Home Watch Visits

What a visit covers

A home that sits empty does not tell anyone when something changes. A slow drip under a vanity, a gate that did not latch, a freezer that quietly stopped running: none of these are emergencies on the first day. They become expensive because nobody saw them for six weeks.

A home watch visit is a set of eyes on the house at a regular interval. Every visit is a visual inspection of the interior and exterior, worked from a checklist built for your home. A typical visit includes:

• Doors, windows, gates and accessible entry points checked
• A look for visible signs of water leaks or moisture
• A look for visible signs of pests or damage
• HVAC operation and thermostat settings confirmed
• Lights and other agreed household systems checked
• Faucets run, toilets flushed, plumbing fixtures checked visually
• Refrigerators, freezers and other agreed appliances checked
• Electrical panel checked for obvious visible abnormalities
• Patios, balconies, yards, pools and exterior areas walked

Why running the water matters

Some of the checks sound small. They are on the list for a reason. Water that sits in traps and supply lines for weeks can let drain traps dry out, which lets sewer gas into the house, and a toilet flapper that has not moved in a month is more likely to stick. Running each faucet and flushing each toilet keeps the plumbing in use, and it is also the easiest way to notice a slow leak or a change in water pressure before it shows up as a stain on a ceiling.

The same logic applies to the refrigerator and freezer. A power blip that trips a breaker is invisible from across the country. On a visit it is a door that opens onto warm food, caught in days rather than discovered on arrival.

The report you receive

Every visit ends with a photo-documented report. You see what was checked, what was clear, and anything that needs a decision, with photos of each. If something is found, you hear about it promptly rather than at the next scheduled visit.

The report is the point of the service. A visit you cannot see is a promise. A report with photos is a record: of the condition of the house on that day, of when an issue was first noticed, and of what was done about it.

When something is found

Home watch is observation and reporting. It is not a repair service, a security patrol, or a licensed inspection. When an issue turns up, the job is to observe it, document it, tell you, and, when you authorize it, help coordinate the right qualified professional: your plumber, your landscaper, your pool service, or someone you approve.

That boundary is deliberate. It means you always decide what gets done to your home and who does it, and nobody is ever on your property working on something you did not approve.

How often to schedule visits

Visit frequency depends on the house and on how long you are away. A home with a pool, an irrigation system and a lot of landscaping usually benefits from more frequent visits than a smaller house that is shut down for the season. Weekly visits are a common starting point for a home left empty for months at a time.

Some owners also check what their homeowner's insurance policy says about homes left unoccupied for extended periods. It is worth reading yours, and worth asking your agent whether regular documented visits matter to them. House Hawk does not provide insurance inspections or advice, but the visit reports are yours to keep.