Preventative Home Maintenance Service Preserves Your Most Significant Asset

SANTA ROSA, CA, (Monday, June 02, 2003) - For the first time, busy and absentee homeowners can relax knowing that thorough and regular maintenance is preserving their investment in their most significant asset, their house. Sonoma County custom home builder Jim Murphy & Associates (JMA), has partnered with Home Preservation Services (HPS) to launch HPS-Sonoma, the only preventative home maintenance system that includes all the services necessary to properly maintain a house in a single, cost-saving program. HPS-Sonoma is only the second HPS franchise in the country to offer this innovative service to enhance a home’s value, safety, and appearance.

Most homeowners lack the time and resources to correct the deterioration that occurs in a house due to weather, aging, and normal wear, and delaying maintenance can result in more expensive repairs and reduced value. However, with HPS-Sonoma’s quarterly, proactive maintenance service, every element and system of the house is checked and maintained so the home stays in top-notch condition.

The concept is analogous to a scheduled maintenance program for an upscale car, according to Dayna Shamrock of HPS-Sonoma. The car runs better, lasts longer, has fewer surprise repairs, and a higher resale value. Plus, it’s more enjoyable to use. The same can be said about a well maintained house.

HPS-Sonoma uses a 265-point preventative maintenance system called HomeCare. Following a free home evaluation to create a data base and identify any deferred maintenance, the current condition of the house is assessed in an extensive eight-hour inspection that includes photos, measurements, appliance inventory, and schematic electrical layout. Even the type of light bulbs is documented.

Then skilled HPS-Sonoma technicians complete the preventative maintenance services on a quarterly schedule. Services range from duct cleaning and roofing inspection to gas leak testing and gutter cleaning. HPS-Sonoma estimates that if separate vendors performed all maintenance services included in their program, the cost for a typical home would be over $9,000 for one year compared to $3,584 as part of the HomeCare system. The savings accrue because of the efficiencies created by consolidating all the work under one roof and from tightly controlled scheduling.

Homeowners save time and money, and reduce their risk by not having to schedule and supervise possibly uninsured workmen. HPS-Sonoma technicians are licensed, bonded, wear uniforms with picture ID, and have passed rigorous background checks so homeowners can feel secure in having them in their home.

An additional feature of the HPS-Sonoma service is the creation of a repair action plan prioritized by safety, future damage, and added expense if not maintained. Homeowners are linked with qualified, pre-screened contractors to perform any special repairs or improvements.

The cost for HPS-Sonoma is well below the maintenance budget recommended by the American Society of Home Inspectors. They recommend allocating .75% of the cost of a home less than 10 years old, 1.5% for homes in the second decade, and 3% for homes in the third decade. For example, $7,500 should be spent on maintenance of a new $1 million home. HPS-Somoma charges vary slightly depending on the complexity of the home but averages $1 / sf / year with a two-year service contract. For a 5,000sf home, that would average $5,000 a year.

Insurance can be positively impacted by participation in HPS-Sonoma. Preventative maintenance reduces claims and the thorough HomeCare inspection provides documentation to support claims. Regular inspection from the HomeCare specialists will help determine what is defective construction and what is deferred maintenance particularly in dry rot and mold cases.

HPS-Sonoma can also be an option that builders can sell with a new house. It can be an additional selling point, add value to the house, and can accompany the warranty.

For more information about HPS-Sonoma, contact Dayna Shamrock at (707) 543-0952.

Dayna Shamrock, General Manager
Home Preservation Services
464 Kenwood Court, Suite C
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
Phone: (707) 543-0952
Fax: (707) 543-0962
E-mail: Dayna@HPS-Sonoma.com
Web Site: HPS-Sonoma.com

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