What home watch is — and isn't

Home watch is the regular, professional oversight of an unoccupied property. It is not house-sitting (nobody lives in your home) and it is not cleaning or gardening alone. It's a preventive service: someone visits on a schedule, inspects the property, catches small problems before they become expensive ones, and keeps you informed.

What a proper home watch service includes

• Regular scheduled visits — typically weekly for high-risk coastal homes.
• Visual inspections inside and out: signs of leaks, damp, pests, electrical or plumbing issues, security concerns.
• Ventilation and humidity control, the key defence against the region's biggest enemy — moisture.
• Dehumidifier and moisture-absorber management — running, emptying and replacing.
• Photo (and often video) reports after every visit, so you have documented proof of your home's condition.
• Storm and emergency checks after severe weather.
• Optional extras — pre-arrival preparation, grocery stocking, tradesperson coordination.
• Why it matters near Óbidos specifically

The Silver Coast combines two threats: exceptionally high coastal humidity and serious winter storms that can loosen roof tiles, bring down trees and cause leaks. A problem discovered on your next visit — six months later — has had half a year to spread. A problem discovered within days can be fixed cheaply and calmly. As one UK couple with a villa near Óbidos told us, they haven't had a single issue since starting regular visits, because problems get flagged early, with photos, while they're still small.

How to choose a provider from abroad

Local presence: they must be genuinely close by, able to reach your home quickly after a storm.
Responsiveness: fast, clear WhatsApp communication is worth more than a fancy website.
Real evidence: insist on actual photos from each visit, not just an invoice.
Transparency: clear plans, no complicated contracts, no surprises.
Human touch: the best providers feel like a trusted neighbour, not a faceless company.

Questions to ask before signing up

How often will you visit? What exactly do you check? What happens if you find a problem — do you just report it, or help arrange repairs? Can you prepare the home before I arrive? Getting clear answers up front tells you a lot about the service.

At DryHome we built our Óbidos-area service around exactly these principles: regular visits, active humidity control, honest photo reports and fast WhatsApp contact. If you'd like to know what a plan would look like for your property, we're glad to walk you through it.