Proper Home Watch Insurance Is Key to Your Home’s Protection

By Jack Luber, Founder & Executive Director, NHWA

Who is in your home while you are away?

Discerning and prudent seasonal homeowners, frequent travelers, and snowbirds arrange for someone to check on their home during their absence. Whether it’s a primary residence or a second home, regular check‑ins can help identify and mitigate problems before they become costly disasters.

Many homeowners feel comfortable asking a neighbor, friend, or relative to keep an eye on things. While well‑intentioned, this approach can come with drawbacks: missed warning signs, damage caused by a lack of knowledge or experience, and—perhaps most importantly—no real accountability.

When homeowners learn about the professional alternative known as Home Watch, many choose it. But not all Home Watch services are created equal. Without proper training, established policies and procedures, and—critically—appropriate insurance coverage, a less‑than‑legitimate Home Watcher may offer little more protection than a helpful neighbor. And that is a fact.

Here is another one:If your Home Watcher does not carry industry‑specific Home Watch insurance, you may end up on the short end of a claim.

A legitimate Home Watch business should carry general liability insurance as well as professional liability insurance, commonly known as errors and omissions (E&O). If they do not—and a mistake, oversight, or accident occurs—the homeowner may be left exposed.

Consider this scenario: if a Home Watcher has employees and is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance but fails to do so, and an employee is injured on your property, who do you think may be sued? Or, if your Home Watcher hires a contractor who is not properly insured or licensed and damage or injury occurs, who is on the hook?

An NHWA Accredited Home Watch provider exists to look out for your best interests and advocate for you and your home.

Accredited Home Watchers will readily provide proof of insurance and can add you as a certificate holder, giving you confirmation that coverage is in place. Homeowners should ask direct questions about coverage, policies, and procedures before making a hiring decision. A legitimate Home Watch professional will be knowledgeable about their insurance and happy to explain it.

The National Home Watch Association (NHWA) requires its members to carry a general liability policy with a $1 million per‑occurrence limit and a $2 million aggregate limit. The NHWA also strongly recommends professional liability (E&O) insurance, which protects the business if an error or omission leads to a claim.

Why does this matter? If a homeowner experiences a loss that is not covered due to an error or omission, the responsibility falls on the business owner to make it right. If the business lacks sufficient resources, collecting damages can be difficult—if not impossible.

Additionally, the NHWA requires a dishonesty bond, offering further protection for homeowners. The Association is also introducing a Cyber Liability policy for its members, recognizing that Home Watch businesses collect and store sensitive personal information. While the NHWA already provides guidance on confidentiality and data protection, this added coverage further demonstrates a commitment to client security.

A truly legitimate Home Watch company does everything possible to protect a client’s home, privacy, and assets. Proper insurance is not just a business requirement—it is a promise kept to the homeowner. Visit www.homewatchinsurance.com