What does a home watch service check while I'm away?
A home watch visit is a walk-through of an empty house: doors and windows locked, no sign of entry, no water where it should not be, the heat still on, the mail and packages cleared. Frozen pipes and unnoticed leaks do the most damage, so ask for them in writing, and tell your insurer the house will be empty.
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By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Walk the outside first
Look at every door and window from the outside for signs of entry, and note anything that looks different from your last visit, such as broken glass, a forced lock or a gate left open.
Step 2: Check that the house is locked
Go in and confirm the doors and windows are locked, as Virginia's Bureau of Insurance advises when you are away.[1]
Step 3: Read the thermostat
Confirm the heat is still on and the thermostat is set no lower than 55F.[2]
Step 4: Look for water
Look under sinks, around the water heater and washer, and at ceilings and corners for drips, stains or damp, and run a tap briefly to confirm water flows normally.
Step 5: Check the outdoor faucets
In cold weather, confirm the lines to outdoor faucets are shut off and drained.[2]
Step 6: Smell and look for moisture
Note a musty smell, condensation on windows, walls or pipes, or anything damp, and report it the same day.[4]
Step 7: Check the smoke alarms
Listen for a chirping alarm and note any alarm that has not been tested lately.[5]
Step 8: Clear the mail and packages
Take in mail, flyers and deliveries so the house does not look empty.
Step 9: Reset the lights and blinds
Check that any timer is still switching the lights on and off, as the Bureau of Insurance suggests.[1]
Step 10: Write it down
Leave a dated report listing what was checked and anything that needs the owner's attention, with photos of problems.
A home watch service walks through your empty house on a schedule and tells you what it finds. The core of every visit is the same: is the house secure, is it dry, is the heat on, and does it still look lived in. The most expensive surprises in an empty house are water and cold, so those deserve the most detail in the written visit report.
What a visit usually covers
Security. The watcher looks at the doors and windows from outside, then goes in and confirms everything is locked. Virginia's Bureau of Insurance puts it plainly in its homeowners guide: "When you are away from home, get a neighbor to check your house. Use a timer to turn your lights on and off, lock all windows and doors, and consider notifying the police if you will be away for an extended period of time."[1] A service does that on a schedule instead of as a favor.
Heat. In winter the visit confirms the heating is running. Loudoun Water's advice is: "Whether you're at home or away traveling, keep your thermostat set no lower than 55F."[2] It adds that travelers often make a mistake: "Travelers will often make the mistake of turning their thermostats off thinking it will save on their heating bill when in reality, they'll come home to frozen pipes."[2]
Water. The watcher looks under sinks, around the water heater and washer, and at ceilings and corners for drips and stains. Frozen pipes are easy to miss, because Fairfax County's fire department notes that "In most cases, the actual break doesn't appear until the water begins to thaw."[3] A visit after a hard freeze is the one that finds the leak.
Moisture and smells. The EPA says: "It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth."[4] In an empty house, nobody is there to notice a leak for days, so a watcher reports a musty smell or damp spot the same day. The EPA also advises: "If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity."[4] A closed-up house in a humid Virginia summer is where that matters.
Outside faucets. Before a freeze, the lines to outdoor faucets should be dealt with. Loudoun Water's instruction is: "Shut off and drain the pipes leading to your outside faucets and/or hose bibs so no water is left to freeze, expand and cause a leak in these lines."[2] A watcher can confirm that was done.
Appearances and housekeeping. Taking in mail and packages, turning lights on and off, and opening blinds you have set to a pattern all make an empty house look occupied. Many services also water indoor plants, run taps briefly and flush toilets. Smoke alarms are on the list too: the U.S. Fire Administration's rule is "Test the alarm monthly."[5]
The report is the product
What you are paying for is evidence. Ask for a dated report after every visit that lists what was checked and what was found, with photos of any problem. Agree beforehand who the service calls, in what order, and up to what spending limit. Make sure the watcher knows where the main water shut-off is; Loudoun Water's advice is "Know where your main shut off valve is and label it."[2] If a pipe does break, Fairfax County's advice is "If the pipe breaks, quickly shut off the water valve, if you haven't already done so. Then call a plumber."[3]
Tell your insurer
A home watch visit does not replace what your policy requires. The Bureau of Insurance warns: "If your home or apartment is left vacant or unoccupied, some part of your coverage may be suspended automatically."[1] Its guide also lists "damage resulting from freezing of an unoccupied building" among the exceptions to the common HO-3 dwelling coverage.[1] Ask your agent what counts as unoccupied, how long you can be away, and whether regular checks change anything.
Stop and call a pro if
- Water is running or has stained a ceiling or wall. Shut off the main valve and call a licensed plumber. A pipe that froze may not show a break until it thaws.[3]
- A door or window has been forced. Do not go in alone; call the police, then the owner.
- There is a smell of gas, or an alarm is sounding. Leave and call 911.
- There is a musty smell or visible mold. Dry anything wet quickly, and have the source of the moisture found before it spreads.[4]
- The heat is off or the system will not start. Ask a licensed HVAC contractor to look at it rather than trying repairs.
For what this costs, read how much a home watch service costs in Virginia. Browse more commercial services answers, find commercial and property services on Loclis, and, if you want a licensed contractor to look at a problem a visit found, describe the job once.
Common questions
- Can a neighbor do the same job as a home watch service?
- For a short trip, often yes. Virginia's Bureau of Insurance advises getting a neighbor to check your house when you are away. A paid service adds a fixed schedule, a written report, and someone whose job it is to show up, which matters for a long absence or a second home.
- Does a home watch service fix problems it finds?
- Usually it reports them and calls whoever you named. Repairs are a separate job. Agree in writing who the service may call, up to what amount, and whether it may shut off the water in an emergency.
- What temperature should I leave the heat at?
- Loudoun Water says to keep the thermostat set no lower than 55F, whether you are home or away. It warns that travelers often turn the heat off and come home to frozen pipes.
- Does my homeowners policy still cover the house while it is empty?
- Not necessarily. The Bureau of Insurance says that if a home is left vacant or unoccupied, some part of your coverage may be suspended automatically. Ask your agent which coverages change before you leave, and whether a home watch visit affects them.
- How often should the house be checked?
- It depends on the season and the risk. In cold weather, frozen pipes and heating failures call for more frequent visits. Ask the service to propose a schedule and to say in writing what it will do in a storm or hard freeze.
Sources
- [1] Virginia Homeowners Insurance Guide, Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [2] Frozen Pipes, Loudoun Water. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [3] Frozen Water Pipes, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [4] A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [5] Smoke Alarms, U.S. Fire Administration, FEMA. Checked October 27, 2026.
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