Monsoon Prep for an Empty Home

The National Weather Service opens the monsoon window on June 15 and closes it on September 30, and the heaviest weeks tend to land in late July and early August. Plenty of Surprise houses sit through every one of those weeks with nobody inside.

What Takes the Hit

Wind lifts roof tiles and tears screens. Rain finds any crack in the stucco. Palm fronds and patio chairs end up in the pool, irrigation lines get pulled loose, and dust coats everything. An empty house cannot report any of it.

Young Lots, First Real Test

Surprise nearly quintupled in population between 2000 and 2020, and new lots are still being graded along Loop 303. On a young lot, the first hard storm is the first real test of the drainage. Water pooling against the foundation is worth a photo the day after, not a surprise in October.

The Day After Check

Add the storm check to any plan, and we inspect the outside of the house the day after a major storm, covering the roofline, stucco, windows, doors, yard, and pool. Whatever needs a closer look comes to you with photos.

Before the First Storm

Have the roof looked at in the spring. Put away anything in the yard that wind can throw. Trim branches that hang over the roof. Then make sure somebody is scheduled for July and August, because that is when you will want to know.