About Home Watch
What Is Home Watch?
Home Watch has been defined by its industry as "a visual inspection of a property looking for obvious issues." Home watch offers an alternative to traditional house sitting - where someone comes to live in your home while you are away. With home watch, you can be assured that only the inspector will be in your home for scheduled inspections. You may have heard about home watch by many different names to include property watch, house watch, house check, home monitoring, property check services, etc., but, regardless, the purpose is to give clients the peace of mind that they need while they are away from their property.
Why Do You Need Home Watch?
Modern technologies have made life so much more convenient. We can use our cell phones to change the temperatures in our homes or monitor the camera at our front door, but, when you are hundreds of miles away and there is a broken pipe, freezer, door or window, it is much better to have a person there to help assess the damage and act as a liaison for law enforcement or workmen that may need access to your home if it is needed. A person more effectively deals with unexpected issues. Although your cell phone or computer may be sleek and smart and have many neat functions, when it comes to your home, a person is better than a computer.
Hill Country Home Watch Service Can Help You!
We can perform routine and affordable house checks with a customizable checklist designed for your peace of mind. We use a state-of-the-art reporting system so that you can be immediately notified of any problems that may arise as well as be informed of the general well-being of your home. We can also act as a key holder in your absence. Hill Country Home Watch Service is also fully insured and bonded. It is our goal that you thoroughly enjoy your time away and leave the worry to us!
About Us
My name is Celeste Pope and I am the owner of Hill Country Home Watch Service. I moved with my husband and kids to Texas in the summer of 2015. What struck me most when I moved was the size of the state and how hot it was! Through these years, though, I have come to love Texas and understand why there is so much pride here. Austin is truly beautiful and awesome - despite the heat!
Celeste Pope, Owner
Although my background is actually in teaching - I have been a piano teacher, school teacher, Sunday School teacher, homeschool teacher and mom, who, technically, is a teacher of everything - I have always loved houses and, through the years, have been able to help others care for and maintain their homes. I also love being available for people and helping them out in whatever capacity they may need.
I chose to start this business while on vacation. Although I was having fun, I found that the smallest part of me was worried about my home and hoping that everything was ok. Did the fridge go out (because it would be my luck that it would go out while I wasn't there, right?) Was the a/c unit working? Did the storm that came through the area cause any damage? What about the power? Did anyone break in? And to add to my distress, I knew I was coming home too late to get groceries and there would be no fresh food to eat. It was then I realized that if I worried about these things, then others did, too! I felt that I could serve my community by offering my services to be "eyes and ears" while they were away.
I have found that partnering with the National Home Watch Association was a tremendous help. The members have been incredible and patient with offering advice and have been with me every step of the way. The association also conducts a strict review of backgrounds and references, bonding and insurance, and members must abide by a code of ethics to be in the association. I feel that I am being mentored by the best!
Our company also uses business management software provided by Home Watch IT. The reports we send you are all professionally produced by us, using software that captures the GPS coordinates as well as the time and date that correspond to the report’s creation. You have infallible evidence that your home was visited should you ever have an insurance claim or other need.
So, if you are like me and worry while you're away....don't. Give us a call. We'll make sure your home is watched...but in a good way.