HomeWatch January 2025 Newsletter

We are in the midst of snowbird season in Southwest Florida, but April will be here before we know it, and many of our seasonal residents will be heading to their northern homes. If you don’t already have a home watch company for your SWFL home, now is a great time to consider hiring a company to monitor your home while you are away. While many homeowners will entrust this task to neighbors, friends, or even security cameras, you should consider hiring a professional, insured company to monitor your home. For most of us, our home is our most significant asset, and while homeowner’s insurance is a great backup for unexpected damage to your home, preventive measures are the best safeguard to protect this asset. 

Home watch services vary by company but should include scheduled visits to check the exterior and interior of the home for such things as visible maintenance issues, unwanted pests, flooding/water damage, and to confirm utilities and air conditioning are working, and doors/windows are secure. Some home watch companies also offer services such as granting access to repair technicians, picking up packages, getting the home ready for your arrival (turning on the water, etc), closing down the home after your departure, running your car, and even stocking the refrigerator for your arrival. 

You want to ensure that the home watch company is insured/bonded, maintains a local business tax license, is a registered business in Florida, provides a comprehensive inspection list, and has a prompt reporting system. If you’re interested in hiring a home watch company, feel free to contact us for referrals.