Home Watch services in Venice area (Gulf Breeze: house, neighborhood, buy)

[choff5]

I did a search and found a little on this but only one company mentioned awhile back. Anyone have suggestions on a licensed, bonded home watch service for us snowbirds? Did the google search and several came up but was hoping for any experiences others had. Yes, I know, get a neighbor to check in but since we are new to the area, I want a reliable service for at least this coming year. Thanks.

[craigiri]

We've used Gulf Breeze Home Watch for two years - they have been great.

[Kalen Kane]

The best suggestion is to get someone you KNOW, not a paid service. Most suck. Consider getting an app for your alarm system so you can not only monitor for break-ins etc but can watch via cameras real time. Buy a system, not a contract for outsiders to enter your home willy-nilly. One time cost, probably cheaper than the fees, which must be renewed.

[choff5]

Thanks so far. Appreciate anyone else who has had experience with a service. I am curious in which way "most suck". Totally agree with getting someone you KNOW instead but until we've lived here for awhile I'd rather trust a licensed service with hopefully good references since I can't say I KNOW someone well enough to ask. Also agree with monitoring and are looking into that as well. In the meantime, any other suggestions from experiences?

[motordavid]

^ Why would you have to live 'there for awhile'?
In a few days one can poll their neighbors for recommendations/who they use, maybe check out the community electronic bulletin board, etc. and come up with a few possibilities.

Call up those of interest and give them a quick interview and pick one. If you don't like them it will soon be apparent, and find another...

I would and do use a home watch person lives in our neighborhood and came recommended vs some outside service that is more commercial, has to come into the community, doesn't live there, etc.

In our 13 winter seasons, the local person(s) are all OK. None have been 'excellent' or perfect, but we are just interested in the basic stuff in keeping the winter joint working and system(s) running, while we are gone in summer.
GL, mD

[choff5]

Motordavid, thanks. I guess "living there for awhile" was my tongue-in-cheek response to the all caps comment about knowing someone from a previous poster. Definitely will ask around once we are there and I've been told there is a NextDoor group available too so recs from the locals make more sense than throwing it out here to the great unknown of the internet. Still, there's a vast amount of knowledge here on CD, it's just a matter of filtering through it for what a person needs, or wants. I learned a lot here over time about house hunting in Florida.