Many Canadian clients are concerned about who will help them take care of their Phoenix home when they are back in Canada. No need to worry! There are many many service professionals who can help. We can refer you to Property Caretakers, Pool Cleaners, Landscapers, House cleaners, Security Companies etc that we know and trust. These people will watch your home, clean your yard or pool, clean the home between guests or seasonal renters, and keep your home safe and secure. The Property Caretakers perform a great range of services including checking on the inside and outside of the home, starting the appliances, running the water or whatever you want them to do. Most Property Caretakers charge about $50 per visit and will go as often as you wish (twice/month, once/month etc).

Contact me for my list of service professionals that I highly recommend. I am always happy to help. Also check out www.ThePhoenixExperts.com for answers to more frequently asked questions by Canadians.

Marc Brodeur, Realtor
The Phoenix Experts
www.ThePhoenixExperts.com
1-800-300-0263

Most Canadian purchasers are torn between buying a house or a condo. They love the idea of having the extra square footage, private yard, garage and possible private pool of a house but also love the “lock-and-leave” lifestyle of a condo. It is a very personal decision. I am often asked about the extra costs of maintaining a house. A landscaping service is usually $80-90/month. Depending on the yard, you may need a landscaper as a regular monthly service. If the yard is “xeriscaped” which means it has only desert plants and cactus, you may be able to get away with only getting landscaping service 4-6x per year. Even with rocks, desert plants and cactus, we still get plenty of weeds that need to be controlled and the plants need to be trimmed back. A swimming pool definitely requires monthly maintenance (twice per month in the summer due to the heat). Most pool companies charge $90 per month including labor and chemicals. I am often asked by Canadians if they can just drain the pool when they are not here. Unfortunately no, the heat will damage the plaster or pebbletec. If left without water all summer the bottom of the pool may crack. A property caretaker or concierge service can check your house regularly as discussed in my last blog. A security system is usually $300-400 to install and then $40/month for monitoring. If someone breaks in the security company will alert the police and will also call you or a local contact. This gives most people peace of mind. I always recommend getting to know the neighbors as well. Having the next door neighbor keep an eye on your house can be the best security available. Feel free to call or email me for a list of my favorite landscapers, pool companies, security companies, property caretakers etc. We are here to help!

Marc Brodeur, REALTOR
www.ThePhoenixExperts.com
Marc@ThePhoenixExperts.com
1-800-300-0263

There are several property caretaker services in Phoenix for Canadian property owners. These companies will take care of your home while you are out of town. Most of the services charge $25-40 per visit and will go to your home as often as you wish. Many people hire them to check their homes 1-2x per month. These services will do whatever you wish while they are at your home. They can check on the condition of the property, run the water, start the appliances, check to make sure the pool and landscaping maintenance companies are doing their jobs properly, verify the security system is functioning, etc. They can also meet contractors or maintenance crews, arrange cleaning or repairs, pick up packages and start vehicles. They are similar to a concierge service in many ways. We would be happy to refer you to our favorite property caretaker services. They are bonded, insured and extremely reliable.

Marc Brodeur, Realtor
www.ThePhoenixExperts.com
1-800-300-0263