A home is more than just a large financial investment. It can also be a place of tremendous emotional and sentimental investment as well. When homeowners need to be absent from their properties for an extended period, it is natural to be concerned for the security and safety of their home while they are away. That’s where Island Homewatch can help.

Island Homewatch can offer regular checks on your house and property, both interior and exterior, to assure that everything is functioning properly and the home is secure. Regular checks can potentially discover any problem before it becomes a major problem; whether it be leaking roof, windows, appliances or plumbing, pest infiltration or damage, storm damage, or appliance failure.

Reports will be filed with the homeowner after every check. Any problem discovered will be photographed and immediately brought to the homeowner’s attention. If a repair should be necessary, Island Homewatch can find the correct, licensed contractor and oversee the repair. Island Homewatch can also be the local responder for your security alarm company.

Margie and Allan Smith sailed up here to the San Juan Islands in 1978 on their home-built sailboat from Napa, Calif. They bought property and built their own home in 1981. Two boys and three grandchildren later, they still live in the same home and understand the importance of personal property. Both have worked in the trades here on the island for more than 37 years; Margie as a cabinetmaker and Allan as a carpenter. It was through several client’s request that Margie first began Homewatch services about 10 years ago.

We are now a licensed, bonded, and insured Home Watch business able to meet the individual needs of any homeowners who need to be away from their properties for an extended time. Seasonal residents, vacationing homeowners, absentee homeowners, or property investors could all benefit from the peace of mind knowing that someone is watching their home while they are away.

When not doing house checks, Margie is working in her cabinet shop building custom cabinets and furniture. After working for two different cabinet shops here on the island, Margie opened her own shop in 1989.

She builds custom cabinet for kitchens, baths, entertainment centers, offices, and local business displays. The best part of the job is working with the client to come up with a design that will fulfill their needs in function and beauty.

In these days of readily available pre-made cabinets from large box stores, a custom cabinet shop can still meet the needs for those unique situations that take the individual attention to details and design. Hoot Creek Homecraft has a website that displays many of Margie’s creations for the past 25 years.