Home watch, explained
What is home watch, and do you need it in Arizona?
By Nestor Carrillo, owner, Spare Key Home Watch & Care, Surprise, AZ · Updated October 20, 2026
Home watch is a scheduled visit to an empty home. A trained person walks inside and outside, looks for problems early, and sends you a report of what they found. It is not house-sitting, security guarding or repair work. In Arizona it matters most in summer, when homes sit empty for months through 110-degree heat and monsoon storms.
What a home watch visit checks
A good visit goes inside, not just past the front door. On every Spare Key visit we check all 11 areas of your home:
- AC and thermostat: is the house holding its summer setting, or getting hot?
- Water: look for leaks under sinks and around the water heater, run every faucet and flush toilets so drains don't dry out and let in sewer gas or bugs.
- Fridge and freezer: still cold, nothing spoiling.
- Doors, windows and locks: secure, no signs of forced entry.
- Pests: signs of pack rats, scorpions, roaches or termites.
- Outside: roof, yard, sprinklers, pool area and storm damage.
- Garage, car and golf cart: a walk-around, and on some plans a regular start.
- Mail, packages and HOA notices: nothing piling up that says "nobody's home."
We bring a thermal camera, moisture meter and infrared thermometer, so we can spot a hidden leak or a struggling AC before it becomes a big repair. You get a report the same day, and you can follow the visit live on our visit tracker. See a sample report.
What home watch is not
- Not house-sitting. Nobody stays in your home.
- Not a security guard. We check and report; for a break-in we call the police and you.
- Not repairs. When we find a problem, we stop the damage if we safely can (water off, breaker off), call you right away and get a licensed pro in, yours first. Our damage playbook spells out every step.
- Not a home inspection. We are home watchers, not licensed home inspectors or contractors.
Do you need it?
You probably do if any of these are true:
- Your home will be empty for a month or more, especially May through October.
- Nobody nearby can go inside every week or two, run the water and check the AC.
- You (or your family out of state) want proof the house is fine, not just a "looked OK to me."
Many homeowner policies have rules for homes left empty for a long time. Ask your insurance agent what yours requires. A dated, same-day report after every visit is a good record to keep either way.
Home watch, the Posse, a neighbor or cameras?
| Option | Goes inside? | Report and proof | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Posse Vacation Watch (free in Sun City and Sun City West) | No | Volunteers check that doors and windows look secure | Keep it. It's a great outside check. |
| A neighbor | Sometimes | Usually a text; often away in summer too | Short trips |
| Cameras and smart sensors | They see one spot | Alerts, but nobody checks under a sink or feels the heat | Adding on top of visits |
| Professional home watch | Yes, every visit | Same-day written or photo report, checklist, time-stamped | Homes empty for months |
How often should someone check an empty home?
Every 2 weeks is the most common schedule for a summer-empty Arizona home. Weekly is better if you have a pool, an older AC or water heater, or you just want closer watch. Our Essential and Full Care plans visit every 2 weeks; Concierge visits every week. Full Care and Concierge also add an extra visit within 24 hours after a monsoon storm, and Concierge homes are first in line.
What does it cost?
Spare Key plans run $1,494 to $4,794 a year, paid across the months you're away, and the months you're home are included. See what home watch costs and what to compare.
Quick answers
Is home watch the same as house-sitting?
No. Nobody stays in your home. A home watcher visits on a schedule, checks inside and out, and reports what they found.
Does home watch include repairs?
No. A home watcher finds problems early, stops damage when it's safe (like turning off the water), and calls you and a licensed pro. Spare Key never does repairs.
Where does Spare Key offer home watch?
Sun City Grand and the rest of Surprise, Sun City West, Sun City and Waddell, Arizona.
Who does the visits?
Local owners from Surprise. Nestor holds an Arizona DPS fingerprint clearance card, and you get the same watcher every visit.
See what your home needs
A free home watch visit at your home: about 45 minutes. We check the AC, water, garage and outside with you, send a same-day photo report and give you a written plan. No pressure.