What Happens During a Weekly Home Watch Visit?
Updated: Oct 12
If you have never used home watch, it helps to know exactly what happens when someone shows up at your house. This is a walk-through of a typical weekly visit with Desert Estate Home Watch, from setup to the report in your inbox.
Before the first visit
Service begins with a consultation and a property walkthrough. We learn how the home is laid out, how access works, which areas and systems matter most to you, and what you want to be told about. That conversation becomes a home-specific checklist, so every visit follows the same plan.
During the visit
There is one scheduled visit every week, all year. We follow the checklist and observe, without opening anything up or repairing anything. A weekly visit includes:
Exterior and entry points: the general condition of the property and its entry points
Windows and doors: visible condition and whether they appear secure
HVAC and thermostat: visible concerns, where accessible
Plumbing, leaks, and irrigation: visible signs of water problems
Pool, spa, and landscaping: visible conditions
Storm and pests: debris, wind effects, and signs of pest activity
Mail, packages, and flyers: noted when visible
Estate Home Watch goes further. When you approve interior access, visits include expanded interior observations and temperature checks, visible moisture, leak, odor, and interior concerns, selected light, appliance, or system verification if you request it, expanded photo documentation and visit notes, and a checklist built around your home's specific features.
A visit, step by step
The exact order varies by property and checklist, but a visit generally runs like this:
Arrive and note the date and time.
Walk the exterior and entry points, looking for anything out of place or different from last week.
Look over the pool, spa, landscaping, and irrigation for visible problems.
Note mail, packages, and flyers when they are visible.
Where access is approved under your plan, go through the interior items on your checklist.
Photograph what was observed, then secure the property.
Put the notes and photos into your report, and contact you promptly if something needs attention.
What to tell us so visits go well
When you or guests will be at the house, and when you plan to return
Vendor visits scheduled for the coming weeks
Any change to alarm codes, gate codes, or locks
Areas or items that are off-limits
New problems you already know about, so they are tracked rather than reported as new
After the visit
You receive a digital report with time-stamped observations and photos after every visit. If we notice something that may need attention, we contact you promptly rather than waiting for the next report. You decide what happens next, and any repair or contractor work is arranged and approved separately. If there is an emergency at your property, call 911.
What belongs in a good report is covered in what a good home watch report should include.
What a visit is not
Home watch is a visual, non-invasive observation. It is not security, law enforcement, emergency response, property management, a home inspection, or repair. We note and report; licensed professionals diagnose and fix.
How often visits happen
We offer one visit every week, year-round, and do not offer biweekly or monthly plans. A weekly rhythm keeps the gap between looks short, which matters most during the summer months.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit take?
It depends on the size of the property, the features on your checklist, and your plan. A larger home with a pool and landscaping takes longer than a condo.
Do I get a report even when nothing is wrong?
Yes. You receive a report after every visit, including visits where everything looks normal. That steady record is what makes changes easy to spot.
Can I add an extra visit?
Active members can request additional property visits as a concierge service, for example before you arrive or after a storm. They are scheduled separately and may carry additional fees.
Do you go inside my home?
Weekly Home Watch covers the exterior and approved accessible observations. Estate Home Watch adds expanded interior observations when you approve access.
Plans
Weekly Home Watch is $249 a month and Estate Home Watch is $329 a month. Both include one visit every week. See pricing for the full comparison, or request a consultation to talk it through.
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