Frequently Asked Questions

Home Watch is defined as a visual inspection of a home or property, looking for obvious issues. It is a professional service dedicated to monitoring your property while it sits vacant or unoccupied. A certified Home Watch professional visits your home on a scheduled basis and conducts a systematic inspection of every system, surface, and space — checking for water intrusion, HVAC failures, pest activity, mold indicators, storm damage, unauthorized entry, and anything else that could quietly develop into a serious problem while you are away. After every visit, you receive a detailed report with dated photographs confirming the condition of your home.

Résidence St. Petersburg is a private property concierge and management service for luxury condo owners who spend part of the year away from their residence. We act as your dedicated house manager — overseeing routine inspections, coordinating vendors, preparing your home before every arrival, and responding to emergencies on your behalf.

Your building’s management team is responsible for common areas, shared systems, and the overall operation of the property — not the individual needs of your unit. Résidence works exclusively inside your residence, managing everything from your HVAC and appliances to your linen service, vendor relationships, and pre-arrival preparation.

Before your return, our team executes a complete Property Readiness sequence — typically triggered 24 to 72 hours before your arrival. This includes a full linen refresh with freshly laundered and hotel-staged bedding and towels, a food and beverage restock based on your personal preference list, climate preset to your preferred temperature, a detail clean throughout the residence, and a full systems check of your smart home, AV, lighting, and security.

We deliberately limit the number of properties we serve. Our model is built on the belief that exceptional service is impossible at scale — so we will never take on more clients than we can serve at the standard Résidence is known for.

Every service agreement is tailored. While our three tiers — Caretaker Home Watch, Residence Home Watch, and Estate Home Watch — provide a clear framework, we build around your specific property, usage pattern, and preferences.

Absolutely. Confidentiality is foundational to our service. Every team member, vendor, and subcontractor signs a comprehensive non-disclosure agreement before engaging with any client property. Your schedule, access information, personal details, and property contents are never discussed, referenced, or shared outside the direct service relationship — under any circumstances.

Every Résidence client has direct access to our 24/7 emergency response line. If an issue arises — a water leak, a power failure, storm damage, or a security concern — we respond in person, assess the situation, coordinate the appropriate vendor or service, document everything with photographs, and keep you informed at every step.

Résidence carries comprehensive professional liability coverage up to $2 million and a $25,000 Employee Dishonesty Bond. All staff and vendors undergo criminal background checks and sign comprehensive non-disclosure agreements prior to any property access. Certificates of insurance and bond documentation are available upon request for any client, HOA board, or building management team.

The Florida Home Watch Association (FHWA) is the state’s professional organization dedicated exclusively to home watch providers operating in Florida. Unlike national organizations, the FHWA was built around the specific conditions and risks of Florida property ownership — hurricane season, tropical humidity, extended seasonal vacancies, and the particular challenges of high-rise condo oversight in coastal markets like Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg.

FHWA accreditation is not automatic or self-granted. It requires members to demonstrate adherence to established standards of practice, compliance with a formal code of professional ethics, and a commitment to continuing education. The accreditation process exists specifically to distinguish legitimate, trained home watch professionals from informal or unlicensed operations that carry no accountability and no recourse for the property owner if something goes wrong while they are away.

For a luxury condo owner, choosing an FHWA-accredited provider means working with a company measured against a recognized, Florida-specific professional standard. Think of it the way you would think about choosing a licensed contractor over an unlicensed handyman — the credential is a proxy for training, standards compliance, and professional accountability. Résidence St. Petersburg holds active FHWA accreditation alongside our Florida Licensed CAM designation, $2 million professional liability coverage, and a $25,000 employee dishonesty bond — giving our clients one of the most comprehensive, verifiable protection profiles in the St. Petersburg market.

Getting started begins with a conversation. Reach out by phone, email, or through our contact form, and we will schedule a private consultation — either in person at your residence or by phone. We will learn about your property, how you use it, and what matters most to you. From there, we will recommend a service tier, walk you through the agreement, and begin onboarding your property into our system. Most clients are fully set up within one week of their first conversation.