Service Limitations & Important Disclosures

1. Who We Are, and Are Not

High Country Senior Services LLC is a private, single-operator business owned and operated by Martin Toth, a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) credentialed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). HCSS provides:

• Home aging-in-place assessments and installation of common modifications (grab bars, handrails, ramps, lever hardware, lighting, non-slip treatments, threshold adjustments)
• Care navigation and advocacy support
• Estate and document organization
• Property Watch — scheduled monitoring visits for unoccupied seasonal or second homes
• Home maintenance and handyman services (projects under $40,000, per NC general contractor licensing thresholds)
• Home transitions — downsizing, move preparation, and estate clearing support
• Aging-in-place home planning for new homeowners (post-purchase)

HCSS is NOT:

• A licensed home inspector, licensed home inspection company, or provider of pre-purchase home inspections (see NC General Statutes Chapter 143, Article 9F)
• A licensed general contractor for new construction or major remodels
• A licensed home care, personal care, or medical agency
• A licensed clinician, nurse, therapist, social worker, or medical provider
• A licensed attorney, financial advisor, insurance agent, or tax preparer
• A code compliance officer or building permit authority
• An emergency response service or 24/7 monitoring service

If your situation requires any service we are not licensed to provide, we will help you find a licensed provider in the region.

2. The Nature of an Assessment

Every assessment performed by HCSS is:

Visual and non-invasive. We observe and document conditions that are visible and accessible without moving furniture, opening walls, removing fixtures, or accessing areas that require specialized equipment, training, or licensure (such as confined-space crawlspaces, energized electrical panels, gas systems, or roof surfaces).

Point-in-time. Our assessment reflects only the conditions present at the time of the visit. The condition of a home changes constantly — furniture is moved, rugs are added, lighting fails, weather changes, occupants modify the space, items are stored in walkways, surfaces wear, and people’s physical abilities change. An assessment performed today does not describe the home tomorrow, next week, or next year.

Limited in scope. We are CAPS-credentialed aging-in-place professionals. We are not engineers, code officials, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, structural inspectors, mold/asbestos/lead/radon testers, or pest inspectors. If we observe something that may require one of those licensed professionals, we will note it in your report and recommend you contact the appropriate specialist.

Informed by public standards. Assessment recommendations are informed by publicly available references including ANSI A117.1 (the consensus standard for accessible residential construction) and the ADA Standards for Accessible Design (technical specifications for public accommodations). HCSS does not perform code-compliance inspections or certify conformance to either standard.

Not a guarantee or warranty. No assessment can identify every possible hazard or future risk. The absence of a recommendation does not mean an area is hazard-free, fall-proof, or otherwise “safe” — only that no observable concern was documented within the scope of the visual walk-through.

3. The Client’s Responsibility

The assessment report you receive is a planning and decision-making tool for you and your family. It is not a service we perform on your home. After the report is delivered:

• You decide which recommendations to act on, defer, or decline.
• You decide who performs any work — HCSS, a licensed contractor, a family member, or no one.
• You are responsible for maintaining the conditions documented in the report after the visit.
• You are responsible for any changes you, occupants, visitors, or other contractors make to the home after the visit.
• You are responsible for re-assessment if the home changes substantially or the occupant’s needs change.

If we install a modification (such as a grab bar) and you later move it, modify it, paint over it, or have another party adjust it, HCSS bears no responsibility for that altered installation.

4. Conditions and Events After a Visit

Falls, injuries, and home accidents are caused by many factors that no assessment can predict or prevent: changes in the occupant’s health, medication side effects, weather events, items moved into walkways, decisions made by family members or visitors, wear of household materials, new pets, new furniture, and many more.

HCSS provides assessments and modifications based on conditions and information available at the time of service. We cannot accept responsibility for events occurring before, during, or after a visit that result from:

• Conditions that were not visible or accessible during the assessment
• Conditions that did not exist at the time of the assessment
• Changes the client, occupants, family, contractors, or visitors made after the visit
• The client’s decision not to act on a recommendation
• Events caused by health changes, medications, weather, or third-party actions
• Areas, systems, or items outside the documented scope of the assessment

The client’s signed Service Agreement contains the full limitation-of-liability and indemnification terms.

5. Installation Work

When HCSS installs modifications:

• Installations are performed using manufacturer specifications and common industry practice.
• HCSS is not the structural engineer of record for the home and does not certify structural adequacy of host materials (drywall, framing, tile, masonry).
• The client is responsible for disclosing any known structural concerns, prior repairs, or unusual conditions.
• Installations carry a 30-day workmanship warranty, defined in the written Service Agreement.
• The 30-day workmanship warranty does NOT cover: misuse, occupant or third-party alteration, exceeding manufacturer load ratings, structural movement, water damage, wear from use beyond the warranty period, or damage caused by insects, termites, or other pre-existing structural conditions not visible at the time of installation (including conditions behind walls, plaster, tile, drywall, or other finished surfaces).

6. Property Watch

HCSS Property Watch is a scheduled monitoring service, not a security service. We do not provide alarm response, emergency repairs, continuous monitoring, or 24/7 coverage. Visits occur on a pre-arranged schedule. Between scheduled visits, HCSS does not observe or respond to conditions at the property.

In the event of observable damage, unauthorized entry, or active emergencies discovered during a scheduled visit, the owner is contacted to coordinate appropriate licensed contractors or emergency services. HCSS is not responsible for events that occur between scheduled visits, or for damage, theft, or conditions that were not observable at the time of the visit.

7. Home Maintenance and Handyman Work

HCSS performs home maintenance and handyman work on projects under $40,000 in keeping with North Carolina general contractor licensing thresholds. We do not perform plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing replacement, large tree removal, pesticide application, or other work reserved for separately licensed trades. For those services, HCSS refers clients to appropriate licensed contractors.

All maintenance and handyman work is subject to the 30-day workmanship warranty terms described in Section 5.

8. Communications and Documentation

• Notes taken during medical appointments, calls with providers, or family communications are summaries for family planning purposes. They are not medical records, legal advice, or professional opinions.
• We do not store medical records, financial records, or estate documents on our systems beyond what is necessary to perform organizing services and what the client explicitly requests.
• Property Watch visit reports describe observable exterior and interior conditions at the time of the visit. They are not security reports, insurance inspections, or certifications of property condition.

9. Service Area and Capacity

HCSS serves Watauga, Ashe, Avery, Alleghany, Mitchell, and Wilkes counties in North Carolina. We are a single-operator business. We are not an emergency service, do not respond after hours except by prior arrangement, and cannot guarantee response times for unscheduled requests.

10. Updates to These Terms

We may update these limitations and disclosures from time to time. The version in effect when your Service Agreement is signed governs the relationship for that engagement.

11. Website Terms of Use

Use of This Website. This website is owned and operated by High Country Senior Services LLC. By accessing or using this website, you agree to the following terms.

Informational Purposes Only. All content on this website — including text, images, descriptions of services, educational material, and resource links — is provided for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this website constitutes professional medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, a home inspection, a structural evaluation, or a building code compliance assessment. You should not act or refrain from acting based on information on this website without first consulting an appropriately licensed professional.

No Professional Relationship. Browsing this website, submitting a contact form, or scheduling a consultation does not create a client-service relationship with HCSS. A service relationship is established only when a written Service Agreement has been signed by both parties.

Disclaimer of Warranties. This website and its content are provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. HCSS does not warrant that the website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.

Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by North Carolina law, HCSS shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or exemplary damages arising from your use of or inability to use this website, including but not limited to damages for loss of profits, goodwill, data, or other intangible losses, even if HCSS has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

External Links. This website may contain links to third-party websites and resources. HCSS does not endorse, control, or assume responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites. Accessing external links is at your own risk.

Intellectual Property. All content on this website — including text, images, graphics, logos, and page layouts — is the property of High Country Senior Services LLC and is protected by applicable copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from this content without prior written permission.

Indemnification. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless High Country Senior Services LLC, its owner, and its agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising from your use of this website or your violation of these terms.

Severability. If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

12. Questions

If anything on this page is unclear, please ask before signing a Service Agreement. We would rather take time to explain than have a misunderstanding later.