I recently heard someone make a case for married couples with families to have a will in place, because without one “the state of Texas has one for you and you probably won’t like it.” Wills are a bit of work to assemble and never naturally something any of us want to think about, or spend significant money and time on. But, the alternative of waiting too long is a riskier approach. And in many ways, we try to help homeowners view the stucco on their beautiful home through a similar lens, by taking a thoughtful, ongoing, and proactive approach to maintenace, protection, and possible repairs - before a home sale instantly, and sometimes unpleasantly, brings any potential issues to light. We have encountered stucco repairs at just about every possible moment in a home’s ownership lifecycle – from first day to last day and everything in between. Here are a couple of observations as the service provider, simply tasked - by invitation only - to address stucco related repairs, that we hope will be additive to you and/or your client’s future considerations.
Homework Assignment: Not all wills are created equal, and there is an important upfront research process that hopefully results in the right person or group – the ones who possess the skills and understanding of your situation – to produce the best will for you. We love being on the backend of a similar research process. We are an ideal fit for the homeowner who’s already found one of the great stucco inspectors to do a thorough and complete stucco condition assessment, and is ready to thoughtfully address any findings. These reports and our initial work help create a baseline from which a homeowner can feel good about.
Own Your Stucco: Ignorance might be bliss but a buyer with fresh eyes and a new stucco inspection report can be an unwelcome education. Suddenly several strangers seem to have a better understanding of the stucco on your home than you do. When it comes to “owning” your stucco and not getting frustrated with it, it comes down to ensuring you’re keeping up with it at a set consistent cadence. It is a truly beautiful aesthetic and recognizing its maintenance needs and pairing it with trusted groups like ICE will minimize large repair needs and maximize your enjoyment.
Building your History: One of the reasons in the medical world, we’re all often asked if we have a primary care physician is that by having one doctor over a long period of time, they get to know us, our aches and pains, and more importantly the kind of facts about us that can help prevent and get in front bigger potential problems. We recommend the same approach to your stucco home (honestly, the same likely applies to your pool, hvac, etc.). Find a stucco inspector you trust and ICE to come along side you with your stucco. We don’t want you to have to think about your stucco either – let us. By having the same two groups 1) inspect and 2) maintain, protect, and repair over a long period of time, you will build peace of mind during your ownership and, even more importantly, be able to pass along that peace of mind (ie. good records) to a future owner and take that stress out of the equation when you sell.
Homeownership is a special part of the American Dream for most people. It is the place where families grow, memories are made, and milestones are reached. But homes also, for most people, represent one of the biggest pieces of their investment portfolio. So that investment must be protected and proactively managed. For those blessed to have their home wrapped in stucco, it should not be viewed with fear. Just like the will, it is just a matter of acknowledging the risk and having a plan.