YOUR PROPERTY IS OUR PRIORITY
Why Do I Need Home Watch?
Maybe you live out of state and own a second home or vacation home in beautiful SW Florida. Maybe you live local but own property elsewhere. Perhaps you’re a world traveler seeking adventure for a few months. You may have relatives needing additional support with their property. Whatever the scenario, when a home is left unattended, unoccupied or vacant, it’s left at great risk to vandalism, water leaks, HVAC failures, pest infestation, unattended storm damage and more. Keylime Home Watch cannot guarantee problems won’t arise, but we’re here to help lower the risks and ready to assist you while you’re away.
Keylime Home Watch customizes visits for our clients based on an initial walk-through. Once we establish your needs, we visit your property on a regular schedule, each time following a customizable, comprehensive checklist. This checklist covers the interior and exterior of your property.
GENERAL HOME WATCH CHECKLIST
UPON ARRIVAL
- Exterior check of grounds, landscape, pests, lawn and sprinklers
- Remove newspapers, flyers, check mailbox
- Visual check of outdoor light fixtures
- Visual exterior check including roof (from ground), screens, windows, AC units, fence
- Turn water ON – “gingerly”
- Enter home, disarm security system, if appropriate
INTERIOR CHECKLIST
- Check all windows and doors for damage and ensure they are locked
- Visual check for signs of water damage, mold and mildew
- Check refrigerator, freezers and wine coolers for proper temperature and operation
- Short cycle dishwasher and washer
- Check the water heater – it should be turned OFF at circuit breaker, or on Vacation Mode, when water main is OFF. If there is a Recirculation Pump, that should be OFF. Procedure varies by type of equipment
- Check for signs of insects, pests and rodents
- Check closets, pantry and storage cabinets
- Verify AC and humidistat settings; adjust as necessary
- Reset clocks after power outage
- Cycle the water: brush and flush toilets, run water in sinks (including garbage disposal), tubs and showers
- Check circuit breaker panels
- Check garage (including trash) and make sure door to garage is locked
LANAI / POOL AREA CHECKLIST
- Check equipment and pool control panel
- Check screen door, screening and cage structure
- Check water level and condition of water
- Check outdoor grill / refrigerator
DEPARTURE CHECKLIST
- One last look and listen
- Enable security system
- Lock doors
- Turn OFF water supply
CONCIERGE SERVICE
As an insured, bonded and professionally trained home watch service, we take care of homes with a commitment you can’t expect from your neighbors, friends or relatives. Our goal is to ensure that your Florida home continues to be a worry free and pleasurable experience for your family. Because we want your return to be seamless and stress free, we offer a concierge menu that can be personalized to fit your needs. These are services offered above and beyond those included in the Keylime Home Watch General Checklist. Our goal as a professional home watch company is to manage time-consuming details so you can enjoy your property and all SW Florida has to offer. Below is a list of concierge services we can provide.
- Start any vehicles, drive and check tire pressure, fluids
- Arrange to have cars cleaned, serviced, fueled
- Outdoor watering service - planting beds, containers
- Detailed landscape service - weeding, hand pruning, spent bloom removal
- Blowing/hosing off hard surfaces - lanai, walkways, driveway
- Maintenance & repair coordination & management
- Car Service coordination
- Laundry/dry-cleaning services
- Construction, contractor & service provider management
- Hurricane, severe weather response
- Forward or hold mail as specified by client
- Receipt and tracking of packages
- Give access to vendors/service providers
- Waiting services for repairs, delivery, installation, etc.
- Change smoke detector and thermostat batteries
- Open & prep home for owner or guest arrivals
- Close down home after guest departs
- Renter check-in & check-out walkthroughs
- Pre- and post- storm assistance inspection
- Auto care and maintenance
What Our Clients Say
"Simone and her team are professional, knowledgeable and reliable. Keylime watches our house the 7 months we are back in upstate NY. We rest easy knowing our special Florida home is in great hands. She checks our place, does her thorough walk through, sends an electronic report and lets us know if there are issues. If so, she helps problem solve and/or recommends someone to remediate the problem. During hurricane Ian, Simone was nothing short of a hero to us and our neighbors who are also her clients. She connected with us as soon as the storm became a risk. She knew what to do to be ready and she made sure it was done, including installing our storm shutters. As a result, we had very minor damage. She quickly recommended a reliable contractor who completed our work before his que got crazy long. We highly recommend Simone and Keylime Home Watch." - Mike & Allyson Stachura
"We bought a second home in Babcock National in 2020. Immediately after the purchase we hired Simone Simonton with Keylime Home Watch. It has been such a relief to know our house has been in such good hands as we are not there sometimes for months on end. Everything from checking water zones, humidity level, watering plants, keeping our golf cart charged and driven to making sure our home is cleaned before our arrival. Simone has a long checklist of what she looks after while we live our lives in Nashville Tennessee. She is in constant communication whenever we need her. She sends a report via email and texts or calls with any issues. It’s very important to us to have someone who is responsible and will get back to you immediately. Every time I have ever texted or called Simone she responds. We never think twice about our property in Babcock National because I know it is in great hands with Simone. When Hurricane Ian came through, Simone was on top of it. When they were predicting it was headed our way she took care of everything at our home and prepared for anything to come. After the hurricane, she was at our home checking to make sure everything was fine. We had a palm tree that fell on our garage, and she took photos and sent them to us. She immediately took care of the problem, I did not have to do anything. We have come to realize it is a necessity to have home watch when you have a second home and Simone with Keylime home watch is invaluable to us. We would not be able to have a second home if not for her service." - Jon and Wendy Field
"When I closed on my home in Babcock Ranch’s Parkside, Simone was recommended to me by the building project manager. At our first meeting I was impressed by how knowledgeable Simone is and how she explained her system of checking on homes when owners are absent. In addition to scheduled visits to make sure all is good at my home; she also offers a concierge service. She goes above and beyond being available when I have a workman coming in. I was so grateful when she realized that my pool pump was not working and pointed me in the right direction to get it fixed. Simone was amazing during Hurricane Ian. She made sure everything was secure including my hurricane shutters. I always get a timely response back from her when I call, text or email her a question. She has earned my trust and highest recommendation!" - Julie Yates
"I bought a home in Babcock Ranch, FL in 2020 and hired Simone and Keylime Home Watch immediately, as my primary residence is in IL. She is so detailed and goes above and beyond her checklist - knocking down spider webs, pulling weeds, watering plants, adding water to my pool if needed, etc. I feel like she cares for my home as I would, and I never worry while I'm up north. Even though she's my daughter, I can honestly say that she watches all of her clients' homes in the same way." - Donna Simonton
PERSONAL GARDENING SERVICE
With 30+ years of landscaping experience, we are excited to offer a Personal Gardening Service. Whether you are a Keylime Home Watch client or not, we can provide detailed weeding, edging, pruning, planting, mulching and landscape design.
MEET SIMONE
Simone Simonton, owner of Keylime Home Watch, moved from Nashville, TN to Babcock Ranch, FL in 2019. Simone is an award-winning songwriter, recording artist, and performing drummer. Simone also owned and operated a thriving landscaping business alongside her music career to honor her love of nature, and passion for preserving a home’s beauty, function and integrity. Having purchased a new home in Babcock Ranch, built and maintained two previous homes, and taken care of multiple investment properties, Simone is innately aware of the importance of watching your home to detect irregularities or vulnerabilities to avoid disaster. She is a member of the International Home Watch Alliance, and her professional training includes completion of the Home Watch Academy Course. Simone’s keen eye for detail, training and experience, and genuine enjoyment of serving people ensure that Keylime Home Watch is committed to providing exceptional, reliable custom service.
Keylime Home Watch is insured and bonded with the nation's only home watch industry-specific policy which can only be obtained as an accredited member of the National Home Watch Association. This means that both our members and Keylime Home Watch are well covered in the event something goes wrong. Most, if not all, home watch companies unaffiliated with the IHWA are not properly covered which leaves risk to both parties - the company and the member.
