What a Good Home Watch Report Should Include
Updated: Oct 12
A home watch service is only as useful as the report you get afterward. You are paying for someone to look at your house, but what you actually receive is their record of what they saw. Here is what a good report contains, what a weak one looks like, and how to use it.
What a good report includes
The date and time of the visit, so you know when the house was last checked
The areas observed, so you know what was and was not covered
Photos of key areas and of anything noteworthy
Plain-language notes on what was seen, including "no concerns" where that is the case
Clear flags on anything that may need attention
Suggested next steps when appropriate, such as which type of professional to call
Strong notes versus weak notes
A note that says "Everything looks fine" tells you very little. A useful note is specific. For example: "Primary bathroom: dry, no odor. Thermostat reads 78. The irrigation zone near the east wall is wet and the soil is pooled. See photos 12 and 13." You can act on the second note. You cannot act on the first.
An illustrative sample report
The example below is made up to show the level of detail to look for. It is not a real client report, and the format and depth vary by provider and plan.
Visit: Tuesday, 9:40 a.m. Weather: clear, 104 degrees.
Exterior and entry: front door and side gate secure. No new debris against doors. Photos 1 to 3.
Irrigation: soil is pooled near the east wall drip line. Flagged for attention. Photos 4 and 5. Suggest your landscaper check the valve.
Pool and spa: water level looks normal, light debris on the surface, equipment area dry. Photo 6.
Thermostat: reads 80 degrees, consistent with your setting. No visible HVAC concerns.
Mail and packages: two flyers on the porch. No packages visible.
Interior (Estate plan, access approved): primary bathroom dry, no odor. Kitchen sink cabinet dry. Photos 7 to 9.
Needs attention: irrigation pooling only. Owner contacted.
Why photos matter
Photos let you check the house yourself instead of relying on someone else's description. They give you something to forward to a contractor, they make it easier to spot change over time, and they create a time-stamped record of the home's condition. If you ever need to show what the property looked like on a given date, a series of dated reports gives you a reference.
How to read a report quickly
Check the date and time so you know how fresh it is.
Read the flagged items first.
Skim the photos of key areas for anything that looks different from last week.
Reply with questions, or tell the provider how you want a flagged item handled.
How owners use reports
Compare week to week to spot slow changes
Forward a photo to a pool, irrigation, HVAC, or roofing professional
Keep a dated record of the home's condition
Share with a trusted contact, trustee, or family member who helps manage the property
Red flags in a report
No date or time stamp
The same wording every week, as if it were copied and pasted
No photos, or photos only of the front door
No mention of areas that could not be reached
Reports that arrive days late, or only when something is wrong
Questions to ask any provider about reports
Can I see a sample report before I sign up?
How soon after a visit do I receive it, and how is it delivered?
Will photos be included every time, or only when something is wrong?
What happens if you find a problem between reports?
Frequently asked questions
Do I get photos every visit?
Yes. Every Desert Estate Home Watch visit produces a digital report with time-stamped observations and photos.
Can I share the report with my insurer, contractor, or a family member?
Yes. It is a record of your property, and many owners forward photos to professionals or keep the reports on file.
What if a report says all is well and I later find a problem?
Tell us right away. Home watch is a visual observation of visible conditions and cannot see hidden problems, but dated photos help show when something changed.
At Desert Estate Home Watch, every visit includes a digital report with time-stamped observations and photos, and we contact you promptly if something needs attention. To see how a visit is carried out, read what happens during a weekly home watch visit. To get started, request a consultation.
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