Not all home watch reports are equal. Here's what a professional inspection report includes — and the reporting standards that actually protect you.
The visit is the service, but the report is the proof. For insurance purposes, documentation, and your own peace of mind, the written, dated, photographed record of each inspection is arguably the most valuable thing your home watch company provides.
Every inspection report should contain: the date and time, the inspector's name and credential, the property address, a line-by-line checklist of every item inspected with condition noted, photographs of key systems and any items of note, flags or concerns identified, recommended follow-up actions, and the next scheduled visit date.
Photos of water heater, HVAC unit, pool equipment, exterior perimeter, and any rooms where something warrants documentation. When an issue is found: close-up photos plus wide-context photos showing the location within the home.
Modern home watch companies deliver reports digitally through a homeowner portal. The best systems allow you to access every historical report for your property at any time — a searchable documented history. Paper reports are a legacy standard that's becoming outdated.
Be skeptical of verbal-only updates, generic text messages without documentation, reports that are identical visit after visit, and reports without photographs.
Related reading: Your First Month with a Home Watch Service: What to Expect.
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