Question 1

What exactly is a home watch service?

Accepted Answer

Home watch is a scheduled visual inspection of your unoccupied home by a credentialed third party. We look for obvious issues — water, pests, security, mechanical — document everything, and report back. See the full list of home watch and concierge services we provide. Per NHWA standards, we are not property managers, contractors, or housesitters.

Question 2

How is this different from a property manager?

Accepted Answer

Property managers handle tenants, leases, and rental income. We don't rent your home or place anyone in it. Home watch is purely oversight on behalf of the owner — eyes on the property, documented findings, and coordinated response when something needs attention.

Question 3

Why do second homeowners specifically need this?

Accepted Answer

Mountain homes in Eagle County face altitude, sub-zero freeze cycles, heavy snow loads, wildlife intrusion, and weeks of vacancy. A small leak found in week one is a repair; the same leak found in week eight is a renovation. Documented visits also satisfy a growing number of insurance carriers.

Question 4

Is a housesitter or a neighbor enough?

Accepted Answer

A friendly neighbor is wonderful for a sense of security but isn't insured, bonded, trained on your systems, or able to produce a documented report your insurer will accept. Our NHWA accreditation and insurance coverage exist precisely to fill that gap. We're a complement to good neighbors, not a substitute for them.

Question 5

What areas of the Vail Valley do you serve?

Accepted Answer

Gypsum, Eagle, Edwards, Avon, Eagle-Vail, Minturn, and Vail — including Cordillera, Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Arrowhead, Singletree, and the surrounding mountain enclaves. If your home is nearby and you don't see your community listed, reach out and we'll confirm coverage.

Question 6

How often will you visit my home?

Accepted Answer

Most second homeowners choose weekly visits during winter and bi-weekly the rest of the year. We adjust around storms, hard freezes, deliveries, contractor work, and your travel — there is no rigid plan that ignores conditions on the ground. See how routine home watch checks are structured.

Question 7

What is checked on every visit?

Accepted Answer

Exterior walk-around, all entry points, plumbing fixtures and visible supply lines, water heater, HVAC operation, breaker panel, refrigerator and freezer, smoke and CO detectors, signs of pests or wildlife, thermostat readings, and any custom items unique to your home. The full scope of each inspection is built around your property.

Question 8

How long does a visit take?

Accepted Answer

Typically 30 to 60 minutes depending on home size and complexity. We don't shortcut a checklist to save time — every item is touched and recorded.

Question 9

How do you deliver the report?

Accepted Answer

Through HomeWatchIT, the industry-standard platform. You receive a time-stamped, GPS-verified report with the full checklist and photos of any item worth documenting — usually within an hour of leaving your property.

Question 10

How fast will I hear from you if something is wrong?

Accepted Answer

Immediately. Anything urgent — water, no heat, intrusion, freeze risk — is a phone call before you read it in a report, with photos following by text or email within minutes. See our emergency response protocol for the full sequence.

Question 11

Can I customize the checklist?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We build your inspection around your home's specific systems, your past concerns, and any items your insurer or HOA requires. The checklist evolves as we learn the property.

Question 12

Are you insured and bonded?

Accepted Answer

Yes — general liability, crime/fidelity insurance, and a surety bond. All required to maintain NHWA Accredited Member status, and certificates are available on request.

Question 13

Are you NHWA Accredited?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Vail Valley Home Watch is an Accredited Member of the National Home Watch Association, and Mark Fleecs holds the Certified Home Watch Professional (CHWP) designation. Read more about what NHWA accreditation requires and why it matters.

Question 14

Will my homeowners insurance require documented home watch visits?

Accepted Answer

Increasingly, yes — particularly for second homes left unoccupied for more than a few weeks. Carriers may reduce premiums, restore coverage, or condition claims on documented inspections. Our HomeWatchIT reports are designed to satisfy that requirement.

Question 15

How do you handle keys, codes, and alarms?

Accepted Answer

Keys are coded — never tagged with your address. Codes are stored in an access-controlled system on a strict need-to-know basis, and alarm credentials are unique per home so we can show exactly who armed and disarmed and when. Our keyholder services are documented end-to-end.

Question 16

Who actually shows up at my home?

Accepted Answer

Mark Fleecs, personally. This is intentionally an owner-operated business — the person you meet at the consultation is the person walking your property every visit.

Question 17

What's Mark's background?

Accepted Answer

Thirty-one years with the Denver Police Department, retired as a Police Commander, and eight-plus years as a Vail Valley resident. Read Mark's full background and approach — the whole point of the service is honesty, integrity, accountability, and ethical behavior, and that's the career that proves it.

Question 18

How is pricing structured?

Accepted Answer

A flat monthly rate based on home size, complexity of systems, visit frequency, and access logistics. No surprise per-item fees during a routine visit — concierge work, vendor coordination, and special requests are quoted separately and approved by you in advance. Request a written proposal to see exact numbers for your property.

Question 19

Are there long-term contracts?

Accepted Answer

No. Service is month-to-month with a simple agreement you can pause when you're back in residence and resume when you leave. Most clients stay because the service earns it, not because they're locked in.

Question 20

What's included in the consultation?

Accepted Answer

A free, no-obligation walkthrough of your home — usually 60 to 90 minutes. We document systems, shut-offs, mechanical equipment, vendor contacts, and your specific concerns, then send a written proposal with the recommended visit cadence and price. Schedule a consultation when you're ready.

Question 21

What does onboarding look like once I sign up?

Accepted Answer

We complete a detailed home profile, exchange keys and codes through our secure protocol, set up your HomeWatchIT account, confirm emergency contacts and authorized vendors, and schedule your first visit — typically all within a week.

Question 22

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Use the contact form, phone, or email on our contact page. We'll set a time for the consultation, walk the property together, and you'll have a written proposal in hand a few days later.

Question 23

What happens if a pipe freezes between visits?

Accepted Answer

If we discover a freeze in progress, we shut the water off at the main, document the scene, contact you immediately, and stand by for an approved restoration vendor. Weekly winter visits exist specifically to shorten the window in which this can happen unnoticed — see our storm and freeze prep services.

Question 24

Do you handle pre-storm and post-storm checks?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ahead of significant weather we verify shutoffs, heat, generator status, and exterior items that could become projectiles. After the storm we walk the property for snow load, ice damming, downed trees, gutters, and any forced entry caused by debris. These are part of our standard storm prep services.

Question 25

What's your protocol during a wildfire evacuation order?

Accepted Answer

If county evacuation orders allow access, we perform a pre-evacuation walkthrough — clearing combustibles near the home, confirming windows are shut, and documenting current conditions. We do not enter restricted zones; once reopened, we're typically among the first back to assess.

Question 26

What about extended power outages?

Accepted Answer

We monitor known outages in your area, visit to confirm generator startup or check freezer/refrigerator temperatures, and coordinate fuel delivery if your generator runs low. Photos and timestamps document the chain of events for any claim.

Question 27

Do you check on vehicles left in the garage?

Accepted Answer

Yes — battery tenders connected, tires holding pressure, no fluid leaks, doors locked. For longer absences we can arrange a periodic start-and-run with one of our vetted vendors.

Question 28

Can you arrange a pre-arrival warm-up so the home is ready when I land?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We'll raise thermostats, run water, confirm the hot tub is heating, stock the refrigerator through a delivery service, and meet a cleaner in advance — all part of our concierge services. You walk into a home that feels lived-in, not woken up.

Question 29

Can you receive mail and packages while I'm away?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We collect mail and packages on each visit, photograph anything that looks important, and either hold it for your return or forward it per your standing instructions.

Question 30

Do you coordinate repairs and contractors?

Accepted Answer

Yes — with your authorization. We meet vendors on-site, supervise as appropriate, document the work with photos, and confirm completion before approving payment. See our handyman and vendor coordination services. You stay in control of every dollar spent.

Question 31

How do you handle access at gated communities?

Accepted Answer

We work with the gate or HOA office in advance — Cordillera, Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Arrowhead, and the others all have their own protocols. Once enrolled we appear on your authorized access list and visits are seamless.

Question 32

Will you work with my existing housekeeper, landscaper, or property manager?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and we prefer to. Disrupting trusted relationships isn't the point — we slot in alongside your team, communicate visit findings to them when relevant, and let you keep the people you already trust.

Question 33

Can you let in cleaners, deliveries, and tradespeople before guests arrive?

Accepted Answer

That's one of the most common concierge requests we handle. We grant secure access, confirm the work was completed, walk the home, and lock up — so the home is genuinely guest-ready, not just scheduled to be.

Question 34

What if there's a true emergency in the middle of the night?

Accepted Answer

Active alarms, water alerts, and fire systems route to monitoring centers; emergency services are dispatched first. We respond to the property as soon as it is safe and serve as your eyes on the ground while you decide next steps — contact us to set up emergency authorization in advance.

Question 35

Do you offer concierge services beyond inspections?

Accepted Answer

Yes — package handling, mail forwarding, vendor coordination, pre-arrival prep, post-departure close-down, and project oversight. The full concierge service list is on the services page; if it's something a trusted local would do for you, ask.

35 answers, in plain English.

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