Holiday home watch service in Exeter
Professional holiday home watch service services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
30 mins-1 hr
Location
Exeter, Devon
Holiday home watch service - regular checks while you're away to monitor security, heating, post, and spot problems before they become disasters. Go away knowing someone reliable is keeping an eye on things.
Someone Keeping an Eye on Your Empty House
Going away for two weeks? Two weeks is a long time for pipes to burst, roofs to leak, or break-ins to go unnoticed.
💡 Pro tip: Insurance policies often require properties to be checked every 7 days if empty for extended periods. This service keeps you compliant and gives genuine peace of mind.
Why Professional Checks Matter
Neighbors might notice something obvious. They won't spot heating failures or slow leaks until it's catastrophic.
| ✅ Professional Service | ❌ No Checks |
|---|---|
| Weekly systematic checks | Problems unnoticed for weeks |
| Issues spotted early (small leaks) | Return to disaster (burst pipes) |
| Immediate contact if problems found | No one to deal with emergencies |
| House looks occupied (curtains, lights) | Obviously empty (easy target) |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Security check | Windows, doors, signs of break-in attempt |
| Systems check | Heating working, no leaks, electrics functioning |
| Post collection | Mail secured indoors, not piling up visibly |
| Occupancy appearance | Curtains opened/closed, lights varied |
📦 You're Left With
- Regular confirmation all's well
- Early warning if problems develop
- Post kept secure
- House looking occupied
- Insurance compliance maintained
Pricing Guide
| Visit Frequency | Per Visit | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly check (1 visit/week) | 30 mins-1 hr | £60 per visit |
| Twice weekly (winter months) | 30 mins per visit | £60 per visit |
| Daily visit (extended absence) | 30 mins per visit | £60 per visit |
| Plus additional tasks (plant watering, etc) | +15-30 mins | +£25-£50 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour). Multiple visits booked in advance. Additional tasks quoted separately.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Holiday abroad - away for 1-4 weeks
✅ Winter break - frost and burst pipe risk
✅ Work trip - extended absence, house empty
✅ Second home - property unoccupied most of year
✅ No neighbors - no one local to check for you
✅ Insurance requirement - policy requires regular checks
Why Choose Us for Holiday home watch service in Exeter?
Regular security checks while you're away
Heating and systems monitored
Post collected and stored safely
Issues identified and reported immediately
What to Expect
Step 1: Pre-Holiday Brief
Before you go, you show me around, point out anything specific to check, give me keys and alarm codes. We agree visit schedule and what needs doing.
Step 2: Regular Visits
I visit on agreed days, check everything systematically, deal with post, make house look occupied. You get a text after each visit confirming all's well.
Step 3: Problem Response
If I find anything - leak, break-in attempt, heating failure - I contact you immediately with photos and sort out emergency response if needed.
Step 4: Return
When you're back, I return keys, give you collected post, update you on anything noticed. Simple handover.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to prepare your house for absence yourself? Here's what matters:
🔧 Before you leave
- Set heating to frost protection (10-12°C minimum)
- Turn off water at mains (or leave heating on)
- Empty fridge of perishables
- Unplug non-essential electronics
- Cancel milk/newspaper deliveries
- Redirect post or ask neighbor to collect
📐 Security measures
- Timer switches for lamps (vary times)
- Lock all windows including upstairs
- Valuables out of sight from windows
- Don't announce holiday on social media
- Car in garage if possible
✂️ Neighbor arrangements
- Ask them to notice obvious problems
- Give them your contact number
- Don't burden them with daily tasks
- Small thank-you gift when you return
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Turning heating completely off (burst pipes)
- Leaving post piling up visibly (screams "we're away")
- Curtains closed 24/7 (looks unoccupied)
- Plants dying in windows (another giveaway)
- Bins left out for weeks
💡 Pro trick: Set different timer switches in different rooms so lights move around the house at realistic times. One lamp on all night looks like you forgot it. Lights going on/off in kitchen at 6pm then living room at 7pm looks like someone's home.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Extended winter absence? If you're away for months (winter rental, long work trip), I can do weekly checks throughout. Essential in Exeter's winter - heating failures lead to burst pipes fast.
Additional tasks included? Basic stuff like bringing bins in, opening/closing curtains, collecting post - all included. Extra tasks like plant watering, pet feeding, garden maintenance get quoted separately but can all be bundled.
Second home owners? This is perfect for people with Devon holiday homes they don't visit all winter. Regular checks keep the property maintained and insurance valid.
Elderly relatives' houses? Common request - checking on parents' house while they're staying with you over Christmas or away on holiday. Makes sure everything's okay back at theirs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you actually do when checking my house?
I walk through checking everything looks normal - no break-ins, no leaks, heating working, no burst pipes. I collect post, open/close curtains to make it look occupied, check for any problems. You get a text after each visit confirming all's well.
How often do you visit while I'm away?
Usually weekly for holidays, but it depends on the season and how long you're away. In winter I'd recommend twice a week because of heating/burst pipe risks. Summer holidays can be weekly. We'll agree a schedule that makes sense.
What if you find a problem during a check?
I contact you immediately with photos. If it's urgent (leak, break-in), I'll deal with it straight away - call plumber, secure property, whatever's needed. You're updated throughout. That's exactly why you want someone checking regularly.
Do I need to give you a key?
Yes - either a spare key or alarm code for keypad entry. I keep keys secure and they're returned when you're back. I've been doing this for years - plenty of people trust me with house access while they're on holiday.
Can you do other tasks while checking the house?
Absolutely - water plants, bring bins in/out, feed pets, adjust heating, forward urgent post. Just tell me what needs doing. I'm there anyway, so small tasks don't add much to the price.
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01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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