Baldwin County’s Alabama Coast Home Watch Earns National Accreditation for Absentee Home Checks

FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Alabama Coast Home Watch, a Baldwin County company that checks on homes while their owners are away, has earned accreditation from the National Home Watch Association. The association sets industry standards for home watch and absentee homeowner services.

The accreditation places the local business among companies recognized by a national organization that has worked since 2009 to define professional expectations for a growing service industry, one that has particular appeal along the Gulf Coast, where many homes belong to seasonal residents, frequent travelers and second-home owners.

Who Is Behind Alabama Coast Home Watch

The company was founded by Holly and Kevin Richard, who moved from Colorado to Alabama in 2023. The couple also operates ChumShop Handyman Service.

The Richards bring more than 20 years of experience owning and operating camping resorts, a background that involves maintaining property, managing facilities and serving guests. Kevin Richard is also a former Colorado State Patrol trooper.

What Home Watch Means

Home watch is a service built around visual inspections of a property while its owner is away. Unlike a full-service property manager, a home watch provider typically focuses on regularly checking the home, spotting problems early and alerting the owner so issues can be addressed before they grow.

Alabama Coast Home Watch said it checks properties for issues involving:

• Doors and windows
• Plumbing
• HVAC systems
• Appliances
• Irrigation
• Pests
• Weather or storm damage

Each item on that list can turn into an expensive problem if no one is around to notice it. A slow plumbing leak can damage floors and walls over weeks. An air conditioning failure in a South Alabama summer can allow humidity to build up inside a closed house. A broken irrigation line can waste water and flood landscaping, and an unnoticed storm-damaged window can let rain in.

Why It Matters on the Gulf Coast

Baldwin County’s mix of full-time residents, winter visitors, snowbirds and owners of second homes creates a steady need for someone to keep an eye on houses that may sit empty for weeks or months. Homeowners who travel for work, spend part of the year elsewhere or are caring for family out of town may also use such services.

Weather is a major factor. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, and the Alabama coast regularly deals with tropical storms, heavy rain and strong thunderstorms. After a storm passes, absent owners often have no way of knowing whether their property was damaged. A home watch visit can confirm the condition of the home and document any problems.

Heat and humidity also take a toll on vacant homes in the region, making regular checks of HVAC systems and signs of moisture especially important.

Communities Served

Alabama Coast Home Watch serves homeowners in Baldwin County, with a service area that includes:

• Spanish Fort
• Daphne
• Fairhope
• Point Clear
• Robertsdale
• Loxley
• Silverhill
• Summerdale
• Magnolia Springs

That coverage area stretches from the Eastern Shore communities along Mobile Bay, including Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope and Point Clear, to the central Baldwin towns of Robertsdale, Loxley, Silverhill and Summerdale, and south to the river community of Magnolia Springs.

About the National Home Watch Association

The National Home Watch Association was established in 2009 to set standards for home watch and absentee homeowner services. According to the association, principals of its accredited member companies undergo background checks and are insured and bonded.

Those requirements address some of the most common concerns homeowners have when giving a company access to an empty house. Insurance helps cover liability if something goes wrong during a visit, and bonding offers a layer of protection for the client. Background checks provide added assurance about the people entering the property.

Preparing a Home Before Leaving

Even with a home watch provider in place, homeowners can take a few general steps before leaving a property empty for an extended period. Many owners set the thermostat to a level that controls humidity rather than shutting the air conditioning off entirely, unplug nonessential electronics, clear out perishable food and make sure gutters and drains are clear.

It also helps to leave the home watch company with current contact information, a list of trusted contractors and clear instructions about what to do if a problem is found. During hurricane season, owners may want to discuss in advance whether shutters should be closed, outdoor furniture secured or a post-storm visit added to the schedule.

Keeping records of each inspection can be useful as well. Documentation of a home’s condition before and after a storm can help owners understand what changed and when, which may matter if they need to file an insurance claim.

What Homeowners Should Ask

For residents considering a home watch service, from any provider, a few general questions can help in comparing options:

• How often will the home be visited, and can the schedule increase before or after a storm?
• What exactly is inspected on each visit?
• How will the homeowner receive reports, and will they include photos?
• Is the company insured and bonded, and are its principals background-checked?
• What happens if a problem is found, and how are repairs or emergency responses coordinated?

Accreditation from a national organization is one way homeowners can gauge whether a company follows recognized standards.

A Growing Local Service

For the Richards, the accreditation marks a milestone a few years after their move to Alabama. Combined with their handyman business, it positions the couple to offer Baldwin County homeowners both regular property checks and help with the repairs that inspections sometimes uncover.

Homeowners in the company’s service area who are interested in home watch services can contact Alabama Coast Home Watch directly for information on visit schedules and pricing.