It Started With a Dishwasher…

Most property problems don’t start as emergencies.
 
Mine started with a dishwasher.
 
There was a bad hose connection that I didn’t even know about. There were no warning signs, no water on the kitchen floor, no obvious leak. But as any property owner knows, water has a way of traveling wherever it wants.
 
In this case, it made its way into the crawlspace below my property, soaking the wood joists and creating the potential for mold growth.
 
That’s when the stress usually kicks in.
 
Who do you call first when it’s Thanksgiving weekend?
Who can you trust?
How quickly can you stop the damage before it gets worse?
 
Fortunately, I didn’t have to start Googling contractors or asking around for referrals. I picked up my Power Partners USA brochure and called Charles Chang, a longtime Power Partners USA member and someone I’ve worked with before on plumbing issues.

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Step One: Stop the Leak; Fast
Charles runs CMC Realty & Property Management. However, many people do not know that he also operates R3 Pros, his plumbing contracting service.
 
I explained the issue, and within a short time, Charles had a plumber on site. The dishwasher hose was repaired quickly, and the plumber also took a peek into the crawlspace to assess any potential damage.
 
Straightforward job.
Problem stopped.
Damage contained.
 
But as any experienced property owner knows, fixing the source of a leak is only half the battle.

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Step Two: Deal With What You Can’t See
The crawlspace under the house told a different story. The wood joists were wet, and early mold growth had already begun.
 
This wasn’t a comfortable workspace. It was an 18-inch crawlspace, the kind of place no homeowner wants to go crawling into themselves.
 
This is where the value of trusted relationships really shows up.
 
Instead of wondering who might do this type of work, or worrying about inflated prices, I reached out to Vince Attardo, owner of Coastline Environmental Solutions, another Power Partners USA member.

Vince stepped in, assessed the situation, and put together a fair, reasonable remediation plan. His crew handled the hard part; drying out the wood, removing mold, and crawling through dark, uncomfortable spaces with the skeletal remains of a large dead animal and spider nests.

The job took some time to fully dry because of all the rain we were having. However, Vince kept our PPUSA membership in mind, taking care of us while still making sure he could properly pay his workers and complete the job the right way.
 
Besides his remediation company Coastline Environmental Solutions, Inc., Vince also owns A1 Best Plumbing. He placed his signs outside the work area and even picked up another project because of the visibility.

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Less Stress. More Confidence.
Any kind of damage to your home or property is stressful. Finding the right contractors at the right time can feel overwhelming, especially when you need the space in order to live and work.
 
But because of long-term relationships built through Power Partners USA, I never worried about who was showing up, whether the pricing would be fair, or if the work would be done properly.
 
Charles handled the plumbing.
Vince handled the remediation.
The problem was solved.
Life returned to normal.
 
That is real value that comes with working with Power Partners like Charles and Vince. Not only that, last November both Charles and Vince sponsored our Power Partners Meals of Love Dinner for 50 families at the Ronald McDonald House. They stepped up as part of our community service efforts, and followed up with their expertise on the homeowner’s side as well.
 
And Then There’s Insurance…
Now, I wish I could say the same thing about the insurance side of the story, but that’s a blog post for another day.
 
What I can say is that this experience reminded me how important it is to be properly prepared before issues arise. I’m currently exploring better coverage options with Scott Swanson, another Power Partners USA member, to make sure future claims are handled more smoothly.
 
It Did Not End There
When it rains, it pours.
Right after the dishwasher plumbing issue, our toilet tank cracked and started to leak. So, I called Charles again. He sent out another plumber to replace the toilet. The plumber was in and out and got us back online quickly.
 
The Bigger Lesson
Power Partners USA strives for referrals, transactions, and Home Run Connections. However, it is just as important to build trusted relationships by using and truly knowing our members.
 
When problems come up, and they always do, knowing who to call makes all the difference.

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Meet the Power Partners

Charles Chang
Real Estate & Property Management
Title: President
Company: CMC Realty & Property Management
Phone: (562) 843-8284
Email: [email protected]
PPUSA Account Page: https://www.powerpartners.us/charles-chang.html

Power Partners:
• Lender
• Estate Planner
• CPA

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Vince Attardo
General Contractor and Plumbing Contractor
Licenses: B, C-36 | 812317
Title: Founder / CEO
Company: Coastline Environmental Solutions / A1 Best Plumbing
Phone: (562) 572-1180
Email: [email protected]
PPUSA Account Page: https://www.powerpartners.us/vincent-attardo.html

Power Partners:
• Plumbers
• Property Managers
• HOA’s
• Realtors

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Regards,
Alan Armijo
Power Partners USA
www.PowerPartners.us
562-843-7801