Home Watch Questions

What is Home Watch?

The National Home Watch Association defines Home Watch as “The visual inspection of an unoccupied home or property, looking for obvious issues.”

Can an insurance claim be denied if my property is not checked on a regular basis?

Insurance companies can deny repairs or claims if your second home is not properly maintained or checked on regularly, depending on the terms of your policy. Here are some factors to consider:

Vacancy Clause: Many insurance policies have a “vacancy” or “unoccupied” clause. If a property is unoccupied for a certain period (often 30-60 days), the insurer may reduce coverage or deny claims related to certain types of damage (e.g., water damage, vandalism, or theft).
Maintenance Requirements: If your policy requires regular maintenance, such as checking for leaks, keeping the heating on in cold weather to prevent pipes from freezing, or ensuring security, failure to do so could lead to a denial of a claim.
Risk of Damage: A property left unchecked might be more prone to issues like mold, water damage, or break-ins. If damage occurs and the insurer can prove it was a result of neglect or failure to maintain the property, they could deny the claim.

Do you provide keyholder services?

Absolutely! We can coordinate access to your property for any situation at an hourly rate. All we need is your notification of the date and time and any instructions you have.

Are your services expensive?

We think our services are reasonably priced for the value we provide. When you compare the possible damage due to a leak or damage by pests or vagrants with the cost, our services are an excellent value. We will be happy to discuss our pricing for home watch services and any additional services you may require at a free consultation.

Are you a house sitter service?

We are not house sitters. Our core service includes periodic visits to your home where we follow a specific and mutually agreed upon checklist. We are in your home for less than an hour per visit and take great pride in that your home is as you left it for your return. House sitters are not looking to be caretakers and generally do not have the expertise and knowledge to handle problems that may arise.

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 Lake Burton 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.

Can you help me with home maintenance services?

While we do not provide home maintenance services, we can refer you to quality contractors or vendors and coordinate access to your property.

What is Lake Burton Home Watch?

Lake Burton Home Watch is an insured, bonded, and accredited professional Home Watch Service serving Lake Burton, Lake Rabun, and surrounding areas. We check your property and identify problems or potential problems that can occur while your property is vacant. We provide a physical presence that is unavailable through a remote alarm monitoring service. We can help with most requests you have by contacting us.

My alarm company provides security for my home. What value do you add?

An alarm company monitors entry into your home or a fire alarm but does not monitor potential problems due to broken pipes, mold, pests, or squatters. We identify those problems or the possibility of their occurrence and notify you for guidance.

What are your credentials?

Lake Burton Home Watch proudly displays the Accredited banner of the National Home Watch Association. We have been vetted and approved by this organization to guarantee we are bonded and insured for your protection. We also subscribe to the NHWA’s Code of Ethics.

If I need coordination with contractors doing work on my home can you help?

Lake Burton Home Watch will provide access services and remain on-site for an hourly charge. We ask for at least a 48 hour notification to schedule our personnel.

If you find a problem, what type of notification will I receive?

Lake Burton Home Watch will send you a report upon completion of our visit to your home. Any problems identified will be accompanied by pictures and details of the problem. If we take any immediate action to prevent further damage, we will contact you immediately to discuss what occurred and consider what course of action is needed for the repair.

What type of reporting can I expect from you?

Lake Burton 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. Each report will contain photos of all areas of your home inspected. The report is date and time stamped through the software which allows the homeowner to see the exact time the inspection begins and ends.

Are you a property inspector?

While we check your property, we are NOT a property inspector. Property inspectors are usually involved in the sale of a property to do a detailed inspection of the structure, plumbing, electrical, heating, and air condition systems. OnSpot Home Watch provides a visual inspection of your vacant home or property looking for obvious issues.

I have more home watch questions. What can I do?

If you have more Home Watch Questions, please contact us by calling or texting 706-620-0630 or use our Contact form.

706-620-0630