Home Watch is a Visual Observation of a home or property looking for obvious issues. That sounds simple, and it should be. What makes it work is doing the same careful routine on every visit, so a change stands out. Here is what a visit looks like at an empty home in Lakewood Ranch or East Bradenton.
Outside first
Sekina walks around the outside of the house. She looks at the landscaping and irrigation, the pool and pool cage, doors, windows and the garage, and anything that looks different from the last visit, like a torn screen or a gate left open.
Inside, one water zone at a time
Most homes we watch have the water turned off at the main while the owner is away. On each visit:
- She turns the water on slowly at the main.
- She works through each water zone: the kitchen, every bathroom, the laundry. She runs each sink, tub and shower, flushes each toilet, and never leaves a zone while water is running.
- She checks under sinks and around toilets and appliances with a flashlight for drips, stains or anything damp.
- She turns the water off at the main before she leaves and takes a photo to prove it.
Running the water also keeps the drain traps wet, which stops sewer gas and bugs coming up through dry drains.
Humidity and the air conditioning
Water and mold are the two biggest threats to an empty Florida home. Sekina reads the humidity with a meter; it should stay at or under 50%. She checks that the thermostat is holding the right setting (usually 76 to 78 degrees on cool, fan on auto) and that the air conditioning is actually cooling.
Every room
She walks every room and looks for the small things: a water stain on a ceiling, a pest trail, a musty smell, a light left on. Interior doors and cabinet doors at the water sources stay open between visits so air can move.
The photo report
After every single visit you get a photo report, GPS-stamped, showing each room, the humidity reading and the thermostat. If something needs attention, we call you the same day.
If something needs work
Home Watch is observation, not repair. If we find a problem, we introduce you to two or three local vendors and you choose. If you like, we let them in, stay while they work, and send you before and after photos.
Want this for your home? Book a 15-minute call with Sekina.