You've invested a lot in your mid-coast Maine property. But for part of the year — maybe most of the year — it sits empty. And empty homes have a way of developing problems that nobody notices until they've become expensive disasters.

That's what home watch is for.

Home watch is a professional service where a trained, insured inspector visits your property on a regular schedule — typically weekly or bi-weekly — and conducts a thorough inspection of the interior and exterior. After every visit, you receive a written report with photos documenting the condition of your home.

It's not property management. We're not collecting rent or managing tenants. It's not a security system. We're not monitoring cameras or responding to alarms.

It's a trained set of eyes on your property, on a schedule, with documentation — so you always know what's happening at your home even when you're hundreds of miles away.

Our standard home watch inspection covers:

Exterior:

• Roof condition (visible from ground)
• Gutters and downspouts
• Foundation and exterior walls
• Windows and doors — secure, no broken glass, no signs of forced entry
• Driveway and walkways
• Any visible storm damage

Interior:

• Signs of water intrusion — staining, wet floors, dripping
• HVAC system — running, set to correct temperature
• Plumbing — no visible leaks under sinks, around water heater, in basement
• Electrical — no tripped breakers, no signs of overheating
• Pest activity — droppings, damage, entry points
• General condition — nothing out of the ordinary

Seasonal checks (added based on time of year):

• Ice dam formation in winter
• Sump pump operation in spring
• Humidity levels in summer
• Gutter condition in fall

Here's a scenario we've seen more than once: a homeowner closes up their property in October, everything looks fine. In January, a supply line to a toilet fails — a slow leak, not a dramatic burst. By the time the homeowner returns in May, the water has been seeping into the subfloor for four months. The floor is destroyed. The framing is rotted. There's mold in the walls.

Total repair cost: $40,000–$60,000.

A home watch visit in November would have caught it. The repair would have been a $200 supply line replacement.

That's the math that makes home watch worth every penny.

After each inspection, we send you a written report that includes:

• Date and time of visit
• Overall condition summary
• Notes on anything that changed since the last visit
• Photos of any concerns
• Recommended action if anything needs attention

If we find something that needs immediate attention — a burst pipe, a broken window, storm damage — we call you right away and can coordinate with local contractors to get it addressed.

For most seasonal properties, bi-weekly visits strike the right balance between coverage and cost. If your property has a history of issues, if you're in a particularly exposed location, or if you're leaving during the highest-risk season (late fall through early spring), weekly visits give you the most protection.

We'll talk through your property's specific situation and recommend a schedule that makes sense.

Home watch is a particularly good fit if you:

• Own a seasonal or vacation home in mid-coast Maine and spend part of the year away
• Have a property that sits empty for extended periods
• Want documentation of your property's condition for insurance purposes
• Have had a problem in the past — a leak, pest intrusion, storm damage — and want to catch the next one early
• Simply want peace of mind that someone is keeping an eye on your investment

We serve seasonal homeowners across mid-coast Maine, including Rockland, Camden, Rockport, Thomaston, South Thomaston, Owls Head, Cushing, Warren, Hope, Appleton, Lincolnville, Boothbay, and Bristol.

Curious whether home watch makes sense for your property? Give us a call at (207) 656-7058 — we're happy to talk through your situation and give you an honest answer. Or send us a message and we'll get back to you the same day.