Last Updated on December 14, 2020 by Gardens Home Management Services
Things can go wrong when your property is vacant and minor issues may become catastrophic without professional monitoring of your home. Hiring a dependable home watch service can be one of the best investments you can make and give you the peace of mind you need. If you find yourself frequently away from your property, on holiday, or for work travel, you will need a reliable home watch service in Delray Beach to help take care of your property.
Finding a reliable home watch service in Delray Beach
While many real estate agents and real estate brokers have started to offer home watch services, they often lack the expertise, manpower, and general know-how to take care of all the potential issues. It is crucial to do a bit of research when interviewing companies for home watch services. Some of the things that you should inquire about include the following:
- How long has the company been providing home watch services?
- Is the company bonded and insured?
- Do they do emergency calls?
- How many people does the company employ?
- Ask for references of former and current clients.
Things to consider
Important things to consider before hiring a home watch service:
-
Will they/can they provide references?
What current clients of a home watch company say about their service is one of the best pieces of information to receive during your vetting process. Most companies will have on file testimonials of what clients have said about them in the past, but having a very recent endorsement is better than past accolades; if you can communicate directly in real-time with a few current customers/clients, even better.
-
Do they provide a comprehensive inspection list?
You need to know what exactly will be checked and reported upon inspection. Ask for an itemized list or a copy of the report to ensure that everything you are concerned about will be addressed.
-
How far away is the home watch company located?
Hiring locally for this service will likely save you money. Local home watch companies may not need to charge for travel expenses if they do business regularly in your area. If the company’s base of operation is over 15 miles from your location, the next question is key in determining whether the inspection fee is padded with travel costs.
-
How many clients do they serve in your area?
If the home watch service company has less than seven homes they inspect in your area, the company may charge a slightly higher fee than others to help with travel-related expenses.
-
What is the background and training of the individuals that will inspect your home?
While the home watch business is to check on and report back to homeowners on the condition of their home, it is not always that simple. The background and training of inspectors are fundamental as they need to look at all the basics and things that might become problematic in the future, such as:
- slow filling toilets,
- leaky faucets,
- a small bead of water on a sink trap,
- higher than normal humidity levels, or
- tiny dis-colorization at or near ceiling fixtures and AC vents.
-
Have they ever been involved in litigation regarding home watch services?
While being involved in litigation can happen to even the best of companies, knowing they have been and how many times is something to consider before hiring a company.
7. Ask questions about their services:
Do they install service cameras and send a vehicle if the alarm goes off? How often do they check for potential electrical and plumbing issues? Make sure you have all the information you need to make a decision.
Gardens Home Management offers market-leading home watch services for our clients. Our fully licensed, bonded, and insured specialists will conduct weekly inspections of your property to ensure that you can enjoy peace of mind at all times. To learn more about our home watch services in Delray Beach, contact us today.