Closing day wasn't goodbye.
If I handed you a flag, you're my client for life. That means the flag has backup, your house has a guy, and your family and friends have a place to start. This page is yours.
Taking care of it
The flag I bring to closing is meant to fly, not sit in a closet. A few things worth knowing:
- Placement. By the front door at an angle, or on a porch-mounted pole. If we didn't find the spot together on closing day, send me a photo of the front of the house and I'll tell you where I'd put it.
- Weather. Arizona sun is harder on a flag than rain. Bringing it in during monsoon season and the worst of summer will double its life.
- Wear. When it fades or frays, that flag has served with honor. Retire it respectfully; many VFW and American Legion posts accept flags for proper retirement.
- Replacement. And then call me. The replacement is on me. Any client, any year, no questions.
Your Arizona home, season by season
A house in the valley has its own calendar. These are the four check-ins that prevent the expensive surprises.
Your checkmarks save automatically on this device, and reset each season. Need a roofer, AC tech or plumber who won't overcharge you? That's what my Circle of Trust is for.
Little moves that pay for themselves
Things I tell my clients after closing. Filter by what you care about, tap to open, and steal freely.
Set the water heater to 120°FSave money
Most come from the factory hotter than you need. 120°F cuts the bill, slows mineral buildup, and prevents scald burns for kids and grandparents.
Ask your utility about rebatesSave money
APS and SRP both pay you to make the house efficient: shade screens, smart thermostats, AC tune-ups, insulation. Most homeowners never claim a dime of it.
Sun-block the west windowsSave money
Shade screens or solar film on west-facing glass is the cheapest cooling upgrade in Arizona. The AC fights the afternoon sun less, and the carpet stops fading.
Test GFCI outlets twice a yearSafety
The outlets with the little buttons, in kitchens, baths and outside. Press TEST, then RESET. If it won't trip or reset, replace it; that's the outlet that saves lives around water.
Know your two shutoffsSafety
Water main and gas meter. Find them the week you move in, tag them, and show everyone in the house. A burst line at 2am is not the moment to go looking.
Water trees deeply, not dailyDesert life
Desert trees want a long, slow soak every week or two, not a daily sprinkle. Deep roots survive July; shallow ones don't. Your water bill drops too.
Monsoon-proof the patioDesert life
June through September, anything light on the patio is a projectile waiting for a microburst. Umbrellas down after use, cushions in a box, trampoline anchored.
Walk the roof line every springDesert life
From the ground, with your phone camera zoomed. You're looking for slipped tiles, exposed underlayment, and debris in valleys. Five minutes now beats finding it during the first monsoon.
Keep a home file from day oneProtect your value
One folder: closing docs, receipts for every improvement, warranties, paint colors, contractor names. When you sell, documented upgrades are worth real money, and until then you'll never re-buy the wrong paint.
Photograph the house once a yearProtect your value
Walk every room and the yard with your phone each January. If a storm, fire or break-in ever happens, a dated photo inventory turns an insurance fight into a checklist.
Don't skip the yearly termite lookProtect your value
Arizona is termite country, period. A yearly inspection runs cheap; mud tubes caught early are a minor treatment instead of structural repair at resale.
Call me before you call a contractorProtect your value
Not because I take a cut. Because I know which upgrades return money in this valley and which don't, and my Circle of Trust quotes fair. Free advice, forever; that's the deal that came with your flag.
Know someone who's renting?
Almost all of my business comes from past clients sending me their people. If someone you care about is renting and wants more, or is buying and doesn't know where to start, give them my number: (623) 853-5241. Or send me their name and I'll make the first call, gently, in whichever language they're comfortable in.
They get the same deal you got: straight answers, no pressure, and a flag at the end.
George's monthly email
Once a month: a seasonal reminder for your house, what's happening in the valley market, and one client story. No spam, no listings you didn't ask for, and you can leave anytime.