Trusted Oversight for Your Home, While You're Away.
Professional, owner-operated home watch for seasonal homeowners throughout Estero, Bonita Springs, North Naples, and South Fort Myers.
NHWA Accredited
Bonded and Insured
Veteran Owned
Based in Estero
One owner. Local. Accountable.
I'm Jody Baines, a Verdana Village resident and the founder of Verus Home Watch. After serving in the U.S. Navy Submarine Force and spending a career in high-tech sales and customer relationships, I built Verus around a simple principle I've carried throughout my career: do what you say you'll do.
You get Jody—not a rotating crew
Based in Estero
Bonded and insured
Professional home watch for Southwest Florida's seasonal homeowners
“Verus is the standard I would want for our own house”
Designed for Southwest Florida's seasonal homeowners
Seasonal and snowbird owners
Gated Communities
Homes that sit empty through humidity and storm seasons
You're away for months, and your home is too important to leave to a neighbor with a spare key or a rotating crew. Verus is for owners of seasonal residences, including estates, lakefront and golf-course homes, and guest houses, who want one accountable professional and a clear record of what's happening at the property.
Serving Southwest Florida's Finest Communities
South Fort Myers: Pelican Sound
Estero: West Bay Club · Wildcat Run · Shadow Wood · Shadow Wood Preserve · Miromar Lakes · Grandezza · Wild Blue · Corkscrew Shores · The Place · Verdana Village
Bonita Springs: Pelican Landing · Bonita Bay
North Naples: Quail West · Mediterra
Your community may not be listed yet. If you’re in the Estero, Bonita Springs, North Naples, or South Fort Myers area, I’d be happy to discuss your home watch needs.
What goes wrong in an empty Southwest Florida home
Most serious damage starts small: a failing AC that lets humidity climb, a slow leak behind a wall, a pool pump that quits, a screen torn in a storm. In a closed-up home, nobody notices for weeks. Regular home watch helps catch those problems before they become expensive surprises.
1
Before you leave
We walk the home together and build your custom checklist and visit cadence.
HOW IT WORKS
Four steps, set once for the season
2
Each scheduled visit
A photo-verified walkthrough, inside and out, set against your checklist.
3
Same-day report
Photos and notes sent the same day. You do not have to ask.
4
If something's wrong
You get a call first. Then I coordinate the right vendor if you want me to.
Weekly or bi-weekly. Set it up once. It repeats until you are back.
What I Check During Every Visit
Interior
Visual review of the home's interior
Check for visible leaks, moisture, unusual odors, pest activity, or other concerns
Observe HVAC, plumbing, and designated systems for obvious issues
Check accessible doors and windows to ensure they're secured
Exterior
Visual review of the home's exterior
Look for visible storm damage, unauthorized entry, or unusual conditions
Check accessible exterior areas for obvious concerns
Your walkthrough sets the exact list. No two homes are identical. Every visit includes a detailed report with photos and prompt communication if something needs attention.
When you need more than a visit
Pre-arrival prep
Groceries and pantry
Mail and deliveries
Vendor access and wait-on-site
Vehicle start
Departure lock-down
Other requests are welcome. Ask during your walkthrough.
FAQs
Who goes in the house?
1
I do. Verus is owner-operated. I walk the home on the first visit, I build the checklist with you, and I make the scheduled visits. I do not hand your key to a helper or a rotating crew. If I am unavailable for a scheduled visit, I tell you before the date and we decide together whether to reschedule or use a named backup you have already approved.
How do you get through the gate?
2
You add Verus Home Watch to your community’s vendor list before the first visit. I use that listing for scheduled checks. If a repair tech needs access later, I coordinate with you first and we add them the same way your community requires. I do not share gate credentials beyond what your HOA already allows.
What happens in a storm?
3
Before a named storm I check the house against your list: openings secured, obvious hazards noted, photos taken. I do not stay on site through a hurricane. As soon as the community is open and it is safe to enter, I go back, photograph the property, and call you with what I see.
How do you charge?
4
After the free walkthrough I quote a monthly rate based on the home, the visit schedule, and anything extra you want included. Concierge work is priced before I do it. No surprise line items.
Let’s walk your home.
Tell me a little about your property and your travel schedule. I'll follow up promptly with a time to walk your home together. No pressure, no obligation.