Most home watch services in Florida charge about $25 to $75 per visit. For weekly visits, that usually works out to about $150 to $300 per month, while every-other-week plans run about $75 to $160 per month. Larger, luxury, or waterfront homes can cost more.
At Homes & Living Collective, weekly home watch plans for homes in Winter Garden, Windermere, Montverde, Dr. Phillips, and nearby West Orange County communities typically range from $160 to $300 per month, depending on your home and the services you choose. Here’s what drives the price, what’s included, and how to compare providers.
What Is Home Watch?
Home watch is a regular inspection service for homes that sit empty while the owner is away. A home watch professional visits on a set schedule, checks the inside and outside of the home, sends you a report with photos, and helps coordinate repairs when something needs attention. It’s different from property management, which focuses on rentals and tenants. Learn more in Home Watch vs. Property Management.
Typical Home Watch Prices in Florida
Here are typical ranges based on 2026 industry pricing data:
| Service level | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Single visit | $25 to $75 per visit |
| Every other week | $75 to $160 per month |
| Weekly | $150 to $300 per month |
| Luxury or waterfront homes | $300 to $600+ per month |
In Florida, weekly visits are the most common choice, especially from late spring through fall, when heat, humidity, and storms put the most stress on an empty home.
What Affects the Cost of Home Watch
- Visit frequency: Weekly visits cost more per month than every-other-week or monthly visits, but they catch problems sooner.
- Home size and features: Larger homes, pools, spas, and smart home systems take longer to check.
- Location: Coastal and hurricane-exposed areas often cost more.
- Documentation: Detailed photo reports and checklists take more time, and many owners of high-value homes want that extra detail.
- Season: Hurricane prep and post-storm checks are often billed separately.
- Add-ons: Concierge tasks like meeting vendors or stocking the kitchen add to the total.
Common Add-On Services
Many home watch providers offer extra services billed per task or per project, often around $25 to $50 per task for simple concierge errands:
- Meeting vendors and overseeing repairs
- Receiving packages and deliveries
- Pre-arrival prep, such as cleaning, fresh linens, and groceries
- Hurricane prep before a storm and checks afterward
- Starting vehicles and checking golf carts or boats
What’s Included in a Typical Visit
A thorough home watch visit covers the exterior and interior of the home. Expect checks of doors, windows, and locks; the roofline and yard; the pool and equipment; plumbing, faucets, and toilets; the AC system and indoor humidity; appliances; the electrical panel; and signs of pests or leaks. After each visit, you should get a written report with photos.
See the full list in What Does a Home Watch Visit Include? A Room-by-Room Checklist.
Is Home Watch Worth the Cost?
For most Florida second homes, yes. An AC failure or a slow leak can go unnoticed for weeks in an empty house, and according to the EPA, mold can begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours after water damage. The repairs that follow can easily cost more than a full year of weekly visits.
Home watch can also help you meet insurance expectations. Many policies include conditions for homes left vacant or unoccupied, so ask your agent whether regular inspections are recommended or required.
How to Compare Home Watch Providers
Price matters, but so does what you get for it. Ask each provider:
- Are you insured, and can you provide a certificate of insurance?
- What exactly does each visit include? Can I see your checklist?
- Will I get a written report with photos after every visit?
- What happens if you find a problem, and how quickly will I hear about it?
- Do you have trusted vendors you can send for repairs?
- Can you provide references from other second-home owners?
Some providers also hold accreditation from the National Home Watch Association, which is another useful sign of professionalism.
Home Watch Pricing at Homes & Living Collective
We provide weekly home watch visits for vacation and second homes in Winter Garden, Windermere, Montverde, Dr. Phillips, Horizon West, Oakland, Ocoee, Gotha, and nearby communities. Every visit ends with a photo report, and we coordinate repairs through our network of more than 100 trusted local professionals.
- Weekly home watch: typically $160 to $300 per month, depending on your home’s size, features like a pool, and the services you choose
- Quoted separately: pre-arrival prep, hurricane prep, and larger vendor projects
Learn more about our Vacation Home Management services or schedule a free consultation for a custom quote.
Keep reading: How to Manage a Florida Vacation Home from Afar, How to Choose the Right Vendors for Your Central Florida Vacation Home, and Florida Vacation Home Maintenance: A Season-by-Season Guide.
Home Watch Cost FAQs
Most Florida home watch services charge about $25 to $75 per visit, depending on the size of the home, its features, and the level of reporting.
Weekly home watch typically costs about $150 to $300 per month. At Homes & Living Collective, weekly plans in West Orange County typically range from $160 to $300 per month.
Weekly visits are the safer choice in Florida, especially in summer. Heat and humidity mean an AC failure or leak can lead to mold quickly, so finding problems sooner can save money on repairs.
Many home watch services check the pool and pool equipment during each visit. Ongoing pool cleaning and chemical service is usually handled by a separate pool company.
Cameras are helpful, but they can’t check for hidden leaks, humidity problems, pests, or AC issues inside the home. Home watch gives you an in-person inspection and someone local to coordinate repairs.
About the Author
Nicole Mickle is the founder of Homes & Living Collective. With more than 20 years in the real estate industry, including work as a mortgage broker, loan officer, transaction coordinator, and founder of a mobile notary closing company, she helps homeowners in Winter Garden, Windermere, Montverde, Dr. Phillips, and nearby communities keep their homes cared for, whether they live here full time or visit a few times a year.
