Seasonal homeowners, sometimes called Snowbirds, are constantly flocking to other parts of the world in an ongoing, continental criss-cross migration that signals a weather change from warm to cold. When they go, they leave empty houses behind. These valuable pieces of real estate hold memories and precious possessions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Unwary snowbirds will leave these treasures in the hands of people whose motivation they have never considered.

Anyone who owns a property that is empty for months at a time may consider relying on a maid, house cleaner, pet sitter, neighbor or friend to watch that property, unless they have chosen a professional service. Before making that decision for yourself, consider what really motivates the person that would be trusted with your house.

Maids, house cleaners, and pet sitters are, admit it, not the highest paid group. Many struggle to stay above water, financially, and most do not even own their own homes. They are a loyal group, on average, truly dedicated to providing a good cleaning or pet sitting service. So why would they agree to watch your house, a task they know nothing about? Very simply: fear. They are afraid of losing you as a customer. Even though they have little idea what is required to keep an empty home secure and mishap-free, they are more concerned that if they refuse, you will find someone else to do their primary job – cleaning or pet sitting. On the outside, they seem very willing, but on the inside they are deeply afraid you will stop using their services. So they agree to your request hoping, nothing happens. When it does, they are ill-prepared to handle the issue, and you get that fear-filled phone call that starts, \”Wow, you won\’t believe what happened…\” Is your maid afraid?

On the other hand, have you ever felt you owed your friend or neighbor a favor? So, out of guilt, you agreed to a task you preferred not to do? Join the crowd. We\’ve all been there. We all feel a responsibility to be a good friend and neighbor. But that\’s poor motivation when it comes to watching someone\’s home. Your friends and neighbors feel guilty saying no and take on a responsibility they don\’t have the time, knowledge, or motivation to complete. And they do it out of guilt. They have their own lives to live, are busy with their family, and don\’t really know what to look for in an unoccupied home. They will only go inside every 6-8 weeks. But they feel guilty saying no directly to your face. But, when you\’re out of sight, your home is out of their mind. When they do enter your home, they only take a cursory look for fires and floods before returning to their own lives. That\’s not the way to preserve property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A professional home watch is motivated by a desire to provide excellent service. This is more than a side task, it is a business. A professional home watch service has the tools, time, technology, and experience to ensure your home receives the same care and attention your personal portfolio, also worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, gets in your absence. Combining the right motivation with training, insurance, and licensing will ensure you have peace of mind when you are away. You are not imposing, and no one feels threatened.

So consider what motivates the person you choose to \’keep an eye on\’ your beautiful seasonal home. Fear and guilt aren\’t good motivation in other areas of your life. Select carefully and then enjoy the season in your other home – without guilt or fear.

Author Bio: Mark Mehling, known as \’MarktheHomeWatchGuy\’, is one of America\’s Premiere Experts and author of the leading book \”Leaving Your Home-ALONE\” available at http://buythebook.thehomewatchguy.com/. Visit http://www.thehomewatchguy.com to learn how to avoid headaches and heartburn when your seasonal property is empty or unoccupied.

Category: Advice
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