Spoiler alert - scroll to the end of this email for the chance to win a free gutter cleaning from one of Umpire’s local partners!

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A few weeks ago, a homeowner called us about a damp crawl space.

They thought it was surface moisture from recent storms and wanted help addressing it so mold wouldn’t grow.

But when our team arrived, we found that the moisture had actually been brewing for a while - certainly before the storms blew through town.

The insulation had been moved around, leaving a few water supply lines dangerously bare – potentially from animals moving through the space.

When all was said and done, it cost more than $5,000 to remove all the moisture, treat for mold, and get everything repaired.

I’m sharing this with you for two reasons:

One: October is a prime time of year for moisture to build up in crawl spaces and basements. Humidity from summertime is lingering, temperatures are dropping, and poorly insulated pipes can be at risk of breaking.

And two: Most of this is completely preventable when you know what to look for. So...

...Here’s a 4-step home walkthrough checklist I put together for you to help keep your home protected this season:

✅ Step 1: Check your crawl space. Any displaced insulation, signs of animals, standing water?

✅ Step 2: Check your basement. Take a flashlight to the corners - any signs of moisture or standing water? Run your hand along the baseboards - any moisture there? Any musty smells?

✅ Step 3: Go outside and look at your gutters. Are they clogged with leaves and debris? Are the downspouts pushing water toward your foundation?

✅ Step 4: Now check your exterior drains. Are they clogged with leaves and debris?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, give me a call. We’ll help you come up with a plan to get your home sorted out for fall.

And if you want a little extra help with those gutters, I’ve got good news: Umpire is giving away a free gutter cleaning from one of our local partners this month!

👉 To throw your name in the hat, reply to this email with one home maintenance task you’ve already done (or plan to do) this month.

I’ll choose a winner next week, and you’ll get an email from me if you’ve won.

Hear from you soon?

Stephen

PS If you’d like support with ongoing home maintenance tasks like these, ask us about our sister company, Partnerbunch: your one-stop-shop home maintenance concierge.

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