No matter how much you prepare, a home emergency of some kind will happen. There’s a chance that a home emergency will occur while you aren’t home.

I was supposed to be out with friends. I ended up staying at home. I was watching TV when I heard a loud POP followed by a burst of water.

I jumped up and started looking at the ceiling in each room because the water heater is in my attic ?

It wasn’t coming from the attic.

I walked into my bathroom. and my heart sank. Water was pouring from under the sink. My house didn’t have a shutoff valve nor did I have a water key. I grabbed a bucket to collect the water to pour down the shower drain. In the midst of dumping water, I called a plumbing company to come over. The plumber came out about an hour after I called. Turns out one of the valves under the sink was incorrectly installed. It was fixed that night.

If I wasn’t at home and couldn’t be reached, who would my neighbors call in an emergency (other than 911)? Not too long after the plumbing disaster, I created a document with the contacts’ names and numbers that someone would need in case of a home emergency.

Here’s who I have listed on my home emergency contact list:

• Neighbors (including their house numbers and/or house descriptions)
• Plumber
• Local power company
• Contractor/Handyman
• Exterminator
• Home security provider
• Home insurance provider
• Realtor (she’s a human phone book)
• Home warranty provider

I printed that bad boy out and taped it to the fridge. There’s no way in hell that it can be overlooked, lol! I implore you to create a home emergency list and put it in a place that’s easy to find. Being a homeowner is stressful enough. If you can ease some stress, by all means, do so.

Take care,

Joy