A home watch visit should confirm the home is secure, dry and running normally, and leave a record the owner can read. Here are the 13 checks to do on every visit, plus the add-ons many home watch companies use.
These are the 13 questions Spare Key IT starts every company with, in the order an inspector usually works through a home. Each one has simple answer choices so reports read the same from visit to visit.
Turn on the lights in each room. A bulb that won't come on is an easy fix for the owner, and a whole room out can point to a tripped breaker.
Confirm the refrigerator, freezer and anything else the owner leaves running is on and working. A refrigerator that failed this week is a much smaller problem than one that failed a month ago.
Sliders and patio doors are easy to leave unlatched. Confirm each one is closed.
Look at sills and frames for water coming in, especially after a storm.
Open the cabinet under each sink and look for drips, damp wood or water stains.
Look for insects and signs of rodents inside and around the outside of the home.
Packages left at the door tell everyone the home is empty.
Collect or check the mail if the owner hasn't forwarded it.
Running water refills the drain traps, which keeps sewer gas out of the house, and shows any problem with the water supply.
Flushing keeps the trap full and shows a toilet that runs or leaks at the base.
Run each shower and tub for a few seconds to keep those drains full too.
If the owner wants the main water off while they're away, confirm it's off before you leave.
The last check on every visit. Confirm the door is locked behind you.
Every home is different. These are common additions, especially for homes in Florida and other humid, storm-prone areas.
Humidity: The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent, to limit mold. A humidity reading on every visit catches a failing AC before mold does. EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
Storm season: Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Before a storm, follow the owner's shutter plan and bring in outdoor furniture. After it passes, check for water inside, roof damage and a refrigerator that lost power.
Most home watch companies offer weekly or every-other-week visits. Some homeowners insurance policies set rules for how often a vacant home must be checked, so ask the owner to look at theirs before you agree on a schedule.
Spare Key IT loads these 13 checks for you. You can edit, remove, reorder or add questions, mark questions required, and choose multiple choice or written answers. Inspectors work through the list on their phone, add notes and photos to anything that's off, and you review the report before it's emailed to the homeowner. See what a finished report looks like.
On every visit a home watch inspector confirms the home is secure, dry and running normally: lights and appliances work, doors and windows are closed, there are no leaks or pests, drains are run, mail and packages are handled, and the door is locked on the way out. Many companies also record the thermostat, indoor humidity and the outside of the home.
Most home watch companies offer weekly or every-other-week visits. Some homeowners insurance policies set rules for how often a vacant home must be checked, so the owner should check their policy.
Yes. Spare Key IT starts you with these 13 checks, and you can edit, remove, reorder or add questions, mark them required, and use multiple choice or written answers.
Spare Key IT
Spare Key IT loads these 13 checks for you, lets inspectors complete them on their phone, and emails a branded report to the homeowner after you review it.
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