[jimbo2012]

I did a search for folks mentioned here as reliable, haven't called any yet.
Please add any I missed (also tips for leaving your home)

BASIC SERVICE/RATES - SAFE HOME WATCH SERVICE
----
At your Service" for home watch.
You can contact Coty at 352-633-3953.

--
Try Tina Chesmore. ph. 352-460-3042 rtc@villageshomewatchservices.com

--
Down Home Property Management
Vickie Joy
352-267-6334
----

a member here named Redwitch. She is well known in TV for providing home watch service.
----
Your property guardian- Jeremy-352/593-0555.
----
Empty Nest
---
Julianne Drosendahl of Peace of Mind Home Watch Services. her number is 352-250-2984

----
Affordable Home Watch...Rich and Marge
---
village sitter
----
'The Home Watch' and Jeff Halstead thehomewatch@yahoo.com 352-409-6733

tips

Turn off the main water valve in the garage (right hand side near overhead door)
Put washing machine water valves in the “off” position (If you don't turn off the water)
unplug everything -tvs, printer, fridge, washer & dryer
lock the door linking the house to the garage
Leave a pair of old flip flops on the front stoop.
Turn off the ice maker and empty it.
Turn hot water tank to the “pilot” position
Bring all of the lanai furniture into the garage
Place saran wrap over toilets and have the lids down to prevent evaporation
Set the A/C to 80 degrees and the Dehumidistat at 50%
Throw out food in the fridge that will not keep for a long period of time
Lock all doors and windows and place dole rods in the sliders. Lock Lanai door.
Close all blinds
Close all drains in sinks
Put garage door in “lock” position
Open all closets and the shower door for circulation
Prop open dishwasher
Disconnect whatever can be unplugged including cable
Pour cap-full of cooking oil in garbage disposal and turn on for a couple seconds
Close the gas line on the golf cart and run the gas out of the carburetor
Check furnace filter
Put trash out
Check that the sprinklers are set correctly and are turned on
Redirect the mail (temporary address change – can be done on-line or mailed in)
Put Directv on suspension
Prior to leaving, submit a change of address for all magazines (can do on-line)
Put open box of baking soda in fridge and freezer
Put Daily Sun Newspaper on vacation
Turn off the breakers for the Spa and lock the breaker box
Tape an index card inside mailbox to remind of temporary address change
Gather all important papers (insurance policies, etc.) that you want to take
Gather and take medications

[redwitch]

Some of the things on your list only need be done if you do not have a home watch service. Those include unplugging everything (usually best to turn fridge down but not to unplug), putting saran wrap on toilet and oil in garbage disposal. If you can, put your golf cart on jacks to keep tires from getting a flat spot. Otherwise, have your home watcher drive your cart once a month for at least two miles. Also, if you can, put the wall garage door opener on lock so that it can't be opened with a remote control. According to the fire department, they recommend just turning your gas water heater to "low", not to the off or pilot light position. If you have any grass, be sure to have someone cutting it; if only rocks, mulch or pine straw, a weeder -- doesn't matter how much you spray or Preen, weeds will ultimately show up before you return. Nature of our beast.

[mulligan]

Good info, Redwitch, but IMHO, with all the things that can go wrong quickly in a home in Florida, a homewatch person/company with some experience is the best way to go.

[2AFRetSNCOs]

We used Sure Lock Home Watch for about one year and couldn't have been happier with their service. It's a local couple, Rich and Linda Ford and their number is 352-638-2829. They took care of a lot of things on your list, i.e. cleaning toilets, running the dishwasher and disposal once a month and I received a weekly report every Thursday. I even received a call from them about an "unusual" request for them to open the house to have some work done that we had requested (we hadn't). Can't say enough good things about the couple and their service.

[philnpat]

From first hand experience, lightning strikes can cause damage to both the microwave and garage door openers. I unplug them both.

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

I did a search for folks mentioned here as reliable, haven't called any yet.
Please add any I missed (also tips for leaving your home)

BASIC SERVICE/RATES - SAFE HOME WATCH SERVICE*
----
At your Service" for home watch.
You can contact Coty at 352-633-3953.

--
Try Tina Chesmore. ph. 352-460-3042 rtc@villageshomewatchservices.com

--
Down Home Property Management
Vickie Joy
352-267-6334
----

a member here named Redwitch. She is well known in TV for providing home watch service.
----
Your property guardian- Jeremy-352/593-0555.
----
Empty Nest
---
Julianne Drosendahl of Peace of Mind Home Watch Services. her number is 352-250-2984

----
Affordable Home Watch...Rich and Marge
---
village sitter
----
'The Home Watch' and Jeff Halstead thehomewatch@yahoo.com 352-409-6733

tips

Turn off the main water valve in the garage (right hand side near overhead door)
Put washing machine water valves in the “off” position (If you don't turn off the water)
unplug everything -tvs, printer, fridge, washer & dryer
lock the door linking the house to the garage
Leave a pair of old flip flops on the front stoop.
Turn off the ice maker and empty it.
Turn hot water tank to the “pilot” position
Bring all of the lanai furniture into the garage
Place saran wrap over toilets and have the lids down to prevent evaporation
Set the A/C to 80 degrees and the Dehumidistat at 50%
Throw out food in the fridge that will not keep for a long period of time
Lock all doors and windows and place dole rods in the sliders. Lock Lanai door.
Close all blinds
Close all drains in sinks
Put garage door in “lock” position
Open all closets and the shower door for circulation
Prop open dishwasher
Disconnect whatever can be unplugged including cable
Pour cap-full of cooking oil in garbage disposal and turn on for a couple seconds
Close the gas line on the golf cart and run the gas out of the carburetor
Check furnace filter
Put trash out
Check that the sprinklers are set correctly and are turned on
Redirect the mail (temporary address change – can be done on-line or mailed in)
Put Directv on suspension
Prior to leaving, submit a change of address for all magazines (can do on-line)
Put open box of baking soda in fridge and freezer
Put Daily Sun Newspaper on vacation
Turn off the breakers for the Spa and lock the breaker box
Tape an index card inside mailbox to remind of temporary address change
Gather all important papers (insurance policies, etc.) that you want to take
Gather and take medications

I take care of my neighbors home while they are gone along with two other friends. (No charge by the way) I usually check every two weeks, and turn the water on in all bathrooms and showers, and flush toilets etc, before turning off water again. Most things I find, are snakes in garage, (sometimes), light bulb out (on light that comes on at night), weeds that need pulling, unless in lawn that needs to be sprayed, (Notify Pest Control Co) and beeping of smoke alarms. (Good idea to leave extra batteries out, in case) One time I found rubber gasket dried up inside toilet tank that was empty, and leaked some when I flushed it. Thats a great checkoff list Jumbo. Also check for water in batteries in golf cart that is plugged in (usually not a problem). If I see lawn browning up, I change station time for area that is browning, so it gets more water. And then of course, I notify them with an update, so they know everything is fine

[skyguy79]

BASIC SERVICE/RATES - SAFE HOME WATCH SERVICE*
Ed & Mary Edwards
Service from 466 South
TOTV Advertiser
We have personally used
Numerous positive comments previously made on TOTV
Check their website for more information.

[booklady]

How do I get a hold of The Villages Watch Dog home watch company?

[Baltimore Guy]

bump

[Lark7]

Certainly would recommend Safe Home Watch. Ed and Mary Edwards are experienced, trustworthy, and communicate very well with regard to your home. Consider us to be one of many satisfied customers.

[jimbo2012]

Well the folks next door to us found the home watch from hell folks,
lawn next to dead, shrubs mostly dead.

Pool was on high speed 14 hours a day (my other neighbor & I fixed that)

Ran in the witch that is their home watch last week,
(I would spell that with a "B" not "w").

Wish I could find out who they are.

They only stop by every two or three weeks.

So not sure what to do then all of a sudden someone turned on the irrigation.

Severl of us asked for their cell # when they were leaving but they said they didn't want to burden anyone......

.

[redwitch]

(And I'm not THAT witch!!!!)

Call Home Warranty. They'll have the contact info for your neighbors. They won't give it to you but if you explain how bad things are, they will contact the homeowners directly.

[Paperboy]

Go with Safe Home Watch, Ed & Mary Edwards are THE BEST!!
This is my second yr. with them. When we left on 5/1 @ 3:45 A.M. I turned off the circuit breaker that starts the irrigation system in error. Ed caught my error & switched it back on & sent me an e mail on MY ERROR.
It's GREAT to get a weekly e mail from them on the status of our home.
Talk about EXCEEDING the customers expectations.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by redwitch

(And I'm not THAT witch!!!!)

Call Home Warranty. They'll have the contact info for your neighbors. They won't give it to you but if you explain how bad things are, they will contact the homeowners directly.

Sorry I know it's not U, I should have picked another word.

I did call and the owners failed to call me back so know I just turn a blind eye.

[CFrance]

Barefoot has used Village Watch Dogs and loves them. She likes that they're not just one single family, so that if something comes up with one of them, the other fills in. She's used then since 2007; goes home to Canada for 6 months so needs serious house watching.

Email address: villagewatchdogs@comcast.net



Roger’s contact info: Cell Ph#: (585) 415-8326


Bill’s contact info: Home Ph#: (352) 633-3220 Cell Ph#: (585) 975-9302