How much to charge for home watch: set rates you can defend

No single national rate exists for home watch. That's good news. You set your price from your costs and your market, not someone else's number. The companies that struggle pick a low round number to win early clients, then can't raise it. Build your price up instead.

Keep the value you deliver in view while you do the math. Insurance Information Institute data puts the average water damage and freezing claim at about $15,400 over 2019–2023, and that category alone made up 22.6% of U.S. homeowners insurance claims in 2023. One early catch on one visit can be worth years of your fees to the homeowner. Price like the professional standing between them and that claim.

Price per visit, driven by three factors

Most home watch companies charge per visit. Three things move that number:

• Home size and complexity: a large estate with a pool, dock, and multiple systems takes longer than a condo.
• Visit frequency: weekly clients earn a slightly lower per-visit rate than once-a-month clients, because the relationship is worth more.
• Drive time and distance: a property 40 minutes away costs you more in time and fuel than one across town.

Build the number up from your costs

1. Estimate total time per visit, including drive time and writing the report.
2. Set the hourly rate you want to earn for that time.
3. Add your per-visit costs: fuel, insurance, software, and a margin for overhead.
4. That total is your floor. Price at or above it, never below.

Package tiers instead of one rate

Offer a small set of clear options, not a single price. A standard cadence, a premium higher-frequency tier, and add-ons (extra visits after a storm, vendor coordination, package acceptance) let clients self-select and raise your average revenue per home.

Don't forget to raise prices

Review your rates at least once a year. Modest, predictable increases are normal and expected. Your documented, professional service justifies them: clean reports, proof of every visit, and a portal your clients actually use. Clients who trust your diligence rarely leave over a fair increase.