RSS
Print This Post Print This Post

Choosing A Home Watch Service By Susan Robinson

susan-robinson-key-concierge

Choosing the Right Home Watch Service

By Susan Robinson

Home watch services are becoming more prevalent in our area and as realtors and brokers you are sometimes asked to recommend such a service. Here are some questions you and your buyers should consider when choosing a reputable home watch service:

• How long have they been in business? This is a business that is really based on trust and reputation. How long a firm has been in business will signal that they are known in the community, that they have figured out how to make a living at this business and therefore won’t pack it up a year from now.

• Ask what kinds of associations they belong too. Again, if they are involved in the community they are known and as importantly, they have had a chance to build a rolodex of competent vendors and suppliers, a critical element in success in this business.

• Are they bonded and insured? This is vital and doesn’t need much of an explanation. No one should go into someone else’s property unless bonded and insured.

• How many people on staff and who will be going into the property? Do they have back-ups in case of emergencies, how do they handle vacations and unexpected time away (i.e. a death in the family?).

• Are they expected to be the first person on the alarm? If yes, are they prepared to respond to alarms in the middle of the night? Who responds if they are out of town?

• Do they use marked cars? If they have signs on the cars that signal that they watch homes for people who are away? Signs on the sides of cars only help the business advertise that the homeowner is away.

• Do they visit the home on the same day at the same time? This too could be a problem for someone stalking a home.

• How have they dealt with crisis? Homeowners will want to ask: “Give me two examples of crisis you have come across and how have you handled it?

• References: Always get and check references. Also ask the company for an example of someone who has been unhappy and why.

• Background and credit checks: Since this is an unregulated business background checks should be performed on companies who don’t have a reputation in town or haven’t build a reference base. Or, companies who have serious credit issues could pose a risk. And, the company should prove to you that they have done background checks on the people entering the homes.

• Are they able to work here? Make sure they have appropriate work papers if they are not US citizens.

• How often do they communicate back to the homeowner and by what method?

• Are they incorporated in the State of Florida? In other words are they a “real” business?

• How do they handle your keys and who has access to them and where are they kept and how are they numbered?

• What are their expectations of sub contractors

Susan Robinson and her husband started Key Concierge nearly 6 years ago because they needed a reputable home watch service themselves when they were here just part-time and couldn’t find such a service. So, when they moved to Sarasota permanently they started the company. Key Concierge provides peace of mind to home owners all over Sarasota and Manatee including Lakewood Ranch, The Oaks, Casey key to Anna Maria Island, Palmer Ranch, Laurel Oaks, downtown, University Park, Mote Ranch. They are an award winning company and can be reached at 941-388-2611 or through their website: www.keyconcierge.com.

Share

Tags: ,

One Response to “Choosing A Home Watch Service By Susan Robinson”

  1. Deb Pearl says:

    My husband and I recently bought a vacation home and we were considering what to do about security to keep the place safe while we are away. That’s a great idea to ask how they communicate back to the homeowner and how often. That would be wonderful to know when they will be letting us know about the state of our house. Thanks for the tips!

Leave a Reply


Featured Properties

Ads

REAL HAPPENINGS

April 2, 2020 Ringling Underground

April 2, 2020 Ringling Underground

CANCELLED Ringling Underground CANCELLED. Enjoy live music, and art in the Museum of Art Courtya[...]
CleanSlate Property Services Opens

CleanSlate Property Services Opens

CleanSlate Property Services, a local concierge handyman business. My name is Tim White, former [...]
March 5, 2020 Ringling Underground

March 5, 2020 Ringling Underground

Ringling Underground Returns. Enjoy live music, and art in the Museum of Art Courtyard 8:00pm -1[...]
March 6, 2020 Gettel Toyota Grand Opening

March 6, 2020 Gettel Toyota Grand Opening

You're Invited To Gettel Toyota Of Bradenton's Grand Opening. On Friday, March 6th, from 12pm-2:[...]
March 12-13, 2020 Pop Up Art Show

March 12-13, 2020 Pop Up Art Show

Sarasota Architectural Salvage Hosts Event To Support Local Artists. For more information and/or[...]
February 6, 2020 Ringling Underground

February 6, 2020 Ringling Underground

Ringling Underground Returns. Enjoy live music, and art in the Museum of Art Courtyard 8:00pm -1[...]
January 25, 2020 Spoons And Tunes

January 25, 2020 Spoons And Tunes

TheWineToBuy.com Hosts Innovative Wine Tasting. Tired of the same old BS? Then join TheWineToBuy[...]
February 7, 2020 Thunder By The Bay Kick Off Party

February 7, 2020 Thunder By The Bay Kick Off Party

White Buffalo Saloon Hosts Born To Be Wild! Join REAL as we kick off 2020's Thunder by the Bay. [...]
Curb Appeal Detailing Opens New Sarasota Location

Curb Appeal Detailing Opens New Sarasota Location

Auto Enthusiasts Take Note. Curb Appeal Detailing announced the opening of their new location i[...]
January 11, 2020 National Hot Toddy Day

January 11, 2020 National Hot Toddy Day

How To Warm Up On A Chilly Day. Today is National Hot Toddy Day! A hot toddy is a delicious drin[...]
Anheuser-Busch Launches New Hard Seltzer

Anheuser-Busch Launches New Hard Seltzer

Bud Light Seltzer Arrives Just In Time For The Super Bowl! Anheuser-Busch is launching a new har[...]
Ocala Gains New Urgent Care Center

Ocala Gains New Urgent Care Center

StatMed Urgent Care Center Ocala Opens January 2, 2020. StatMed Urgent Care Center is a step abo[...]
New Year's Eve 2019-2020 Tow To Go

New Year's Eve 2019-2020 Tow To Go

Everyone Have A Safe New Year’s Eve Tonight! Tow to Go is a partnership between AAA & Budweiser.[...]
Wyze Labs Data Breach

Wyze Labs Data Breach

Multiple Data Breaches Exposes Information Of 2.4 Million Customers. Wyze Labs' low cost, inter[...]
Westbound SR 70 Southbound I75 Ramp To Close

Westbound SR 70 Southbound I75 Ramp To Close

8 Months of New Detours Loom Large! Starting at 11 p.m. Thursday, January 2nd, the westbound on-[...]
Wawa Data Breach

Wawa Data Breach

Wawa Facing Wave Of Lawsuits Over Data Breach. On December 10, Wawa's information security team [...]
December 26, 2019 Deck the Halls @ Ca' d'Zan

December 26, 2019 Deck the Halls @ Ca' d'Zan

Ca' d'Zan All Decked Out. On December 26th, from 5:00pm – 8:00pm join The Ringling for Deck the [...]
January 22, 2020 Ringling's Wisconsin Pullman Tour

January 22, 2020 Ringling's Wisconsin Pullman Tour

Private Tour of the Wisconsin Pullman Car. Join Jennifer Lemmer-Posey, Tibbals Curator of Circus [...]
Commercial Investment Division Changes Name

Commercial Investment Division Changes Name

RASM Commercial Division Now Know As Commercial Real Estate Alliance. The Realtor Association of[...]
December 3, 2019 GivingTuesday

December 3, 2019 GivingTuesday

Join the GivingTuesday Movement. GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the po[...]
Translate »