There just might be a doctor in your house if you’ve hired Mike Gottsacker from True North Home Watch, who ensures your home stays safe and sound while you’re on vacation.
Years ago, doctors really did make house calls to their patients who didn’t live in the city. They owned acres of land just outside of town, so the doctor would grab his little black bag and head on out to his patients’ homestead.
Although we typically don’t think of our homes as patients, they are exactly that to Mike Gottsacker. Every day, Mike grabs his bag of essential tools and drives from one client’s home to the next, prepared to handle any problem he might encounter. While at each home, he pays attention to a variety of things and, just like a doctor, makes a record of each of them. Mike records things like the temperature in the house and whether water might be dripping from a nozzle or a pipe. He will even water your plants if asked to do so.
Windows are checked to make sure they are locked and not broken into. Newspapers, flyers, and packages are removed from the entries, and the area is swept if necessary. Mike also checks to ensure all lights inside and outside the home are working. If requested, he will even alter the timers for many of the indoor lights. Should a horrific storm blow into town, he will check for damages to the home and landscaping and then send you a report immediately. After every visit, Mike sends you a report with photos included.
Before leaving town, each client receives a prepared list to let Mike know exactly what they expect him to look for. In many ways, it’s like telling your family doctor “where it hurts” so that your doctor better understands how to take care of you!
Getting your home on this doctor’s rounds before your next vacation could be good medicine for your mind. You will sleep better knowing that True North Home Watch is taking good care of your home. truenorthhomewatch.com
Vacation Checklist:
If you are not hiring someone to check up on your property, here are some easy things to remember to do prior to departure.
1. Make sure all of your windows are closed and locked, especially sliding glass doors.
2. Let your neighbors on each side of your house know when you are leaving and returning in the event of a break-in.
3. Check both indoor and outdoor faucets for leakage.
4. If your vacation is in the winter, make sure your driveway is plowed should it snow.
5. If your vacation is in the summer, make sure your lawn is mowed.
6. Unplug your coffee maker if you usually have it set to automatically brew first thing in the morning.
7. Do NOT shut down your heat more than a few degrees. You don’t want to risk freezing your pipes.
8. Place a few timers for lights around your home that are set to go off in different rooms at different times.
9. Have a member of your family or your neighbor bring in your mail.
True North Home Watch has a list that is three times longer, which is another reason Mike’s clients want to work with him. Every customer receives this list initially and makes their own determination on how many of these topics they would like Mike to check on.