Seven Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Home Watch Service in Surprise

Owners in Surprise who spend part of the year elsewhere often hear about home watch from a neighbor or at the club. Services differ more than the names suggest, and the right one for you depends on how it handles a handful of practical details. These seven questions bring the differences out.

Are you bonded and insured, and can I see proof?

Someone will hold a key to your house and walk through it while you are gone. Ask for written proof of insurance and bonding, and ask whether your HOA or your own insurer can receive a copy. A reliable service sends it without fuss.

What exactly happens on a visit?

A walk past the house and a look through the window is not a home watch. Ask for the list in order: the doors and latches, the garage, the thermostat, the taps, the ceilings, the pool equipment and the yard. Our own list is on the services page, and you can hold any provider to the same standard.

What do I receive afterward?

A written report with a date on each visit is the only record that the work was done. Ask to see a sample, and ask whether photos come with it when something looks wrong.

What happens if you find a problem?

Find out who calls you, how fast, and what the service is allowed to do without your say. A leak in July in Surprise needs a decision the same day. Settle in advance whether the service may call your plumber, or only you may.

Do you know how the gate works here?

In a gated community such as Sterling Grove, a visit begins at the gatehouse. A service that already works in the area will know how visitors are cleared. Ask how they get on the list, and whether the gate staff will recognize them.

How do you handle Arizona summers and monsoon storms?

Heat and wind are the main hazards for an empty house here. Ask what thermostat setting they use, how they check the air conditioning, and whether a check after a storm is available. Our thinking on the thermostat is in this checklist, and the storm side is in this post.

What does it cost, and is anything locked in?

A price should depend on the size of the house and the number of visits each month, and you should hear the figure before you agree to anything. Ask whether there is a long contract or whether you can change the schedule when your travel plans change. When you are ready, send us a note and we will answer these same seven questions for your house.