Before you leave your home for an extended period
A practical starting list for access, contacts, indoor settings and the information your local property contact should have.
Read the quick guideHelpful resources
Clear information for caring for a home from somewhere else.
Practical guides for preparing a property, understanding home watch, responding to weather and choosing the right next step when something needs attention.
Start here
Useful answers before you ever need to make an urgent decision.
What a scheduled property watch visit does
Understand what is observed, what is documented and where a visual property check stops.
Read the quick guideSmart devices and local eyes work better together
See where connected devices help and where a person onsite provides information technology cannot.
Read the quick guideWhat to do after a storm or power outage
A calm order of operations for confirming basic property status and deciding whether a qualified professional is needed.
Read the quick guideManaging a loved one’s home from a distance
A simple framework for access, authorized contacts, documentation and property decisions during a transition.
Read the quick guideLocal homeowner links
Useful official resources for Camano Island and Stanwood.
These links go directly to the public agencies responsible for alerts, outages and property information.
Island County emergency alerts
Sign up for local emergency alerts and community notifications from Island County.
Open official resourceSnohomish County public alerts
Register for SnoCoAlerts and review official public warning resources for Snohomish County.
Open official resourceSnohomish County PUD outage map
View current outage information or report a power outage directly to the utility.
Open official resourceIsland County septic resources
Find official maintenance, records and homeowner information for onsite septic systems.
Open official resource01
Extended absence planning
Before you leave your home for an extended period
A little structure before departure makes every later decision easier. Start with the information another person would need to care for the property responsibly.
- Confirm who is authorized to enter the property and how keys or access codes will be handled.
- Write down the preferred indoor temperature, humidity concerns and any agreed appliance or power indicators to check.
- List your preferred HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other service professionals, including emergency contact instructions.
- Decide who should receive reports and who can approve work if you are temporarily unreachable.
- Choose a visit schedule that reflects the property, season, expected weather and length of absence.
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Know the service
What a scheduled property watch visit does
A good property watch visit creates a consistent record and gives the owner timely, useful information. It is not a technical examination of the home.
- Follow an agreed checklist for readily visible interior and exterior conditions.
- Confirm agreed doors and windows appear secure and look for visible water, unusual odors, pests, debris or signs of power loss.
- Record temperature, humidity and agreed status indicators at the time of the visit.
- Provide written documentation with photos or video so the owner can see what was observed.
- Notify the owner when something deserves attention without diagnosing the cause or overstating the conclusion.
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Use both layers
Smart devices and local eyes work better together
Cameras, leak sensors and smart thermostats are valuable tools. They still observe only what their sensors can reach and what their connection can report.
- A camera may show motion but cannot notice an odor, hear a sound outside its range or see moisture in another room.
- A thermostat reports one set of data but does not explain why the home feels different or whether another visible concern is present.
- Connected devices can go offline during the same outage or network problem you want them to report.
- An onsite visit can compare multiple agreed indicators and provide current photos or video from around the property.
- The strongest plan uses technology for alerts and a trusted local person for context, documentation and follow through.
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After weather events
What to do after a storm or power outage
The goal is not to rush into conclusions. The goal is to establish current status, document visible changes and involve the right professional when needed.
- Confirm agreed exterior areas can be approached safely before beginning a ground level walkaround.
- Document readily visible debris, standing water, damaged materials or changes from the last visit.
- Check agreed indicators for power and record the current indoor temperature and humidity.
- Avoid touching damaged electrical equipment, entering unsafe areas or attempting repairs outside the agreed service scope.
- Send the owner a clear update so they can choose and authorize an appropriately qualified professional when follow up is necessary.
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Support during change
Managing a loved one’s home from a distance
A move, hospitalization or transition into assisted living can leave several family members making decisions at once. A clear property plan reduces confusion.
- Name one authorized family contact for routine decisions and define when other people must be included.
- Confirm access procedures and create a record of keys, codes and approved visitors.
- Choose a recurring visual check and reporting schedule while the property is unoccupied.
- Separate immediate property concerns from longer term repair, cleanout or preparation needs.
- Use written reports and shared updates so family members can work from the same current information.
Start the conversation
Want a property plan built around your home?
We’ll talk through how the property is used, what you want confirmed and the level of local support that would be most useful.