As we all know emergency problems in your home don’t follow a 9-to-5 schedule. Leaks, an overflowing toilet, and a dripping roof don’t always wait until you’ve had your morning coffee. Emergencies are an unfortunate reality of homeownership.
You might not be able to predict when emergencies will arrive, but you can prepare yourself by following these tips.
Keep in touch with contractors; Regular maintenance of your HVAC and other systems in your home helps you in more ways than one. Not only do you catch problems early and keep your system in good repair, but you also build relationships with reliable contractors who are familiar with your systems.
That means when you call at 2 am with a burst pipe, or a concerning electrical problem, the pro that answers the phone has a head start on the fix.
Know what you need to do; Having a list of resources at your fingertips will help keep bad situations at bay. You should know your most essential contractors’ names and after-hours phone numbers. You can probably look this up on your phone fairly quickly, however, having paperwork with all your information will save time and reduce complications during what will likely already be a chaotic situation. In some cases, a pro can talk you through potential solutions right there on the phone.
This is also important – make sure you know how to shut off your home utilities. You can shut down electricity at your main panel. Water and gas lines (if you have gas) usually have a master shut-off point outside. If you don’t know where these valves are located, ask your pro to point them out for you. You’ll be grateful for the know-how if you need to cut off the supply during a leak.
Be prepared for triage; In some fields, emergency calls don’t come consistently, but rather stack up all at once. For example, after a severe storm or wind event, every roofing company in the region will be swamped with calls for emergency help. In those cases, experts say that they’ll do triage work to prevent the worst of immediate damage by removing the most urgent problem, covering up leaks, and doing their best to bring it under control.
In many cases, major repairs can’t be completed immediately. Be patient with your pros during crises; the odds are everyone’s doing their best to get problems addressed.
Keep your home stocked; Sometimes, severe events mean help could be days away. This is very rare in Southern Nevada, however, when we were hit with the pandemic we were told to isolate. It is recommended that you keep your home stocked with enough supplies to get you and your family through several days.
Also, make sure your home has at least one fire extinguisher, preferably one for each level of your home. If you have only one, put it in the kitchen, and make sure everyone knows where it is as well as how to operate it.
Keep in mind that whether you are interested in buying a home or selling a home, a Realtor should represent you– this person is working for your benefit and will help you navigate through the buying or selling process. We have celebrated selling both New and Resale Homes for over thirty years…
We are here to answer any questions you might have – just email jennifer@smithteamlasvegas.com
Thanks and make it a terrific day…………The Smith King Team
