Home Watch vs House Sitting — What Palm Beach County Homeowners Need to Know

The terms are used interchangeably but they are fundamentally different services. Understanding the distinction protects your home and your insurance.
House Sitting
House sitting is someone staying in your home while you are away — a friend, family member, or paid sitter. It provides a human presence but is not a documented inspection service, and most house sitters are not bonded, insured, or trained.
Home Watch
Home watch is a scheduled visual inspection performed by a bonded, insured, and NHWA-accredited professional. Every visit produces documented photo evidence of your property's condition.
Why Insurance Prefers Home Watch
Documentation is the difference at claim time. Home watch produces a verifiable timeline of inspections. House sitting does not.
Which Is Right for You
For extended absences the standard is home watch. House sitting is appropriate for very short absences where a friend is genuinely staying in the home.
Getting Started
Call Palm Beach Home Watch at 561-913-2023 for a walkthrough and custom protocol.
