Home watch services
These are the basic home watch services Blue Integrity Home Watch Services provides at every visit. Other services can be discussed and agreed on with you. Your home is treated the way we treat our own when it comes to care, convenience, and reliability.
What every visit includes
Before service starts, we walk through your home with you and write down your instructions: which water to leave on, how the thermostat should be set, which vehicles to run. Every visit then follows those instructions.
After each visit you receive a report by email with photos. If anything significant turns up, we call you.
View a sample report- Turn water on or off per your instructions, flush toilets, and run water in showers, sinks, and tubs
- Check for visible leaks in bathroom, kitchen, and utility room plumbing where accessible
- Check that the water heater is working and set properly, per your instructions
- Check that air conditioning and the humidistat, if installed, are cooling and set per your instructions
- Check for any visible damage to the property
- Check for insect infestations and signs of rodents
- Check that refrigerators, ice makers, and freezers are working
- Check for obvious signs of mold or mildew
- Verify that the security system, if installed, is set
- Check that curtains, blinds, and window coverings are positioned per your instructions
- Monitor vendor services such as pool and hot tub service or house cleaning, per your instructions
- Check that all doors and windows are secured and free from visible leaks
- Verify that sheds, garages, outdoor furniture, boats, and hoists are secured, per your instructions
- Check the inside of the garage and run your vehicles, per your instructions
- Take care of newspapers, mail, and packages, per your instructions
Services provided
Choose the one that fits your situation to read more.
Also available
Arranged on request and priced by agreement before any work is done.
Meeting contractors
Blue Integrity can meet and monitor contractors at your home for an hourly fee agreed on in advance.
Trusted vendors
We keep a list of highly rated, trusted local vendors for repairs and maintenance, and can arrange the work for you.
New home and relocation
Help getting a newly purchased home ready, or looking after a home while you move in or out.
Storm and power outage checks
An extra visit after a major storm or outage to make sure the furnace, sump pump, and generator did their jobs.
Where we work
Blue Integrity Home Watch Services serves Oakland County, with a focus on Bloomfield, Waterford, White Lake, Orchard Lake, Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake, Rochester, and Royal Oak. If your home is just outside these towns, ask us.
The complete visit checklist
Every visit follows the same 53 point checklist, in the same order. Each item is marked OK, Attention, or Problem in your report, so you can see that nothing was skipped. Items your home does not have are left off.
Show all 53 itemsHide the checklist
Arrival and exterior
- Front door, locks, and frameSigns of tampering, swelling, or damage
- Windows and storm windows, all sidesCracks, gaps, condensation between panes
- Roof, gutters, and ice dams from ground levelIcicles, sagging gutters, missing shingles
- Driveway, walks, and stepsSnow and ice cleared, plow service came, trip hazards
- Deck, porch, and railings
- Landscaping and downspoutsDownspouts clear, extensions in place, drainage away from house
- Mail, packages, and flyersCollect and bring inside. Piled up flyers say nobody is home
- Exterior lights, timers, and cameras
- Signs of animals or pestsTracks, droppings, chewed siding, nests in vents
- Lake, dock, and boat coverSkip if none
Interior general
- Alarm system status on entryNote any faults or low battery
- Overall smellGas, mildew, sewer, smoke, something dead
- Thermostat setting and actual temperatureOwner's away setting, usually 55 to 60
- Humidity readingWinter target 30 to 40 percent
- Ceilings and wallsStains, cracks, bubbling paint, frost
- FloorsWater, warping, discoloration
- Signs of mice insideDroppings along walls, under sinks, in pantry
- Lights, timers, and ceiling fans working
- Windows and doors locked from inside
Kitchen
- Refrigerator and freezer temperatureNote reading, check for spoilage
- Dishwasher, run a short cycleCheck for leaks under and around
- Garbage disposal, run with water
- Under sink plumbingDrips, moisture, corrosion, frozen pipe risk on outside walls
- Ice maker supply line
- Range, oven, and microwave power on
Bathrooms
- Flush every toiletWatch for slow fill or running
- Run every faucet and showerKeeps traps full, check drainage, confirms pipes are not frozen
- Under sink plumbing
- Exhaust fans
- Grout, caulk, and mildew
Laundry
- Washer hoses and shutoff valvesBulging, cracking, moisture
- Dryer vent and lint
- Run a short washer cycle
Basement and mechanical
- Furnace running and heatingListen for short cycling, check flame
- Furnace filter
- Water heaterLeaks, corrosion, pilot lit, temperature setting
- Sump pump testPour water in the pit, confirm it runs and drains. Check backup battery
- Basement walls and floorSeepage, efflorescence, cracks, standing water
- Main water shutoffNote whether open or closed
- Electrical panelTripped breakers, heat, buzzing
- Water softener salt level
- Pipes on exterior walls and in crawl spacesHeat tape working, insulation in place
- Generator test runSkip if none
- Water leak sensors and smart devices online
Garage
- Garage door operation and seal
- VehiclesBattery tender connected, tires, start engine if requested
- Snowblower and outdoor equipmentSkip if none
- Odors, moisture, or pests
Closing
- All doors and windows locked
- Thermostat set to owner's away setting
- Lights off, timers as instructed
- Alarm armed
- Front door on exitProof of secure departure
Request a quote for your home
Every home is different. Tell us about yours and we will get back to you within one business day.