House sitting for summer travel

[dan1952]

I am new The Villages and am looking for a house sitting service for my home for part of the summer. I would really appreciate any recommendations for other experience.

[SIRE1]

Are you really looking for a House Sitter (i.e. someone who lives in your home while you are away) or are you looking for a Home Watch Service that comes in every week or two to make sure everything is OK?

We use a Home Watch Service and during each visit he turns the water back on and flushes the toilets and runs water into each of the sink traps, plus he runs our golf cart up and down the street to keep it in good working order. He has replaced light bulbs that have died, taken things off our porch, and met contractors who may need to do something on our property. He even waters our plants that are in pots on the screen lanai. He then sends me an email after each visit telling me if there are any things that I might need to address (e.g. landscapers not mowing or trimming bushes).

If you are actually looking for a Home Watch Service, I use Dean Corbett. His phone number is (352) 551-0576 and tell him "Maywood Court" recommended him.

[Toymeister]

I really don't care for the doomsday predictions people make here on the forum, that said let me share this:

I had a rental, designer home and a home watch service that is widely praised on the forum for nearly four years. The home is also smart, sensors, monitors and locks. I was promised weekly checks which usually happened monthly. During one summer run two months passed with no checks followed by photos of the exterior on the third. That seemed odd usually I received interior photos when they came. The sensors indicated they haven't even entered the home.

In the case of a rental home watch is useful to have for renter issues but not so for home checks.

For my last home which was not rented, I skipped the home watch.

Yes it meant I shut off the potable water, saran wrapped the toilets and so on.

If my experience is representative you don't need home watch at all.

[Stu from NYC]

I really don't care for the doomsday predictions people make here on the forum, that said let me share this:

I had a rental, designer home and a home watch service that is widely praised on the forum for nearly four years. The home is also smart, sensors, monitors and locks. I was promised weekly checks which usually happened monthly. During one summer run two months passed with no checks followed by photos of the exterior on the third. That seemed odd usually I received interior photos when they came. The sensors indicated they haven't even entered the home.

In the case of a rental home watch is useful to have for renter issues but not so for home checks.

For my last home which was not rented, I skipped the home watch.

Yes it meant I shut off the potable water, saran wrapped the toilets and so on.

If my experience is representative you don't need home watch at all.

Why saran wrap the toilets?

[davem4616]

I'd never engage a house sitter...

we've hired a fellow in TV to check on our home a couple of times a week when we've been away...Don Nagel, reasonable and he will have your back 352.630.9509

when we had a home in Ft Lauderdale a neighbor would check on the house a couple of times a week and let us know if anything was out of whack and would represent us with a vendor if needed

[Toymeister]

Why saran wrap the toilets?

When you leave you turn the temp up. In a hotter home the toilet water can evaporate. Far less evaporation with saran wrap.

I turn off the water heater, change temp to 82, shutoff the potable water, empty the ice bin, prop open the fridge.

I can change the irrigation by the web.

[Annie66]

Why saran wrap the toilets?

Yes …. pore some bleach in the tank and toilet, and cover with saran wrap to keep insects from using it as a source of water. Same with sinks except you use the standard drain plug.

[mulligan]

DO NOT pour bleach in the tank of the toilet . The bleach will dissolve the seals inside the valves and flush tube.

[Pommom91]

Why would you saran wrap the toilets?

[cwwilber@gmail.com]

Frogs

[New Englander]

DO NOT pour bleach in the tank of the toilet . The bleach will dissolve the seals inside the valves and flush tube.

:agree:

[New Englander]

I really don't care for the doomsday predictions people make here on the forum, that said let me share this:

I had a rental, designer home and a home watch service that is widely praised on the forum for nearly four years. The home is also smart, sensors, monitors and locks. I was promised weekly checks which usually happened monthly. During one summer run two months passed with no checks followed by photos of the exterior on the third. That seemed odd usually I received interior photos when they came. The sensors indicated they haven't even entered the home.

In the case of a rental home watch is useful to have for renter issues but not so for home checks.

For my last home which was not rented, I skipped the home watch.

Yes it meant I shut off the potable water, saran wrapped the toilets and so on.

If my experience is representative you don't need home watch at all.

What if the air conditioner fails for some reason?

[Scorpyo]

What if the air conditioner fails for some reason?

Good question. I have a place outside of Atlanta (Alpharetta) and we come down every other month for 10 days or so and the summer for 6 weeks. My wife is still teaching up here. I have a dehumidifier in my Villa just in case. I put it at 50% humidity. So, if the a/c quits at least the humidity will not skyrocket.

[sallybowron]

There is a Lady named Dee Parsons who does it but I don't have acuurnt phone number. Gracie Girl might have it,'

[raindrop49]

Why would you saran wrap the toilets?

I put bleach in the toilet, (not the back tank) & cover with saran wrap to prevent any nasty ring that might appear.

[MollyJo]

I put bleach in the toilet, (not the back tank) & cover with saran wrap to prevent any nasty ring that might appear.

Bleach can damage the porcelain.

[dewilson58]

What Village..................might impact watcher.

[Chris Kirk]

just put anti-freeze into these devices, protects them, bugs won't bother them and all will be well when you come home and just flush the toilet or run the faucets.

[SIRE1]

Again, I ask - Are you really looking for a House Sitter (i.e. someone who lives in your home while you are away) or are you looking for a Home Watch Service that comes in every week or two to make sure everything is OK? In your original post, you indicated "looking for a house sitting service for my home for part of the summer".

The replies you have gotten so far are for either a Home Watch service or advice how to button up your home and just leave. I'm not sure if you meant you wanted someone to actually move into your home and live there while you are away (i.e. House sitting). Are answers would be more appropriate if we knew what you wanted.

[mikeritz53]

I really don't care for the doomsday predictions people make here on the forum, that said let me share this:

I had a rental, designer home and a home watch service that is widely praised on the forum for nearly four years. The home is also smart, sensors, monitors and locks. I was promised weekly checks which usually happened monthly. During one summer run two months passed with no checks followed by photos of the exterior on the third. That seemed odd usually I received interior photos when they came. The sensors indicated they haven't even entered the home.

In the case of a rental home watch is useful to have for renter issues but not so for home checks.

For my last home which was not rented, I skipped the home watch.

Yes it meant I shut off the potable water, saran wrapped the toilets and so on.

If my experience is representative you don't need home watch at all.

Just a heads up, some HomeOwners Policies have a Vacancy Clause. If you are not Occupying the property Full Time and you do not have an actual company doing weekly visits this clause allows the Insurance Company to deny a claim. They do not consider a Friend, Neighbor or even a Relative as qualifying. Not all have this clause but worth checking to be safe. I manage around 100 (Rentals & Snowbirds ) and have run into this a few times and also heard from a New Owner to my Service that he experienced this issue. Another thing to keep in mind your Neighbor/Friend watching your house has no insurance so if something occurs you are on your own to cover any costs.

[HJBeck]

I am new The Villages and am looking for a house sitting service for my home for part of the summer. I would really appreciate any recommendations for other experience.

Have never used a house sitting service. Sounds expensive. If you have cable (Comcast, ....) they can provide reasonable security cameras. I have also installed a wifi thermostat that will tell me if the AC system is not working properly. Seems to work pretty good. Do get some false alarms from the cameras I have installed with motion and sound detection, thus if you don't want to put up with this extra nuisance just get an appropriate security service. Hope this helps.

[nevjudbaker]

Saran wrap keeps the water from evaporating & keeps water bugs from coming up through the drains. Hence bleach in the water. Plug all drains. Roaches know when the house is empty. I spray bug spray around all doors and sliding doors. Put roach traps throughout the house. Don't turn air down too low because mildew grows quickly especially if all shades and curtains are drawn.
Spend your money on a monitored alarm system with cameras at the front, sides, & back of your house plus a doorbell that shows who is at the front door. I think ADT has all of it. You can even log into the app & check the cameras yourself. Some people have seen bears walking around at night.

[Alana33]

I unplug everything, turn breaker off for the water heater, I turn AC off as I'm away in winter and leave a ceiling fan or 2 on. I use Clorox and Satan Wrap for toilets and have plugs for sinks drains. Usually have food in freezer to defrost for my return so I don't have to rush out the next day to shop. Set the alarm, lock the doors.
Everything is fine.

[maggie1]

just put anti-freeze into these devices, protects them, bugs won't bother them and all will be well when you come home and just flush the toilet or run the faucets.

There is a special non-lethal anti-freeze for toilets. Check with Ace Hardware, or Home Depot.

[Mendy]

I am new The Villages and am looking for a house sitting service for my home for part of the summer. I would really appreciate any recommendations for other experience.

We are also new to TV and just signed on with Peace of Mind Home Watch. They watch several homes in our neighborhood and about 75 homes in total. They have an excellent reputation. They are very thorough and inexpensive. Call Dom at 727-967-2125.

[Toymeister]

What if the air conditioner fails for some reason?

First most ac failures are because the capacitor fails. This could happen every three years or less. So I replace it annually for 16.00.

But if it were to fail my thermostat emails me but before that my temp/humidity monitor sends me a text but even before that my whole house energy monitor sent me a notification. I even get a text if the internet goes down.

Now what if I had none of those and home watch checked the home after three months of ac failure? Then there might be a problem.

[Toymeister]

Just a heads up, some HomeOwners Policies have a Vacancy Clause. If you are not Occupying the property Full Time and you do not have an actual company doing weekly visits this clause allows the Insurance Company to deny a claim. They do not consider a Friend, Neighbor or even a Relative as qualifying. Not all have this clause but worth checking to be safe. I manage around 100 (Rentals & Snowbirds ) and have run into this a few times and also heard from a New Owner to my Service that he experienced this issue. Another thing to keep in mind your Neighbor/Friend watching your house has no insurance so if something occurs you are on your own to cover any costs.

Vacancy clauses apply to primary residences not second homes. Second homes, by definition, are often vacant. Now if you lied, cheated to get cheaper primary home insurance and left it vacant then you deserve to have a claim denied.

Likewise,, if you have a rental and insured it as owned occupied you should not complain when your claim is denied.

[HimandMe]

I am new The Villages and am looking for a house sitting service for my home for part of the summer. I would really appreciate any recommendations for other experience.

We used Trusted Housesitters . Com for many years without an issue. We always used retired persons with them.

[issysanroman]

Hi Dan, Villagers pay for everything they really do not have to fund. Get to know your neighbors, do some prevention as suggested by those who responded. Ask that neighbor to look in on your house. Bring them back a thoughtful gift. I would not pay some company to watch your house when there are plenty of bored, talented villagers around who would gladly do it.

[HimandMe]

Have never used a house sitting service. Sounds expensive. If you have cable (Comcast, ....) they can provide reasonable security cameras. I have also installed a wifi thermostat that will tell me if the AC system is not working properly. Seems to work pretty good. Do get some false alarms from the cameras I have installed with motion and sound detection, thus if you don't want to put up with this extra nuisance just get an appropriate security service. Hope this helps.

Wrong- Trusted Housesitters is cheap, reliable.