The recent wildfires in Eastern Washington remind us that disasters don't always happen when we're home. A friend of mine here in Seattle told me yesterday about his aquaintance who was away on business and owned a home near Spokane, It fell within the fire evacuation area. Fortunately, the home survived the fire with only minor damage. But when the homeowner contacted their insurance company to file a claim, they were told the damage might not be covered because the home had

Last week during one of our homewatch visits, we noticed a small bird flying over and crawling into a dryer vent on the side of a home. The vent was slightly open and there was no screen inside to stop it. After taking a closer look, we discovered there was a nest being built inside the vent. It’s always a little sad to interrupt nature—but unfortunately, this could have become a serious issue for the homeowner if left unnoticed while they were away on vacation. Blocked dryer

One of our Homewatch clients has been abroad for several months, and during a recent inspection I noticed their furnace wasn’t working. The homeowners asked if I could coordinate a visit with their HVAC company—happy to help. The technician arrived, repaired a faulty igniter, and restarted the furnace… only to immediately shut it back off. Then came the dreaded “Can you come take a look at this?” moment—similar to when your mechanic calls you under the car lift. Never a good