About Snowbird Secure

 Home Watch Is Becoming a Requirement

If you own a vacation home or condo in Florida — especially one you leave empty for months — you need to pay attention to how insurance companies are shifting the rules. More and more insurers are treating prolonged vacancy as a major liability. The result? Many policies now come with clauses that either require regular property checks or significantly limit coverage if the home appears “unoccupied.”

That change isn’t just bureaucratic noise — it can have serious financial consequences if you don’t comply.

When a home sits empty for 30–60+ days, it’s exposed to far greater risk: water damage, plumbing failures, mold, theft, weather damage, and more. 

Insurance companies know this. That’s why many policies now include vacancy clauses — meaning if your house or condo hasn’t had regular inspections/maintenance or appears unoccupied for too long, certain coverages (like water damage, fire, theft, or vandalism) may be restricted or voided entirely

In other words: the protective blanket of a standard homeowner policy doesn’t automatically apply if you’re gone for months.

That’s where a professional home watch service becomes more than a convenience — it’s often a necessity to maintain coverage. Some insurers explicitly require:

• Regular, documented inspections of the home if it’s vacant or seasonal
   
• Maintenance of utilities, plumbing, and general upkeep during absence.
   
• Evidence (reports, photos, documentation) that checks were done — to verify the owner was taking responsible care of the property.
   

If you can’t prove these things, insurance companies can — and do — deny claims for damage that occurs while you’re away. That’s a major risk for snowbirds who leave their Florida homes vacant for extended periods. 

As the Florida property insurance market tightens, using a trustworthy home watch provider becomes a strategic decision — not a luxury. Here’s how Snowbird Secure answers the call:

• Routine, scheduled inspections — we check on your property at frequency that aligns with insurer expectations (weekly, biweekly, or per your policy requirements).
   
• Full checks of plumbing, HVAC, and utilities — checking for leaks, water heater or pipe issues, HVAC problems, and anything that could trigger a damage claim.
   
• Photo & written reports — time-stamped documentation of the home’s condition helping prove compliance to insurers in case of a claim.
   
• Emergency response coordination — if we spot an issue (like a leak or a malfunction), we alert you and can coordinate local contractors immediately — instead of waiting until you return to Canada.
   
• Preventive maintenance and risk mitigation — making sure your property doesn’t just “look good,” but is actually maintained to avoid structural or system failures while vacant.
   

With Snowbird Secure, you don’t leave your insurance — or your investment — to chance.

If you own or plan to own a Florida home but spend the bulk of the year elsewhere, you must consider these realities:

• A standard homeowner’s policy might become ineffective after 30–60 days of vacancy.
   
• If damage happens while you’re away and you can’t prove regular inspections or care, your claim may be denied.
   
• Hiring a professional, documented home watch service isn’t optional — it’s fast becoming an insurance-compliance requirement.
   
• The cost of home watch is minimal compared to the cost of denied claims or catastrophic damage.
   

For snowbirds, it’s not about convenience — it’s about protecting your home, your money, and your peace of mind.