bins. Establish zones When you’re starting this project, you’ll want to establish zones, such as recycling, tools, car supplies, beach equipment, sport equipment, and storage. Once you know where you’ll be keeping everything, you can start planning your storage space. Additionally, if your current bulk storage items (i.e., clothing, holiday decorations, etc.) are stored in boxes, move those items into large plastic storage bins. Not only are plastic bins easier to stack, they’re more durable than boxes and will better protect your belongings from moisture, bugs and rodents. Clean and sort as you go As you start reorganizing your garage, be sure to look for things that can be thrown out (i.e., mismatched sneakers that haven’t seen the light of day in years) and things that can be donated, such as unused / unwanted kitchen appliances and sports equipment. Once your items are sorted into “zone piles,” you’ll be able to determine how much space you need for each zone. Don’t forget to utilize vertical space. If you have kayaks, or paddleboards, you might be able to hang them on the ceiling. Lastly, as you start organizing the tool section, consider moving loose nails/ screws / bolts in small, plastic drawers. Not only will this make these items easier to find, it can prevent them from winding up on the floor. Determine your storage needs Could you benefit from new shelving? Do you need a new step stool? Do you need additional storage bins? If so, determine your needs, make a list, and order it. If you don’t want to order from Amazon, Walmart offers free delivery for orders of $35 or more. Store dangerous items securely If you have children, you’ll want to store things such as chemicals, motor oil and dangerous tools in a locked cabinet. Be sure to keep the key to that cabinet in a place where your kids can’t get to it. Plan maintenance Once your garage is organized, you’ll want to keep it that way. In most cases, this can be done by giving your garage a quick sweep once a month. Good luck and happy organizing! TAGS: clean your garage, garage cleaning tips, garage organization tips, homewatch, organizing a garage

23 Dec Tips to Maintain an Idle Car in Home Maintenance by Gulfshore Home Watch and Concierge If you’re among the thousands of part-time South Floridians who keep a spare car in the Sunshine State, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is maintained. Although keeping it parked in the garage is good, if your idled car isn’t cared for, you could run into problems. For this blog, we wanted to highlight several tips for maintaining an idled vehicle. Check the fluids before you park it If you don’t plan on driving your car for several months, be sure to check your vehicle’s fluids, including the power steering fluid, oil, and brake fluid, before you park it. You might also want to check the tire pressure before you leave town. Start the car at least once a week Most experts agree that idled cars should be started at least once a week. Why? Because if your car battery sits for too long without being used, the battery can die. The car should also be driven for about 5 minutes every time it’s started. This will help get your car’s components moving. For example, when a vehicle sits for too long, the brake rotors can start to rust. Your car’s oil can also start to deteriorate. Lastly, tires that sit in the same spot for months on end, run the risk of developing flat or bald spots. Making sure that your car is started (and driven) once a week can help prevent these problems. Consider a fuel stabilizer Before you leave town, consider adding some fuel stabilizer to the gas tank, as this can help keep your gas from going bad. Fuel stabilizer can be purchased online, at an auto parts store, and at most big box retailers. (Tip- make sure the fuel stabilizer you purchase works with your car’s motor. Some only work for diesel engines, whereas others only work with gas-powered engines.) Partner with a home watch service The best way to protect your car while you’re not in town, is to partner with a local home watch service. When you work with Gulf Shore Home Watch & Concierge, you can rest assured that both your home and your vehicles are taken care of. For more information on our company, our rates, or to learn more about how home watch works, call our office today to get started. References are available upon request. Call us now to speak with an expert. TAGS : benefits of homewatch, home maintenence, maintain an idled car, tips to maintain idled car

09 Dec What You Don’t Know About Mold Could Harm You in Mold in Your Home by Gulfshore Home Watch and Concierge In late-October, a local news station aired a story about snowbird homeowners who returned to SWFL—to find their home had been overrun by mold. They were only gone for five weeks, the wife told ABC 7, but they knew something was wrong the second they walked in the door. The problem, they learned, was mold. It was everywhere— in addition to needing to replace most of their stuff, they also needed to rip up the floors and rehabilitate the walls. Not only was this expensive- the repairs were also lengthy. So how did this happen, exactly? When the homeowners left, they put their AC onto fan mode. Instead of cooling the air, it simply recirculated the air. Unfortunately, that’s one of the worst mistakes that people can make. Tips to prevent mold in SWFL If you own a vacation home in the SWFL region, there are things you can do to protect your home from mold. Watch out for condensation If the inside of your home is humid, and water vapor in the cools and turns into liquid, you’ll likely find condensation on windows, metal pipes, water tanks and concrete walls. One of the best ways to prevent condensation is to ensure your home’s humidity levels are kept in check. Watch out for water leaks If your hot water heater breaks, a pipe bursts, or your toilet overflows, and the water isn’t cleaned up immediately, this could lead to a mold problem. Consequently, if you plan on being out of town for several weeks (or months) at a time, you’ll want to make sure that your home is being checked on. Set your thermostat to “auto” Experts agree that when you leave your home, you should not set your thermostat to the fan setting. When the fan is set to “on,” this prevents your AC from running (which will allow humidity to build up in your home.) If you leave your fan on—the humidity level in your home can and will rise substantially, and in some cases, it could reach 70% or more (fact: the EPA recommends that to prevent mold, indoor humidity levels should be kept at or below 50%.) Partner with a home watch service The best way to ensure your home is protected when you’re not in town, is to partner with a local home watch service. For more information on our rates or to learn more about how home watch works, call our office today to get started. TAGS : benefits of homewatch, how to prevent mold, mold in SWFL, mold in your home

25 Nov Top 2 Reasons to Consider Hiring a Home Watch Service in Homewatch Services by Gulfshore Home Watch and Concierge Regardless as to whether you’ve just purchased a SWFL vacation home, or you’re a year-round resident who wants some added peace of mind when you’re out of town, there are numerous benefits associated with hiring a home watch service. For this post, we wanted to highlight the top 3. You’ll have eyes and ears on the ground Can you ask your neighbors to pick up the junk mail on your porch, and clear wayward newspapers from your lawn? Of course you can. But if you’re home isn’t inspected regularly in your absence; you could arrive home to an unfortunate surprise. “A few years ago we were traveling abroad and while I’d asked someone to make sure that the mailbox and porch were cleared off, it never occurred to me that I’d need someone to keep an eye on the inside of my home,” one homeowner said. “Not only did the hot water heater fail while we were gone, it flooded the laundry room. It was a mess, and it was very expensive to repair.” When you hire a home watch service, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your home is being monitored from all angles. If we discover there’s a problem with your swimming pool, roof, flooring, electrical system or if we stumble upon a leak, we’ll notify you immediately. Home watch can help with other things Did you want to have furniture or appliances delivered while you’re gone? Did you need to have your AC repaired before you get back into town? We can help with that! When you work with Gulf Shore Home Watch & Concierge, we can arrange to be at your home to receive deliveries and/or coordinate with service providers. We can also do some light grocery shopping for you in advance of your arrival, and we can even set the thermostat, so your home’s temperature will be pleasant when you return. About Us Gulf Shore Home Watch & Concierge is the region’s top-rated home watch service. We’re reputable, trustworthy and we’re among the most word-of-mouth referred service providers in Southwest Florida. For more information on our company, the types of services we provide, or to get a no-obligation quote, call us today at 239-289-7294 to get started. If you’d prefer to contact us by email, we can be reached at dew@gulfshorehomewatch.com. We look forward to hearing from you! TAGS : benefits of home watch, florida home watch services, fort myers home watch service, home watch naples, home watch service

11 Nov Everything You Need to Know About Creating a Home Inventory in Safety by Gulfshore Home Watch and Concierge If you’ve been following our blog, you’ve likely noticed past posts about the benefits of creating a home inventory, the items that should be included in it, and how to keep your home inventory safe. If you haven’t stumbled across this topic in the past, that’s OK. We’re going to recap some of the most important points now. What is a home inventory? A home inventory is exactly as it sounds- it’s a record of all the important items you have in your home. For example, whereas a home inventory may include items such as home electronics (tablets, smartphones, computers, televisions, video game consoles, etc.), sporting equipment (i.e.: jet skis, surfboards, paddle boards, etc.) and other types of valuables (i.e.: expensive shoes, wallets, watches and other related items), they typically don’t include things such as photo albums, last year’s Christmas cards, or running shoes. The point of a home inventory is to document your personal possessions (along with their estimate value), in case you need to file a claim with your insurance company. Although some people suggest keeping diligent records of your purchases (including your receipts), others point out that creating a home inventory can be as simple as taking photos (or video) of your home, room-by-room. As you go room-to-room, be sure to capture what’s inside your drawers and cabinets. Most people don’t remember what they had for lunch let alone what they have stored in their kitchen cabinets. If a disaster strikes, your home inventory will be an invaluable resource when you’re compiling a list of damaged / destroyed property for an insurance claim. Store it somewhere safe Once you have your home inventory, store it somewhere safe. For example, this isn’t generally something you’d want to put onto a thumb drive and stash in a wall safe. (If your home is damaged by a fire, hurricane or flood, the contents of your wall safe may be damaged.) If you’re able to stash it in a safe deposit box, that’s good. Or, if you want to be able to access it 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, cloud storage is a second option. In closing For more tips on how to create a home inventory (and where to store your list), be sure to check out our past blogs. For more information on how a home watch service can help keep your home safe when you’re out of town, call Gulf Shore Home Watch & Concierge today to get started. TAGS : home inventory, home safe, home safety, home security, naples home watch, southwest florida

28 Oct Benefits of Installing a Carbon Monoxide Detector in Home Safety by Gulfshore Home Watch and Concierge As children, we were taught the importance of having a working smoke detector in the house. It was a central theme in most schools’ fire safety classes. And while the importance of having a smoke detector in the home is undeniable, if you have gas appliances, you should also invest in a carbon monoxide detector. A cautionary tale A few years ago, one of our clients recalled an experience his daughter had while she was away at college. There had been a problem with the furnace, he said, but when his daughter called the landlord, he didn’t call a HVAC repairman. Instead, he sent out his handyman. Although his daughter isn’t sure what the man did to the furnace, whatever he did, disrupted the ventilation system. As a result, every time they used the heat, carbon monoxide leaked into the apartment. Within a few days, she and her roommate were lethargic and had brain fog. When she called our client to say she thought she was coming down with the flu, he remembered they’d been having issues with the furnace. He suggested they leave the apartment – and proceeded to call the gas company. When they arrived, they confirmed ill-repaired furnace sprung a massive carbon monoxide leak. Had the landlord installed a carbon monoxide detector, the problem could have been detected immediately. The basics Carbon monoxide detectors can be purchased in store or online. Although the cheapest models start around $15, more sophisticated units run $100 or more. There are also hybrid smoke detector / carbon monoxide detectors. Regardless as to what you install, make sure it operates on both electrical and battery power. Why? Because if it’s plugged into the wall and the power goes out, it can still run on the battery. When you install it, place it close to your largest gas appliance. (Someplace close to the furnace is often a good bet.) Installing it in the living room, next to a window that’s always kept open, it not the best option in terms of efficacy. In closing Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that’s not only poisonous, in some cases, it can be deadly. For more information on the benefits of installing a carbon monoxide detector, or to learn more about various brands and models, either contact a HVAC repair company or speak to someone at your local hardware store. Do you currently have a carbon monoxide detector? Do you like the brand / model you have? If so, tell us about it in the comments. TAGS : home safety, southwest florida

21 Oct What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Store in Your Home Safe in Home Safety by Gulfshore Home Watch and Concierge In our last blog post, we talked about how you can keep the items that you have stored in your safe, protected from fire, water, and smoke damage. For this post, we wanted to cover the types of things you should (and shouldn’t) store in your home safe. Starting from the top Your home safe is a good choice to store certain types of important documents, such passports, birth certificates, your marriage certificate, trust and/or will documents, social security cards, power of attorney documents and insurance policy documents. You can also store other items of value, that are replaceable. Examples include cash, jewelry, photographs, certain types of firearms, flash drives, expensive belts, wallets, and purses. As we noted in our last blog, it may be wise to store in-safe documents in a fireproof / waterproof storage sleeve. If your home sustains water damage (from a flood or because of a fire), this will help keep your items protected. Things that are better stored in a safe deposit box Do you have heirloom jewelry that’s been in your family for generations? Do you have precious metals, coins, or other items that are irreplaceable? These are the types of things that you should store in a safe deposit box. Why? Because if your home is burglarized and your safe door is pried open (or it’s stolen altogether), what’s in your safe will likely be gone forever. If you have a hard copy of your property inventory, this should also be stored in a safe deposit box. If you’ve been following our blog, you’ve likely seen our posts about the benefits of creating an in-home inventory. And while some people will store their photos and videos in the cloud, others opt for hard-copy photos. Both methods work well—however, if you have hard copy photos, you don’t want to keep those at home. Again, if your safe is stolen, broken into, or the items inside are damaged by water, fire or smoke, your property inventory will be lost. Final thoughts Having a home safe can give you an added sense of security. It’s a great place to store extra cash, your passports, and other important documents that you may need to access quickly. However, there are things that are better stored offsite. For more information about the benefits of installing a safe, the benefits of creating a home inventory, or to learn how a Home Watch service can help keep your home safe in your absence, be sure to check out our other blog postings. We have plenty to say about all of these topics. Happy browsing! TAGS : burglary prevention, home safety, home security, home watch southwest florida

14 Oct Read This if You Have a Home Safe in Home Safety by Gulfshore Home Watch and Concierge Lots of people have a safe in their home. However, just because you have a safe, that doesn’t automatically mean what’s inside of it can’t be damaged or stolen. For this blog, we wanted to discuss some of the ways you can keep your belongings secure. Bolt it down Regardless as to whether you own a small, hotel room-sized safe or a big, clunky, heavy one, you’ll want to bolt it down. Small safes can be plucked easily from a closet, and while bigger ones are harder to move, stealing them isn’t impossible. Yes, getting your items out of the safe may not be the easiest task, but if you want to keep those items safe from burglars, take steps to ensure your safe can’t be stolen. Consider fireproof / water resistant document bags If your home is in a flood zone, and your safe winds up underwater, what’s inside your safe might be subject to water damage. If your home catches on fire, your belongings could suffer water and/or smoke damage. The best way to prevent this is to store your items in a fireproof / water resistant document bag. There are lots of options available for purchase online—many of which are priced as low as $8.99. Don’t make it easy to find If you have (or plan to buy) a small safe, install it in a place where it won’t be easy to find. For example- bedroom closets are usually the first places thieves look. Linen / coat closets may be a better bet. Lastly, if you’re considering installing a wall safe- these are typically a good option (especially if you need to secure one or more firearms). Sidebar: Consider storing your purses Although the theme of this blog is to how to keep what’s in your safe secure, as an aside, we wanted to note that if you’re not securing your expensive purses, you might want to consider it. For example, if you own one or more Louis Vuitton bags, these are high-ticket items that burglars will be interested in. The best way to keep expensive purses, totes, and backpacks safe, is to store them in a safe. TAGS: burglary prevention, home safety, home security, home watch