Home Watch Frequently Asked Questions

The National Home Watch Association defines Home Watch as “The visual inspection of a home or property looking for obvious issues.”

5 Star Home Watch is an insured, bonded, and accredited professional Home Watch Service serving The Lakewood Ranch and Parrish Area. We check your property and identify problems or potential problems that can occur while your property is vacant. We provide a physical presence that is unavailable through a remote alarm monitoring service. We can help with most requests you have by contacting us.

We are not house sitters. Our core service includes periodic visits to your home where we follow a specific and mutually agreed upon checklist. We are in your home for less than an hour per visit and take great pride in that your home is as you left it for your return. House sitters are not looking to be caretakers and generally do not have the expertise and knowledge to handle problems that may arise. 

An alarm company monitors entry into your home or a fire alarm but does not monitor potential problems due to broken pipes, mold, pests, or squatters. We identify those problems or the possibility of their occurrence and notify you for guidance.

5 Star Home Watch will send you a detailed report by email with pictures of any problems identified upon completion of inspecting the interior and exterior of your home. The software we use is time-stamped so you know when we were at your home. It also provides photos of your home as if you have just been there.

5 Star Home Watch proudly displays the Accredited banner of the National Home Watch Association. We have been vetted and approved by this organization to insure we are bonded and insured for your protection. We also subscribe to the NHWA’s Code of Ethics. The NWHA requires background checks on all members that choose to be accredited.

Most neighborhood watch programs are passive by nature and do not provide the level of engagement with your property that 5 Star Home Watch provides. We will check your property’s interior and exterior in far more detail than you can expect from a neighborhood watch program.

Absolutely! We can coordinate access to your property for any situation at an hourly rate. All we need is your notification of the date and time and any instructions you have.

5 Star Home Watch will provide access services and remain on-site for an hourly charge. We ask for at least a 48-hour notification to schedule our personnel.

We think our services are reasonably priced for the value we provide. When you compare the possible damage due to a leak or damage by pests or vagrants with the cost, our services are an excellent value. We will be happy to discuss our pricing for home watch services and any additional services you may require at a free consultation.

5 Star Home Watch will send you a report upon completion of our visit to your home. Any problems identified will be accompanied by pictures and details of the problem. If we take any immediate action to prevent further damage, we will contact you immediately to discuss what occurred and consider what course of action is needed for the repair.

While we check your property, we are NOT property inspectors. Property inspectors are usually involved at the sale of a property providing a detailed inspection of the structure, plumbing, electrical, heating, and air condition systems. 5 Star Home Watch provides a visual inspection of your home or property looking for obvious issues.

While we do not provide home maintenance services, we can refer you to quality contractors or vendors and coordinate access to your property. We will watch your home as the work is being performed and document the work so it is done properly.