Frequently Asked Questions
What is 1st Call Home Watch?
1st Call Home Watch is an insured, bonded, and accredited Home Watch Service company serving north Pinellas and southern Pasco County Florida. We check your property on a regular basis looking for potential problems that can occur while your property is unoccupied. We provide a physical presence that is not available through a remote alarm monitoring service.
Are you a house sitter service?
We are not a house sitter. A house sitter would typically occupy your home for several hours a day or perhaps sleep in your house overnight. Our Home Watch service is performed on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Our periodic visits to your home we follow an extensive and mutually agreed upon checklist. We are in your home for a short amount of time per visit and take great pride in making sure your home is as you left it when you return.
My alarm company provides security for my home. What value do you add?
An alarm company monitors entry into your home or fire alarms but they do not monitor potential problems that can occur due to leaky pipes, mold, or pests. We identify those problems or the possibility of their occurrence and notify you for guidance. We can also serve as your 24/7 local contact for your alarm system.
What type of reporting can I expect from you?
1ˢᵗ Call 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. We use HomeWatch IT who offers the most advanced, complete, and secure software platforms available in the home watch industry.
What are your credentials?
1st Call Home Watch is proud to be an accredited member of the National Home Watch Association. In order to be a member of the NHWA, we are thoroughly background checked, we carry the proper insurance, and Bryan is a certified Home Watch Professional.
We have a neighborhood watch program. Doesn’t that do the same thing?
Most neighborhood watch programs are passive by nature and do not provide the level of engagement with your property that 1st Call 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.
Do you provide keyholder services?
Absolutely! We will securely store your key(s) and or security alarm codes and can coordinate access to your property for any situation at an hourly rate. See more details in our Services page.
If I need coordination with contractors doing work on my home can you help?
1st Call Home Watch will provide access services and remain on-site for an hourly charge. We ask for at least a 48 hours notification to schedule our personnel. We can act as your liaison with the contractor, and in this instance we strictly follow your instructions and we do not make decisions on your behalf.
If you find a problem what type of notification will I receive?
1st Call Home Watch will always notify you of any concerns that we see. We will send you the best description we can, along with pictures or videos in order for you to fully understand the problem. We will ask you how you would like to handle the problem and follow your instructions. In the event of an emergency, 1st Call Home Watch will do what we feel is necessary to protect your property. Upon which time we will immediately call you to inform you what has occurred.
Are you a home inspector?
No, we are not home inspectors, however, we thoroughly check your property at each visit, but we are not home inspectors. Home inspectors are utilized by buyers and sellers when a property is bought or sold. Home inspectors perform a detailed inspection of the structure, plumbing, electrical and heating and HVAC systems. 1st Call Home Watch will perform a visual inspection, looking for obvious issues.
Can you help me with home maintenance services?
Absolutely, there are certain basic maintenance tasks we are happy to assist you with. We would be glad to discuss those needs during our Free Consultation. Should your needs require a licensed contractor, we are happy to provide names of local contractors.