Serve to Protect

Our Mission is to work with you in taking care of your home year round. Peace of mind while you are away. Peace of mind when you are at home in Sarasota. We aim to cater exclusively to our region. By doing so, we will be able to provide tailored-made, value added services, so as to establish long term relationships with very few number of selected clients. We will work exclusively to support the day to day management of high end residences. STP will not be involved, in any shape or form, in the leasing market. As a vital collateral objective, STP will strive to actively work with our local community in social and ecological matters. In the long haul, what is good for our community is collectively good for us all.

Serve To Protect, LLC – Proud Business Sponsor of February 2018 for LBK Isles Life magazine’s first edition

 Serve To Protect, LLC is proud to share with you a wonderful article written by Lisa Giusti for the first edition of the LBK Isles Life magazine that came out this February 2018.  We are happy to be part of the Longboat Key Community and believe in the importance aligning well with our customers.  You can find our ads in LBK Isle Life, and 2018 LBK Chamber Visitor’s Guide. We are often asked “what” we do, and seldom “why” we do it, We believe this article will clarify the “why and who we are”.  Please feel free to contact us!

 

Hurricane Irma – What We Learned

HURRICANE IRMA WHAT WE LEARNED 

The purpose of this short note is to share with you what Serve to Protect experienced in the last 72 hours with Hurricane Irma, before and after the debacle.  As local representatives and Key holders of our client’s properties, we will give you some basic insights of lessons learned 

Picture taken from TV during Hurricane Irma.
Picture taken from TV during Hurricane Irma. Andrew vs Irma

We all know about hurricane season. As absentee home owners or resident, we have to prep our property for a potential hurricane or tropical storm. This entails the basics:  

1) Retrieving all objects outside the property which could be potential missiles to your property or your neighbor 

2) Conduct a yearly inspection to your roof so as to assure yourself that you do not have a potential weakness to your structure.  

3) Hurricane shutters. Electrically operated shutters should be serviced and operational. Manual shutters need to be installed at least 72 hours before a potential storm.  

4) Electrical cuts are inevitable. Unplug all electrical appliances and throw out Ice and perishables from fridge and freezer 

Lessons Learned  

A). Prepping your property does not mean that it is a safe place to weather the storm. You prep the property to protect your worldly possessions, NOT to safeguard the well-being of your loved ones inside the property. Sitting in a home that has shutters, no electricity and totally unaware of what is going on around your immediate surroundings could be a death trap. Storm surge and/or rain waters could engulf your home in a matter of minutes.  

B). Evacuation. Know your flood zones and religiously obey evacuation orders. If you are in a Zone A or B you know you will be in danger if the storm path is in your region. Do not wait. Prepare in anticipation what you will need as you evacuate and DO NOT wait till you receive orders to evacuate. Anticipate. 

C) We live in Retirement Community.  Be a good neighbor. Be aware of your surroundings and be of assistance to others.  

D) Pets. Many residents have Pets (as we do). If you have not had time to evacuate in anticipation of a storm, please seek shelter at a location that will accept pets. We had to stay put so as to perform emergency post storm visits to our client’s properties. We spent 2 days at Buffalo Creek Middle School, in Pinellas County. It was an amazing experience. We Sincerely thank the Staff and volunteers at this facility. 

Important

Force of Wind takes tree and roots down
Heading towards LBK in St. Armands Circle. Tree down.

80% of all fatalities in Tropical Storms and Hurricanes occur AFTER the inclement weather has passed. Some causes are drowning by driving in submerged roads, accidents with fallen debris, electrocution by downed live electrical wires, post storm surges; to name a few.  

As you strictly obey evacuation orders, you should be patient and only return to your home when the authorities allow you to do so.  

Conclusion

 Sarasota and its surrounding regions were guaranteed a Cat 4 hit, were it not for Irma weakening by going over Cuba and taking a north-east path when it touched down in Florida. Luck spared us this time. Weather patterns are changing and we should, unfortunately, expect more activity of this type in the future.  

 Serve to Protect was on-site visiting all its client’s properties within 24 hours after the storm passed. Barrier Island access was only allowed at 4 PM the day after the storm. We are pleased to inform that our client’s properties survived this terrible storm without major damage. In some cases, electrical connections may take some time to be re-established.     

Please contact us to schedule your complimentary House visit, we will be delighted to assist you in this critical process.

Cordially,

Alan, Pat and Danielle Pollak

Serve To Protect, LLC

The importance of “curb-appeal” when listing your property for sale.

The first Impression always counts, “Curb-appeal” is so important when listing your property, allow us at Serve to Protect to provide you with additional Peace of Mind. 

As we all know the sales listing process is sometimes lengthy. A good realtor is critical because they can represent you, and importantly, give you good advice with respect to the market and recommended price ranges you should consider. Sometimes, the sales process can take 90-120 days or longer.

If the property under consideration is unoccupied,  you should seriously consider using the services of a trusted home-watch provider. Your home should look immaculate at all times, and if repairs are required, they should be attended to promptly.  Please take your time to check out our Home Watch Real Estate Services

First impressions count. Your ability to sell your property in the shortest time and at the best price possible is directly correlated to what insiders refer to as “curb appeal.” A buyer will seriously consider a bid if the property is pristine and well looked after.

A good home watch service provider will not sell your property. They will assist in the selling process by bringing peace of mind to the seller that there is a caretaker looking after your best interests. Weekly visits with detailed date/time stamped reports are also helpful so as to show the prospective buyer that the home has been taken care for, through the listing process.

Please contact us at www.stpfl.com to schedule your complimentary house visit, we will be delighted to assist you in this critical process.

Cordially,

Danielle Pollak
Danielle Pollak
Serve To Protect, LLC
Dp@stpfl.com