You smell it before you know what it is: That strong, musky odor that just won’t go away. You’d say it smells like propane gas . . . except you don’t use propane. It’s not until you hear the rustling noises coming from under the deck that you realize: You’ve got a skunk situation. 🦨 Early spring is the prime season for skunks to move into your house - and sneaky spots like under the deck, inside tight crawl spaces, and in the garage (!!) are some of their favorites. To make sure you, your...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
My father started a water damage restoration business in 1962: Here's Dad in the mid-1960s - he would've been about 30 years old here. His 8 siblings knew him as Bobby, but everyone else called him Bob. That meant my weekends and summers as a kid were spent helping him on job sites. I didn’t just learn about water damage and restoration; I learned what it meant to truly help people. I’ve never been a corporate salesperson, but working with people is something that’s always made sense to me....
2 months ago • 2 min read
I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry: This isn’t another New Year’s resolutions email. No; instead we’ll call it a “prepare my home for 2025” email. Or a “keep my family happy and healthy in the new year” email. I recorded a short Happy New Year message for you (<1 minute) to say hello and share a special free resource for keeping your home safe from water, fire, and mold damage in 2025. (In it, you'll also get to see my dog, Alpha - the unofficial mascot of the Umpire team!) Click...
3 months ago • 1 min read
I was all the way across town when it happened. I got the ping on my phone. The app’s familiar icon caught my eye as I checked my lock screen. The app icon you hope you never see. There is a fire brewing at your house. Okay, so that’s not exactly what the notification said. But it may has well have. The app was linked to a device I installed in my house earlier in the year. A device called Ting. (Have you heard of it?) It’s a small sensor that you plug into the wall, and it monitors your...
4 months ago • 2 min read
It’s officially looking like fall in Virginia! 🍂 If you’re like me, you’ve already pulled out your favorite jacket, cleaned up your leaf-covered yard at least once, and maybe added a pumpkin or two to the front-porch decor: I added a few pumpkins to the front porch even before the leaves started falling this year... But in the middle of all the color-changing fun, don’t forget: now’s the perfect time to prepare your home for the colder weather. (And I don’t just mean leaving the faucet...
5 months ago • 1 min read
So we all know to call a water damage restoration company when a pipe in the kitchen bursts or a toilet overflows. But what about those sneaky, insidious water leaks? 🚫 I’m not talking about floods. 🚫 I’m not talking about overflowing toilets. 👀 I’m talking about little leaks that seem little but cause BIG damage. The ones that, when you finally discover them, have already wreaked havoc on your house. Those are the ones that are easy to miss. To help make sure you don’t, I’ve rounded up the...
6 months ago • 2 min read
“It’ll never happen to me,” you think. We’ve all probably thought so. A kitchen fire. A flooded basement. A burst pipe while we’re on vacation. But if any of these things ever do happen, it’s good to have a plan. If you’re standing in water, or local firefighters have just put out a blaze in your kitchen, who do you call first? And how do you navigate the claims process? I’m so glad you asked. Here’s what you need to know. ⭐Reader’s List of Important Things to Know When Dealing With Damage...
8 months ago • 1 min read
August in Virginia is notoriously hot, but it’s also notoriously rainy. And it’s hurricane season. Let’s prepare together, shall we? Here are five prep tips you don’t want to skip: 🌪️ Understand your insurance to be sure you’ll be covered in the event of a flood or hurricane damage (💡Not-so-fun fact: most homeowner policies don’t include flood coverage, so consider asking your agent if it’s something you want included.) 🌪️ Seal outside wall openings like vents and outdoor outlets to prevent...
9 months ago • 1 min read
There’s no doubt about it, Reader - July has come to Virginia full force. Know what that means? Yes, yes, July 4th weekend. And yes, that too - the Loudoun County Fair. But also - and this is not as fun - humidity. July is here, and the humidity is suffocating. And because humidity = moisture = sneaky opportunities for mold to grow, we’ve gathered a few tips to help you keep moisture at bay this summer. Don’t forget to: ✅ Maintain healthy airflow ✅ Pull out the dehumidifier ✅ Find and fix any...
9 months ago • 1 min read