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Growing the footprint of legitimate Home Watch Companies throughout North America

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What is Home Watch?

Home Watch is known by many names: house watch, house check, home concierge, caretaker, absentee home service, property watch, and so on. Regardless of the name, a Home Watch service performs scheduled inspections of unoccupied or vacant properties while the owner is away.

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

Should the inspector find an issue or potential problem, they will immediately notify the homeowner. From there, the homeowner will instruct the Home Watch service as to how they want to proceed. By removing junk mail and flyers and creating a presence in the home, Home Watch adds a level of security to the vacant home. Home Watch is the line of communication to the homeowner that provides peace of mind during their absence.

What a Home Watch Visit Typically Include a basic check of:

A walkthrough of the interior and exterior

Visual checks for signs of water leaks, mold, storm damage, or pest activity

Confirmation that HVAC systems, appliances, and plumbing are functioning as expected

Lookout for signs of forced entry or unauthorized access

Check that doors, windows, and key systems are secure

Mail/package collection or other homeowner-requested tasks

Who We Serve

For Homeowners

Looking for Someone to Watch Over Your Home?

Whether you're away for the season or just for the weekend, an accredited Home Watch professional provides peace of mind with scheduled checks of your property—inside and out.

Bonded and insured for your protection
Helps prevent costly damage or emergencies
Vetted through background and business checks
Committed to acting in your best interests while you're away

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For Business Owners

In the Home Watch Business? Let’s Elevate It.

Get accredited with NHWA and gain access to exclusive resources, education, and national recognition. We're here to support your success every step of the way.

Bonded and insured for your protection
Limits exposure to potential damages
All Accredited Members have background checks and are vetted for business practices
Will represent your best interests in your absence

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What We Do

With the rapid growth of the Home Watch industry over the past decade, more and more companies are “hanging up their shingles” across North America. These businesses now have access to thousands—if not tens of thousands—of vacation and seasonal homes.

While most Home Watch providers genuinely have their clients’ best interests in mind and offer a valuable service, the real concern lies with those who don’t. Home Watch remains an unclassified, unregulated profession. To date, no federal, provincial, state, or municipal authority officially recognizes it—meaning the industry still “flies under the radar.”

There are no baseline requirements: no insurance mandates, no reporting standards, no best practices. In short, there’s a lack of accountability… to anyone.

Our Foundation

In 2009, the idea for an organization to bring together a disjointed group of businesses—known by many different names—began to take shape. The goal: to establish clear standards, best practices, procedures, and ethics for those providing Home Watch services.

Without proper structure—especially adequate insurance and bonding—homeowners can be left completely exposed to property damage, injury liability, or costly lawsuits.

Thanks to years of hard work by our members and advisors, the National Home Watch Association is now the trusted authority in the Home Watch profession.

Our Membership Standards

All NHWA-accredited members listed on this website have passed a rigorous vetting process, which includes:

✅ Criminal background checks on all company principals
✅ General and professional liability insurance
✅ Proper bonding
✅ Consumer complaint review
✅ Honest and accurate advertising
✅ Commitment to our Code of Ethics
✅ Agreement with our Mission Statement

This ensures every member operates with the highest level of trust and professionalism.

Your Link to Accredited, Insured Home Watch Providers

Every NHWA member listed meets national standards for ethics, training, and full insurance coverage.

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What Home Watch Is (and Isn’t)

Part of our mission is to educate the public on what Home Watch truly means.

It is not a security service—though it provides a layer of security by placing a professional in the home regularly.

It is not a house-sitting service—house-sitting involves someone living in the home while you're away.

Home Watch is a professional service that performs scheduled, visual inspections of a home or property, looking for obvious issues. If anything is found, the provider alerts the homeowner and follows instructions on how to proceed.

Learn More About What is Home Watch