West Michigan Home Watch Guide
Practical guidance for vacant homes, second homes, snowbirds, frequent travelers, and West Michigan homeowners who need a reliable local point of contact for their property.
Explore Home Watch Services Browse Home Watch ArticlesWhat Is Home Watch?
Home Watch is a professional visual check of a home or property while the owner is away or needs another trusted set of eyes on the property.
A Home Watch visit is not a professional home inspection, security service, or guarantee that a problem will not occur. Instead, it provides homeowners with scheduled visual observations, professional reporting, and a local person who can help identify concerns and coordinate the next steps when needed.
Who Uses Home Watch Services?
Home Watch is useful for much more than completely vacant homes. It can be valuable anytime a homeowner needs dependable local property support.
Snowbirds
Homeowners spending part of the year in Florida, Arizona, or another state who want someone checking their Michigan property while they are away.
Second-Home Owners
Owners of vacation homes, cottages, lake homes, and seasonal properties who are not able to be at the property every week.
Frequent Travelers
Homeowners who travel extensively for work or leisure and want another set of eyes on their home between visits.
Remote Homeowners
Owners managing a West Michigan property from another city or state who need reliable local support.
Busy Homeowners
Homeowners who need help coordinating contractors, maintenance, repairs, deliveries, or property projects.
Families Helping Parents
Adult children who need local assistance checking on or coordinating work at a parent’s home.
Vacant Homes and Second Homes
A house can develop problems whether anyone is living there or not. In fact, an unoccupied property can allow a small problem to go unnoticed much longer.
Common Things Worth Watching
- Signs of water intrusion or plumbing problems
- Heating or cooling concerns
- Storm-related exterior damage
- Sump pump or basement concerns
- Unusual interior conditions
- Exterior maintenance issues
- Doors, windows, and visible access concerns
- Lawn, snow, or seasonal maintenance problems
Why Documentation Matters
A professional Home Watch visit should provide more than someone saying, “Everything looked fine.”
Documented visits create a consistent history of when the property was checked, what was observed, and whether anything required follow-up.
Home Watch for Snowbirds and Seasonal Homeowners
Michigan winters create their own set of concerns for homeowners who leave for weeks or months at a time.
Cold temperatures, snow, ice, power interruptions, frozen pipes, roof concerns, basement moisture, and heating problems can become much larger issues when nobody is regularly visiting the home.
During warmer months, seasonal homeowners may also need someone to keep an eye on storm damage, exterior maintenance, landscaping, contractors, or unexpected property issues.
Contractor and Project Coordination
Sometimes the problem is not finding a contractor. It is being available when the contractor needs access to the house.
Local Coordination
Homeowners may need someone local to meet an electrician, plumber, HVAC technician, handyman, roofer, landscaper, appliance technician, or other service provider.
No Vendor Markup
Pohlonski Home Concierge charges for the time and scope involved in coordinating the work. Vendor and contractor invoices are not marked up by a percentage.
Storm Checks and Property Maintenance
Sometimes homeowners do not need an ongoing weekly service. They simply need someone who can get to the property when something happens.
Severe weather, a contractor appointment, a maintenance problem, an unexpected delivery, or a concern raised by a neighbor can all create situations where having a trusted local contact is valuable.
Priority coordination is available for situations requiring faster response, subject to availability and the scope of the request.
West Michigan Home Watch Articles
This resource library answers practical questions homeowners ask about caring for a vacant home, second home, vacation property, or primary residence while they are away.
Vacant Home Check-Ins
Learn how often a vacant property should be checked, what should be observed, and how seasonal conditions may change the recommended schedule.
Snowbirds and Second Homes
Practical guidance for Michigan homeowners who spend part of the year away or maintain another home elsewhere.
Homeowner Concierge Services
Learn how contractor coordination, property projects, maintenance support, and local oversight can work when you cannot be at the property yourself.
How Home Watch Works
The service should be straightforward, documented, and based on what your specific property actually needs.
Start With a Complimentary Consultation
We discuss the property, how long you will be away, what concerns you have, and the level of support you need.
Determine the Right Service
That may be an exterior check, a full Home Watch visit, recurring monthly service, or property and contractor coordination.
Complete and Document the Visit
The property is visually checked based on the agreed scope, and you receive professional reporting regarding the visit.
Coordinate Follow-Up When Needed
If something needs attention, the next step can be discussed and, when appropriate, contractors or service providers can be coordinated on your behalf.
Home Watch Throughout West Michigan
Pohlonski Home Concierge serves homeowners throughout Grand Rapids and West Michigan, including many communities along the Lake Michigan lakeshore.
Grand Rapids Area
Grand Rapids, Ada, East Grand Rapids, Forest Hills, Rockford, Jenison, Cascade, and surrounding West Michigan communities.
Lake Michigan and Extended Areas
Holland, Grand Haven, Saugatuck, South Haven, and other West Michigan vacation-home and lakeshore locations may be available with custom pricing based on location and scope.
Home Watch Service Options
Service is based on the property, location, visit frequency, and level of assistance required.
Exterior Property Check
Starting at $65
Full Home Watch Visit
Starting at $95
Monthly Home Watch Plan
Starting at $295/month
Property and project coordination is custom priced based on time and scope. Emergency or priority coordination starts at $125 per hour. Lakeshore and extended-area services are custom quoted.
“Starting at” pricing reflects the minimum rate for the listed service. Final pricing may vary based on property size, location, visit frequency, and the services requested. Your approved quote establishes the price for the agreed scope.
Need Someone Local to Help Look After Your Home?
Whether you’re traveling, spending the season elsewhere, maintaining a second home, or simply need help coordinating contractors and property projects, learn more about professional Home Watch and Home Concierge services throughout West Michigan.
View Home Watch ServicesAbout Jason Pohlonski
Jason Pohlonski is a Michigan licensed real estate salesperson with Keller Williams Grand Rapids East and the founder of Pohlonski Home Concierge. His background includes residential real estate, hospitality management, short-term rental operations, property oversight, and contractor coordination.
Pohlonski Home Concierge provides Home Watch, second-home oversight, vacant-home check-ins, contractor coordination, and homeowner support throughout Grand Rapids and West Michigan.
Jason Pohlonski
Keller Williams Grand Rapids East
1555 Arboretum Dr. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
616-916-9770
jpohlonski@kw.com
Michigan License #6501386166
Home Watch Services | Home Watch Articles | Contact Jason
A portion of proceeds from Pohlonski Home Concierge supports One More Moment, a Michigan nonprofit helping adults with cancer create meaningful moments with the people they love.
Home Watch services consist of visual observations and reporting based on the agreed service scope. Home Watch is not a substitute for a licensed home inspection, security service, insurance coverage, or professional services provided by licensed trades.