FAQ

Plain answers for off-island owners.

We’re a Windward Oahu home-watch service for off-island owners. Visits are done by Artie Kendall, owner, a retired HPD sergeant. Same-day report with photos, time, and GPS. Plain answers below — and a few checklists people actually ask for when a house (or a car in the driveway) sits empty.

What we are · Vacant prep · Reopen · Storm prep · Water heater · Vehicles · Plans · Walkthrough

What we are / what we’re not

What is home watch?

Scheduled visits to a vacant or lightly used house — an interior and exterior visual walk-through with a checklist, photos, GPS stamp, and a written report of what we observed the same day. A spouse, trustee, or insurer can read the file without calling you.

Is this property management?

No. We don’t collect rent, list the house, screen tenants, or run a vacation rental. If you need that, we’ll say so and you can hire a licensed PM.

Is this a home inspection?

No. We observe and report what we can see from accessible areas and ground level. We don’t use ladders or go on roofs, and we don’t certify the condition of the house or its systems. For that, hire a licensed inspector or contractor.

Are you an alarm company?

No. We are not an alarm company or security service. We don’t offer alarm response. If you authorize it, we can note what the alarm panel shows during a visit. If people or the house are in danger, call 911 first, then call us at (808) 777-8208.

What’s on a typical visit?

Doors, windows, garage, gates · visible leaks / water heater area · power, HVAC or window units, dehumidifier, fridge · toilets flushed / traps run · smoke/CO if present · lanai, yard, standing water, obvious pest issues, or roof or gutter conditions visible from ground level · pool/spa surface if you have them · mail and packages: We don't touch mail or packages unless every adult addressee signs our Mail and Package Authorization · vehicles left on the property (look/report — see Vehicles) · photos of each zone + GPS on the report.

What does the report look like?

Same-day write-up with photos, time, and GPS — not a text that says “looks fine.” On the Standard plan, open items stay open until they’re closed.

Do you need keys?

Interior checks need a lockbox on your property (yours, or one we install for a quoted price), or a keypad or smart lock code. Your keys stay in that lockbox. We never keep keys at home, in a vehicle, or anywhere off your property, and we never take keys by mail. Until a lockbox is in place, visits are exterior only.

Who gets notified if something’s wrong?

You get a call or text the same day, then the written report. Named recipients (spouse, sibling, trustee) can get copies when you set that up. On the Away plan, reports go to you and any Authorized Representative you name in writing. We don’t authorize major work unless you’ve put that in writing ahead of time.

How much does home watch cost on Oahu?

Two monthly plans: Away is $195 per month (every other week, two visits a month) and Standard is $320 per month (weekly, four visits a month). Estate is quoted after an on-site walkthrough, for waterfront, large-lot, or multi-building properties. Plans are month to month after the first month; either side can cancel with seven (7) days' notice by email. Hawaii General Excise Tax is added at the applicable Oahu rate. Add-ons: Storm Check $175–$250 depending on access and prep, plus GET (quoted per job), only as our schedule permits; contractor sit $95 per hour; arrival prep is quoted. Prices assume a standard single-family home on the Windward or East side.

1) Prepare the home for vacant / off-season

Before you leave the island, walk the house once with us (or alone with this list). You’re not “winterizing for Alaska” — you’re reducing quiet failures in salt air and humidity.

Walk every room. Note what “normal” looks like (lights, AC setpoints, dehumidifier, fridge).
Know shutoffs: main water, electrical panel, gas if you have it.
Empty perishables; wipe fridge; set fridge to a steady cold if it stays on.
Run faucets and flush toilets so traps hold water; leave a note if anything drips.
Unplug small appliances you don’t need. Leave what must stay on (fridge, modem, dehumidifier) labeled.
Lanai: bring in cushions and light furniture, or tie them down. Clear loose items that become projectiles in a watch.
Yard: trim what you can; note irrigation schedule; don’t leave standing water collectors full if you’ll be gone long.
Mail and packages: With a signed WHW Mail and Package Authorization v1.0, we bring packages inside and, if you choose, check the mailbox, unopened. You arrange any USPS Hold Mail or forwarding; we don't request, change, or cancel those. A spare mailbox key stays only in your lockbox.
Share vendor list (plumber, electrician, AC, yard) and who can authorize a call-out.
Name who gets the report besides you.
If a vehicle stays on the property, tell us which one and where — see Vehicles.

Skip inventing a fortress. Good shutoffs, clear “normal,” and a named contact beat a long gadget list.

2) How to reopen the home

Coming home (or handing keys to family):

Walk the exterior first — doors, windows, lanai, obvious water or roof issues.
Restore water/power/gas only in a safe order (see water heater if you shut those down).
Open windows briefly if the house smells closed; run HVAC/dehumidifier to your usual settings.
Check under sinks and the water heater closet for dampness before you unpack and forget.
Flush every toilet; run each faucet; look for drips you didn’t leave.
Restart irrigation on a short test cycle.
Glance at any vehicle you left — windows, tires, obvious puddles underneath.
Read the latest home-watch reports so you’re not surprised by an open item.
If something’s off and you’re still away, call us — same-day flag is the point of the service.

Arrival prep (AC on, lights, grocery coordination) can be quoted as an add-on when you’re flying in. We don’t invent concierge services we don’t sell.

3) Storm prep (official links)

Home watch is documentation and checklist visits — it does not prevent storm damage, and it is not claim filing. When a watch or warning is out, use official guidance first:

What we typically do on active accounts when a named storm is in play:

Send a short prep reminder aligned with your standing instructions (lanai cleared, furniture in, shutoffs, generator/plywood status if you own panels).
Regular scheduled visits note any visible storm-related conditions (debris, water intrusion, damage), with photos — including any vehicle still parked on site.
Extra storm visits, before or after the weather, are an optional add-on (not in the monthly fee), taken only as our schedule permits, with no guaranteed response time. We do not file your insurance claim.

Can I get a one-time Storm Check if I’m not a client?

Yes. A Storm Check is a one-time introductory visit for a house that isn’t on one of our plans, before or after a storm, with a dated photo report, so you can try Windward Home Watch before choosing a regular plan. We take them only as our schedule permits, with no guaranteed response time. It doesn’t protect the house from damage, and we don’t respond to alarms. $175–$250 depending on access and prep, plus GET (quoted per job). If you start a regular plan within 14 days, your Storm Check fee (before tax) is credited toward your first month. Request a walkthrough or Storm Check. Already a client? Your regular visits note any visible storm-related conditions. Extra storm visits are optional add-ons, taken only as our schedule permits, with no guaranteed response time.

Keep homeowners and hurricane coverage in force. Our reports are a file — not a policy.

4) Water heater — dos and don’ts when you’re away

Plain English. Your unit may be electric or gas; tanks and settings differ. Always check the manufacturer manual, and use a licensed plumber for anything you’re unsure about — especially gas, tankless, or solar-assist systems.

Short trip (days to a couple of weeks)

Leaving the heater on a vacation / low / pilot-appropriate setting is often fine if water stays on and the tank stays full.
Don’t “experiment” with draining for a long weekend.

Longer vacancy / if you’re shutting the main water

Shut the heater’s energy source FIRST (breaker for electric; gas control / shutoff per the manual) before the tank can run dry or before you isolate water.
Never restore power to an electric water heater on an empty tank — that can burn out elements fast.
When you return: refill the tank completely, open a hot faucet to purge air, then restore power or gas per the manual.

Draining

Don’t drain unless you’re winterizing, servicing, or doing a long planned shutdown — and you know the procedure for your model.
If you drain, energy off first; refill and purge before energy back on.

If something looks wrong (leak, scorched smell, error lights), leave energy off and call a licensed plumber. We’re happy to meet a vendor on site as a paid contractor sit — we don’t DIY heater repairs.

5) Vehicles left on the property

Lots of Windward owners leave a car, truck, or golf cart when they fly out. On visits we look and report — we’re not your mechanic, and we don’t tow or drive the vehicle unless you’ve separately agreed to that in writing.

Before you leave — quick vehicle checklist

Windows up, doors locked, sunroof closed.
Garage door fully down if it’s inside; driveway/carport: note that it’s uncovered.
At the walkthrough, we confirm the lockbox location and what's in it. If you hand us a key, it goes into your lockbox before we leave that day.
Don’t leave registration or insurance cards visible on the dash.
Note the plate and a short description (“white Tacoma, driveway, nose-in”) in your standing instructions.

What we look for on visits

Obviously flat or very low tire.
Fresh fluid puddle under the vehicle (oil, coolant, fuel smell — we photograph and flag; we don’t diagnose).
Pest nesting under hoods / in wheel wells when visible without tearing things apart.
Battery signs we can see without a tester. Default is visual only unless you asked for a start check as an add-on.
Broken glass, open door/trunk, or signs someone messed with it.

Covered vs uncovered / after storms / moving

Garage: we confirm it’s closed and the vehicle is where you left it.
Carport / driveway: more sun, salt, and debris — we note condition and any new damage we can see.
Soft covers: we don’t remove a full cover every visit unless you ask; we can note if it blew off or pooled water.
After storms: debris, standing water, glass, dents/scrapes we can see — photos in the same-day report.
Default: we do not drive client vehicles. A “move into the garage before a storm” add-on must be agreed separately in writing.

If we spot a problem, you get the same same-day call/text + report as with the house. Towing, jump-starts, and shop work are your call (or a vendor you name).

Plans (quick reference)

Away $195/mo · every other week
Standard $320/mo · weekly (most owners)
Estate · quoted after walkthrough

Month-to-month after the first month · Windward routes first (Kaneohe–Kailua–Waimanalo)

Request a walkthrough

Send your name, the property address, phone, and email. We’ll answer with a yes, a no, or a quote. Access, vehicles, and contacts are covered at the walkthrough.

Prefer the phone? (808) 777-8208
hello@whwhawaii.com

Request a check