What Is Home Watch?

Home watch is a professional, scheduled inspection service for vacant and seasonal homes. A trained professional visits your empty home on a set schedule, checks the inside and outside for problems like leaks, mold, storm damage, pests, and security issues, and sends you a dated report with photos after every visit. It is not property management, house-sitting, or a security alarm. Its one job is to catch small problems before they become expensive ones while you are away.

If you leave a Florida home empty for weeks or months, home watch is worth it. Florida heat and humidity can turn a small leak or an air-conditioner failure into major mold damage within days, and hurricanes threaten empty homes every summer. Most vacant-home insurance policies also require documented inspections every 30 days or fewer, which a dated home watch report satisfies. For snowbirds and second-home owners, it is the difference between coming back to the home you left and coming back to a costly surprise.

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How Is Home Watch Different From House-Sitting, Property Management, or Security?

Home watch is often confused with three other services, but it is distinct. Here is how it is different:

Not house-sitting: home watch is a professional, insured, scheduled inspection with a documented report, not someone living in or informally checking your home.
Not property management: home watch inspects your own vacant or seasonal home. It does not handle rentals, tenants, or leasing.
More than a security system: an alarm reacts to break-ins, while home watch catches what a camera never sees, such as a slow leak, a failed air conditioner, mold, or storm damage, before it becomes a major loss.

What a Home Watch Visit Includes

Exterior

Visual inspection throughout property including lanai, porches and garage.
Check exterior perimeter of single-family homes to check pool condition, screening, signs of vandalism.
Check that all doors and windows are properly secure to minimize chance of break-ins. (Squatters etc)
Pool & Spa checking for Pump and Filter leaks. General appearance/ cleanliness of pool (waterlevel and waterflow)
Signs of insects and or rodents.
Check that main water valve is turned off after each inspection (unless otherwise requested by client).
Take care of Mail and/or packages.

Interior

Humidity and Temperature Monitoring. Check that A/C is cooling and reset thermostat and humidistat settings if needed
Run faucets, sink disposals, and flush toilets looking for leaks
Visual Check of the electric panel for tripped breakers and make sure electric water heater breaker is turned off.
Check Hot Water heater for leaks
Check the temperature in the Refrigerator/Freezer
Check for signs of water damage, leaks and water pressure.
Check if doors and windows locked and secured
Check for visual signs of mold and mildew.
Signs of insects and or rodents
Unusual noises and odors
Check stored vehicles for appearance, flat tires, surface mold etc.
Vehicles should be connected to a battery maintainer. We check the condition of the battery.

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Concierge Services

Administrative, Concierge, International Assistance (Translation)
Coordinate Repair or Maintenance Services
International (German)Assistance Services
Give Access (to vendors/service providers)
Waiting Services (for service, repair, delivery, installation, etc.)
Package Pick-Up & Bring In (bring in packages delivered to property)
Mail Forwarding
Open & Prep Home for Owner or Guest Arrivals
Close Down Home After Owner or Guest Departs
Renter Check-In & Check-Out Walk Throughs (before and or after rental periods)
Trash & Recycling Bins Service (place bins out to curb for pick up or bring bins in)
Hurricane Shutter Services (Please check Hurricane and Storm Package)
Pre-Storm Preparation Assistance
Post-Storm Inspections
Auto Care (vehicle battery maintainer set up and removal, take vehicle to be washed/cleaned, etc.)
Grocery Shopping & Stocking

Reliable Keyholder Services

HBB Home Watch offers residential key holder or key holding services to our home watch clients and for those who would like to have local 24/7 contact representative for their property.Our services at HBB Home Watch Services are designed to provide you with secure and smooth management of access to your property.

We can be available to meet and give access to client-approved vendors, contractors, delivery companies, and guests.

We securely store our clients home key(s), alarm security codes, gate codes, etc

Hurricane and severe weather preparedness

We can visit your residence prior to storms to secure potential projectiles. We can close permanently attached storm shutters or coordinate the installation of removable panels. While post-storm checks are conducted, they differ from full home watch walkthroughs. You will receive photos of the property and any damage that is visible.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is home watch?

Home watch is a professional, scheduled inspection service for vacant and seasonal homes. A trained professional visits your empty home on a set schedule, checks the inside and outside for problems like leaks, mold, storm damage, pests, and security issues, and sends a dated photo report after every visit. It is not property management, house-sitting, or a security alarm.

What does a home watch visit include?

A home watch visit covers the interior and exterior of your home: air conditioning, thermostat and humidity, plumbing and water heater, electrical panel, signs of leaks, mold, and pests, security of doors and windows, and the roofline, lanai, pool, and perimeter outside. Every visit ends with a dated photo report.

How is home watch different from house-sitting or property management?

Home watch is a professional, insured, scheduled inspection of a vacant home with a documented report. House-sitting is someone informally staying in or checking the home, and property management handles rentals and tenants. Home watch does neither; it inspects your own empty home and reports back.

Do I need home watch in Florida?

If you leave a Florida home empty for weeks or months, home watch is worth it. Heat, humidity, and storms can cause major damage fast, and most vacant-home insurance policies require documented inspections every 30 days or fewer, which a dated home watch report satisfies.

What should I look for in a home watch company?

Look for accreditation from the National Home Watch Association (NHWA), which requires background checks, insurance, bonding, and a code of ethics, plus proof the company is bonded and insured and sends a dated photo report after every visit.

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