Warning: Unqualified Home Watch Companies in Boca Raton — What Absentee Homeowners Must Know
- Lance
- Nov 16
- 4 min read
In South Florida—especially in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, and Parkland—the need for reliable, professional Home Watch services has never been greater. Seasonal and absentee homeowners depend on these companies to protect some of their most valuable assets while away.
But as the industry grows, so does the number of unqualified, unlicensed, and uninsured “Home Watch companies” popping up overnight.
Many of these businesses take a quick online course from out of state, print a certificate, and immediately open a Home Watch company in your city—often with:
an out-of-state phone number
no business insurance
no bonding
no license or verifiable credentials
no physical presence
no state-registered business entity
no ability to accept credit cards
and accepting only Zelle or similar payments that offer no protection and are not IRS-verified
For absentee homeowners, this is a serious red flag.
n Home Watch Services: How to Prevent Mold & Water Damage While You’re Away
1. Beware of “Online Course” Home Watch Companies Unqualified Home Watch Companies
The truth is: There is no official state-regulated Home Watch license or governing body.
Anyone can take a short online course—usually from a company in another state—and immediately call themselves a “Home Watch Professional,” even if they have:
never managed a property
never handled hurricane readiness
never dealt with water damage, mold, or electrical failures
never interacted with professional vendors
and have zero real experience inside Florida homes
Home Watch is not a hobby. It is a risk management service that requires experience, training, insurance, and a physical presence in the local area.
2. Out-of-State Phone Numbers Are a Warning Sign
If a Home Watch company lists:
a New York
New Jersey
Ohio
Pennsylvania
or any non-Florida phone number
…it usually means:
They are not truly local
They may not be licensed or insured in Florida
They recently formed the business with no local infrastructure
They may not respond immediately during emergencies
They may be handling operations from another state
Any legitimate Home Watch company operating in Boca Raton should have a local 561 phone number and a local physical address.
Your home needs support from someone who lives here, works here, and understands South Florida risks—not someone running a “remote home watch business” by phone.
3. Companies That Don’t Accept Credit Cards Should Raise Concern
If a Home Watch company:
refuses credit cards
refuses debit cards
refuses automatic billing
and accepts only Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, or similar platforms
…it is a MAJOR warning sign. Here’s why:
✔ No credit card means no fraud protection
Zelle payments are final and cannot be disputed.
✔ No business banking or merchant account
Legitimate companies process card payments through verified merchant services.
✔ No IRS traceability
Cash-app payments are a common method for businesses that do not want formal oversight.
✔ No receipts for tax deductions
Home Watch is often tax-deductible for absentee homeowners; you need proper documentation.
✔ No ability to automate payments
Travelers, snowbirds, and seasonal residents rely on auto-pay when outside the state or country.
If a Home Watch company “only accepts Zelle,” they are not operating at a professional level.
4. Always Ask to See Insurance, Bonding, and Business Registration
A legitimate Home Watch company in South Florida must provide:
General Liability Insurance
Errors & Omissions Coverage
Bonding (for access to your home and valuables)
Registered LLC or Corporation in Florida
Valid business address
Local references
If a company hesitates to provide these documents, or claims they don’t need them because they took an “online course,” walk away immediately.
You are giving this company:
access to your home
alarm codes
keys
garage access
security information
You must confirm that they are properly protected—because you are liable if they are not.
Why This Matters for Absentee Homeowners
Absentee and seasonal residents are at the highest risk because:
They are not present to verify the company’s legitimacy
They rely on the Home Watch provider for emergencies
They trust someone to enter their home when they are not there
They need reliable billing, communication, and documentation
They cannot resolve problems quickly if something goes wrong
Hiring the wrong Home Watch provider can lead to:
no-shows
missed inspections
undiscovered leaks
delayed emergency response
fraud
uninsured damage
unreported issues
denied insurance claims
and thousands—sometimes hundreds of thousands—in damage
Absentee Home Watch Standards: What Professional Home Watch REALLY Looks Like
At Absentee Home Watch, we:
✔ Are fully insured, bonded, and registered
✔ Have a local Boca Raton phone number
✔ Accept credit cards, debit cards, and auto-pay
✔ Provide digital inspection reports with photos and GPS stamp
✔ Manage vendor access responsibly
✔ Have real, local, in-person staff—not remote operators
✔ Use advanced leak detection systems like FloLogic
✔ Have years of hands-on field experience inside South Florida homes
✔ Are trusted by real homeowners, HOAs, estate managers, and luxury property owners.
We are not a company “born from an online course. ”We are a professional, established, full-service property protection team.
How to Protect Yourself When Hiring a Home Watch Company
Here is what every homeowner should ask:
✔ “Can you provide proof of insurance and bonding?”
No excuses. No delays.
✔ “Why is your office phone number from out of state?”
Local businesses have local numbers.
✔ “Do you accept credit cards and auto-pay?”
If the answer is no, walk away.
✔ “Are you a registered Florida business?”
Search Sunbiz.org to verify.
✔ “What experience do you have inside South Florida homes?”
Not online training—real, local experience.
✔ “Who will physically be inside my home?”
Many new companies outsource or subcontract with zero oversight.
✔ “Can I see sample inspection reports?”
Professional Home Watch firms provide digital, timestamped reports.
Final Thoughts: Protect Your Home, Not an Online Certificate
Your home is worth hundreds of thousands—often millions—of dollars.
Don’t trust it to someone with:
a phone number from outside the area
lack of insurance
absence of credit card processing
no valid business presence with an out-of-state certificate
Choose a company that’s established, insured, local, and truly committed to protecting your home—not one that opened last week after passing a $100 online course.
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