Home Watch
Traveling? Snowbird? Extended vacancy? Add your address and Park Watch volunteers will keep an eye on it from the public sidewalk while you're away. Free. Neighbor-run. No walk-ins.
A neighbor's eyes, not a security system.
Home Watch isn't an alarm company or a security patrol. It's volunteers who already walk your street, checking that your home looks the way you left it while you're away — and reporting anything that doesn't.
Five things, every pass.
The same checklist our volunteers use when they log a Field Report on your address.
Water & plumbing
Sprinklers running, pooling water, a meter spinning with no one home.
Structural & exterior
Broken windows, a door left open, storm damage, overflowing mail.
Safety hazards
Downed limbs, exposed wiring, a gas smell — called in to 911 first, always.
Security signals
A garage left open, an unfamiliar vehicle parked for days, signs of forced entry.
Landscaping
Overgrown yards, fallen branches, trash cans left out — the things that make a home look unoccupied.
Consistency, not surveillance.
Home Watch works because it's built into routes volunteers already walk — not a special trip, not new equipment. That's what makes it sustainable, free, and quick to respond when something looks off.
Built into the route
Volunteers observe enrolled properties as part of the walks and sweeps they're already doing — no separate patrol schedule to maintain.
Reported the same day
Anything that looks off gets logged on our Field Report form. Urgent issues get a 911 call first, then a coordinator follows up with you or your alternate contact.
Home Watch Enrollment
Free. Neighbor-run. No walk-ins. Enrollment includes an optional, no-pressure donation ask to help support volunteer coordination.
- ✅ Takes about two minutes
- 🐾 We ask about pets, so first responders know before they arrive
- 👥 An alternate contact means someone can act even if you're away
Home Watch, answered.
What is Home Watch?
Home Watch is a free neighborhood volunteer program from ParkWatch.org. Trained neighbors periodically check on homes whose residents are temporarily away — for a weekend, a season, or longer — and report anything that looks wrong, from a broken sprinkler to a door left open.
Who are the volunteers?
Home Watch volunteers are neighbors, not professionals. They observe from the public street or sidewalk and report what they see — they never enter a property, hold a key, or perform repairs.
Is this a security service?
No. Home Watch is a reporting service, not security or a monitored alarm system. Volunteers look for visible problems and flag them quickly so the homeowner (or their emergency contact) can respond. For active emergencies, volunteers call 911 first.
What do volunteers look for?
Things like damaged sprinklers, water leaks, broken windows or open doors, storm damage, downed tree limbs, overflowing mail, unusual vehicles, and overgrown yards — anything that suggests a problem or makes a home look unoccupied to the wrong person.
Is there a cost to enroll?
No, Home Watch is free for any home in the program area. Enrollment includes an optional, no-pressure donation ask to help support volunteer coordination — giving is never required to receive the service.
How often will my home be checked?
Frequency depends on volunteer coverage in your area and how long you’ll be away. This isn’t a scheduled patrol with guaranteed visit times — it’s neighbors keeping an eye out as they go about their day.
What if a volunteer sees something urgent?
For anything that looks like an active emergency (fire, gas smell, break-in in progress), volunteers call 911 immediately, then notify the Home Watch coordinator. For non-emergency issues, the coordinator follows up with you or your alternate contact.
Can I volunteer instead of (or in addition to) enrolling my home?
Yes — Home Watch runs entirely on neighbor volunteers. Sign up through our volunteer registration form, or email info@parkwatch.org to get started.
Who do I contact with questions?
Email support@parkwatch.org or call (512) 710-6753.
Traveling soon? Enroll before you go.
Two minutes now means a neighbor is watching while you're away.