Choosing the right help
Home watch vs house sitting vs property management
All three look after a home while the owner is away, but they solve different problems and are priced very differently. Here's how to tell which one you need.
The quick comparison
Home watch
Scheduled inspections of an empty home, inside and out, with a photo report after every visit. Priced monthly. Best for seasonal and second homes that sit empty while the owner is away.
House sitting
Someone stays in the home or visits daily, often for pets and plants. Usually priced by the day or night. Best for short trips or when animals need daily care.
Property management
Runs a rental: tenants, rent, leases, turnovers and repairs. Usually a percentage of rent. Best when the home is rented out.
Which one do you need?
- Your home sits empty for months each year. Home watch. You want problems caught early and a record of every visit, without paying for someone to live there.
- You have pets or plants that need daily care. A house sitter, at least while the animals are home.
- You rent the home out. A property manager. Home watch doesn't handle tenants or rent.
- You're away for a long season and want help coming and going. Home watch with arrival prep and departure lockdown, so the house is ready when you land and set properly when you leave.
What home watch includes with Snowbird
A full room-by-room inspection on the schedule you choose, a dated photo report within 24 hours, keyholder service, an emergency point of contact and vendor coordination when something needs fixing. Visits every two weeks start at $149 a month and weekly at $249. See what home watch costs and what we check.
Questions people ask
Does a home watch service live in my home?
No. Home watch is a scheduled visit: we inspect the home inside and out, send a photo report and leave. If you need someone staying overnight or caring for pets every day, you need a house sitter.
Is home watch the same as property management?
No. A property manager runs a rental: tenants, rent, leases and repairs between tenants. Home watch is for homes that sit empty while the owner is away. If you're renting the home out, you need a property manager.
Can home watch handle repairs?
We don't do the repairs ourselves. If we find a problem we contact you with photos, line up a licensed pro with your approval, let them in, stay while they work and send photos when it's done ($60 an hour, one hour minimum). Repair invoices stay separate.
Book a free walkthrough
We tour the home with you, learn its systems and confirm your price. About 30 to 45 minutes, no obligation. Or call or text (602) 834-5017.
Serving Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Rio Verde, Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana and the Catalina Foothills. All service areas