12/05/2023
The Home Watch industry is a relatively new industry in Canada , but has been active in the United States since 2004, with many Home Watch companies providing varied services. There are two prominent “associations” in North America which have been advocating standardization and training for members to ensure competency and professionalism in the industry.
When Home Watch is mentioned, many people think of Home Sitting , or Pet Sitting, Home Inspection, Home Alarm /Security, or Property Management. A Home Watch Company is none of the above, but is a completely separate industry. Basically, Home Watch is a visual observation of a home or property looking for obvious issues that could turn into disasters if left unattended while a homeowner is away.
Your home is one of your most valuable assets and it can be a huge worry leaving it unoccupied without someone checking in on it. Many homeowners feel because they have a fancy home alarm system , all they need to do when they are away is to make sure their alarm is armed, and walk away. An alarm system can monitor many things, but not everything, and can’t replace an actual person doing a visual check. It is highly unlikely that issues such as an under the sink leak or an infestation of mice, or an ice dam on the roof, or missing roof shingles from a recent storm, or an above ceiling leak, and many other problems will be picked up by an alarm system.
Most people have no idea what their insurance company mandates with respect to how frequently their home must be physically checked when it is unoccupied. Some insurance companies stipulate if you have a 3rd party monitored alarm that detects motion, once a week is sufficient, although they suggest twice a week should be the minimum practice, especially during our harsh winters. Some companies even state that after 4 days being unoccupied, you must have someone physically checking your home every 24 hours. Others state that every 48-72 hours you must have someone physically checking your home. The requirements are all over the map at the moment, and every homeowner should definitely check with their insurance company before they leave their home unoccupied for longer than 4 days. If you don’t, you could be in for a very big and very costly surprise if you have an issue and the insurance company refuses to cover it.
Many folks ask a neighbor or family member to check the house as a favor. Going that route, is a big ask, and tricky, especially if you are going to be away for longer than a week. Even though you trust your neighbours and family members explicitly, the average person is not trained to look for all the issues that could turn into disasters in a very short time, and because it is just a favour, they may not check it on a regular schedule, but when it fits in with their schedule. Although they most likely won’t tell you, your ask places a burden on people with their own busy lives, and if something disastrous should happen while on their watch, both you and the person doing you the favour, are going to feel awkward. Don’t jeopardize your relationships with family and friends by asking more than they can or are qualified to do.
Some people look at hiring a “home sitter” to just move into the home in their absence. While this may be acceptable if you know the person, many people are really not comfortable with having someone they don’t know, sleeping in their bed and using all of their belongings, and going through their personal things. Who really knows what a house sitter will be doing while living in your home, and what state it will be in upon your return. Many house sitters tend to be older people who are not trained and attuned to watching for any issues throughout the whole house that could be brewing. They might not have a clue that the bulge in the ceiling in the back bedroom is an obvious water leak, until the ceiling comes crashing down, and you have a huge mess and expense on your hands.
With professionally trained eyes and ears on your home, a Home Watch service provides a visual observation of your home or property, inside and out, using a well designed and vetted checklist, and emails you a report after each visit, complete with photos of any areas they suspect may be a concern.
They monitor your home for signs of any intrusion or vandalism, broken glass, water damage from leaks, or broken pipes, tripped breakers and malfunctioning electrical appliances, microbial issues, pest or rodent infestations and help mitigate any issues before they turn into disasters.
They can visually see if your snow removal and/or lawn care services are performing their contracted duties and will email you photos. The front walkway of your home will be kept free of unwanted papers or flyers which could be an invitation for a break in.
Should any potential problems or issues be detected, you will be consulted immediately to determine the best course of action, using either your own contractors or tradespeople if available, or other recommended professionals in your area .Your Home Watch service will liaise with tradespeople and be on site until the problem is rectified. You will always be making the remediation decisions, just as if you were at home, unless in the case of an emergency situation you cannot be reached, at which time your Home Watch professional will reach out to a professional tradesperson to secure the site to prevent further damage, until you can be reached.
Professional Home Watch Companies , take proper training and business practices seriously, which sets them apart from the “hobby home watchers” who for a fee will take a stroll through your home once a week or a couple of times a month . Professional Home Watch companies such as PEI Home Watch Professionals, have invested in the best and most up to date education for all of their employees , are registered businesses in the province of operation, and carry full insurance coverage to protect both the homeowner and the business. PEI Home Watch Professionals mandate that each and every employee undergo an intensive training session and graduate from The Home Watch Academy before ever stepping foot in anyone’s home to complete a home visit. https://www.homewatchacademy.com/
Our team members have all undergone a recent Criminal Background Check ,are fully trained Graduates of the Home Watch Academy, and our company is fully insured and bonded, carrying Commercial General Liability and Professional Liability Insurance.
Who Will Our Services Benefit ?
Anyone who is going to be absent from their home for more than 4 days . If you are off to the Dominican Republic for 10 days this winter – do yourself a favour and engage the services of a professional who is trained to spot issues before they become disasters. Don’t rely on your busy neighbour or elderly Aunt Jane.
Snowbirds who are away for several months. You’ve earned this time in life- don’t ruin it by worrying unnecessarily about who is looking after your biggest asset while you are gone, and if they really are checking it regularly. Professionals will send you dated, time stamped reports and photos and keep you up to date regularly.
Business travelers who travel regularly and need a reliable, trustworthy, trained and professional service, so they can just focus on business until they get home.
Anyone who has sold their home here, but has to leave to re-locate to a new city before the closing is scheduled to take place.
Anyone living in another city, who has purchased a new home here and although the closing has taken place, but they can’t move in yet.
Any patients who have to go into the hospital or a rehab facility for a few weeks or a few months.
Adult children of a recently deceased parent, or a parent who has had to be moved into a long care home.
Anyone who has a seasonal cottage or residence in PEI and requires someone to do periodic checks. We can customize our visits to fit with your needs.
Those looking for a special gift for someone- A week or two of Home Watch services for a friend or relative planning a trip this year is a lovely and unique gift.
Hiring the services of a professional Home Watch company are well worth the peace of mind and time savings it brings.
We are a local family owned and operated company in Charlottetown PEI, serving communities located within a 20 km radius of Charlottetown.
We are taking bookings now for home watch services within our current service area and anticipate a busy winter season. Reach out to us today at [email protected] or 902 367 6234, to set up a no obligation consultation. You can also find us on Facebook and Google Verified Business PEI Home Watch Professionals .Our website is just waiting for some finishing touches .Visit us there soon ! https://www.peihwp.com
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