A home watch company visits your empty home on a set schedule, looks for problems, and tells you what it found. It isn't the same as property management, which usually handles rentals, tenants and ongoing maintenance. A good home watch provider is your eyes on the house while you're up north.
Credentials worth checking
- Liability insurance and bonding. Ask for certificates, and call the insurer to confirm they're current.
- Accreditation. The National Home Watch Association (NHWA) and the Florida Home Watch Association both require members to carry insurance and pass background checks.
- Local business registration. Check Florida's Sunbiz and any county or city business tax receipt.
- Background checks for everyone who will have your keys.
Questions to ask
- How often will you visit, and what exactly is on your checklist, inside and out?
- What will I get after each visit? Look for time-stamped photos and a written report.
- Who actually does the visits: the owner, staff or subcontractors?
- What happens if you find a leak at 9 p.m. on a Saturday? Who do you call, and what can you approve without asking me?
- Do you offer storm prep, shutter service and post-storm inspections, and how much do they cost?
- Will you handle vendor visits, deliveries, or opening and closing the house?
- What's the contract term and cancellation policy? How do you store keys and codes?
Red flags
- No proof of insurance, or "we're covered" with nothing in writing.
- No written report, or reports with no photos.
- Prices far below everyone else's. That usually means drive-by checks rather than going inside.
- Can't explain what they'd do in an emergency.
Browse home watch companies in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties.
General information only. It is not legal, insurance or engineering advice. Check with your insurer, HOA and licensed professionals.