Frequently Asked Questions

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

We are not a house sitter. 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 making sure your home is as you left it for your return. House sitters are not looking to be caretakers. They are looking for a place to stay and get paid in a nice area with 24/7 access to everything in your home.

First Mate 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.

Most neighborhood watch programs are passive by nature and do not provide the level of engagement with your property that First Mate 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.

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

First Mate 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.

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

First Mate Home Watch is a professional insured, bonded and accredited Home Watch Service serving Port St. Lucie and the surrounding area. 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 not available through a remote alarm monitoring service. We can help with most requests you have by contacting us.

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

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

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

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.

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

First Mate 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.