01 · The call
A client booked a Standing Watch visit.
Lake Geneva · Chicago’s North Shore
Sustaining the endurance of your home.
We look after your home, whether you are home or away.
From a Standing Watch visit
Catch problems while they are still small.
02 · The dryer vent
On the visit we cleaned the dryer vent and found heavy lint built up inside. The dryer had overheated and was already damaged.
03 · A prior service
A company had cleaned the ducts three weeks earlier. There was no log, no photographs, and no proof of the work.
04 · The record
Without photographs and a written record, there is no way to confirm what was done. We photograph what we find, put it in the PDF, and send a quote before any repair is scheduled.
In the home
What we check
Heat, water, power, and the roof. These are the parts of a home that fail quietly, often with no warning.
Attic
Insulation, airflow, and stains that suggest a leak from the roof.
Interior
Stairs, ceiling stains, smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms.
Bathrooms
Fans, caulk, toilets, and the valves that shut the water off.
Kitchen
Refrigerator coils, dishwasher, range, and cooktop.
Fireplace
The firebox, gas logs, and the space around the hearth.
Laundry
Washer hoses and the dryer vent.
Heating
The furnace or heat pump, and the filter we replace.
Water heater
We flush the tank and check the safety valve.
Plumbing
Shutoff valves, supply lines, and the pipes under sinks.
Electrical
The panel, and outlets in wet areas that should shut off if they get wet.
Basement & pests
The sump pump, moisture, crawl space, and pests.
Roof & gutters
Shingles, gutters, and the metal at the roof edges.
Windows & exterior
Whether windows open, seals, fog between the panes, and exterior caulk.
Yard & freeze
Whether water drains away from the home, and outdoor faucets before freeze.
Cooling
The outdoor air-conditioning unit.
Garage & entry
Tracks, the sensor that stops the door, hinges, and locks.
What waiting costs
A leak you miss becomes a restoration.
Upstairs can look fine while water is leaking downstairs, with no one there to notice.
48 hrs
A leak becomes mold
$15,400
Average restoration bill
One program covers the work of several trades.
A heating company, then a plumber, then a garage-door company: each trip is a separate bill. Standing Watch covers those visits and looks after the rest of the home.
The trades
One visit at a time.
- Heating and cooling visit$150–$300
- Plumber, first hour$250–$400
- Flush the water heater$150–$300
- Garage door service$150–$300
- Dryer vent cleaning$125–$250
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms$100–$200
- Booked separately$925–$1,750
Typical trip charges. None of them includes a record of the home.
Standing Watch
$350
A month, with a one-year commitment
All of those visits, plus the rest of the home.
- Heating, cooling, plumbing, and the water heater
- Garage door, dryer vent, and alarms
- A check of heat, water, power, and the roof
- We schedule the company and handle every detail
- Photographs and a PDF of the visit
Book a visit
Book your visit.
Send the address and when you would like the first visit. We will confirm by email. You do not have to be home. Visits are typically twice a year; additional visits can be scheduled.
Serving Lake Geneva, Walworth County, and Chicago’s North Shore.
$350 a month, with a one-year commitment. Any other work is quoted, and nothing is scheduled until you approve it.