Our homewatch motto is “fix small problems before they become big ones.” And in order to make sure small problems don’t become big ones, we need to check everything at the property every single time we visit. Even if that means busting into your home after your vacation and finding everything just as you left it. But why bother making a checklist? The stakes are too high.

When a home is left empty, small issues do not stay small for long. A slowly dripping sink leak, a blocked drain, a tripped breaker, a window that didn’t quite latch, these issues can become damaging before the owner knows anything about it, especially if they live abroad.

That’s why a home watch service should never depend on “cues” or memory; an effective home watch visit is conducted with a checklist, not to be bureaucratic (although, genuinely, that is hard for me not to sometimes be), but to avoid administrative oversights.

This guide takes you through a basic home watch checklist, room by room, as well as the system checks on the plumbing, mechanical systems and alarms, etc. Also, some notes on documentation that gets left on the kitchen counter, and when problems require further tracking – so you can be insurance ready and problem avoiding.

Thinking about hiring a professional to conduct this kind of checklist on your Athens House? Here’s how we do it at homewatchathens.com.

Why checklists matter (insurance and prevention):

A checklist turns homewatch from a wave at the mailman into a home access protocol. That stuff matters for two big reasons:

1) Prevention is about consistency, not luck

Most major property damages start with something small:

  • A drip under a sink
  • Condensation/humidity building up in a several corners
  • A balcony drain partially clogged
  • Fridge has stopped cooling after a power blip
  • A window left slightly open during a storm

You are not going to catch these reliably with “just walking around.” You catch them when every visit includes a predictable set checks, every single time.

2) Insurance risk increases when a home isn’t attended

Many property insurance policies have conditions around occupancy, maintenance, and reporting. Insurance providers often ask questions like:

  • When was the property last checked?
  • How long has this been going on?
  • Neglect here was preventable?

A checklist-based visit along with documentation (photos and timestamps) prove that property is being monitored and not ignored.

If you want a deeper run through how this typically works for overseas owners you can read this post: https://homewatchathens.com/blog/how-greek-property-insurance-works-for-overseas-owners/

3) A checklist protects the owner, not the service provider

Proof we visited is an inadequate shield. Protecting the asset is the goal. A structured checklist diminishes human error, documents condition accurately, and makes follow up decisions easier.

It also helps explain the difference between home watch and traditional property management since home watch focuses on inspection, reporting, prevention, and escalation: https://homewatchathens.com/blog/home-watch-vs-property-management-whats-the-difference/

Room-by-room checklist

Here you go. A professional home watch visit will tailor it to the property type (apartment vs villa), as well as the age of the building, location and season, but the logic stays the same:

Kitchen

Water & moisture

  • Check under-sink cabinet for leaks, dampness, mould smell
  • Inspect visible joints in pipes and valves and flexible hoses
  • Check around connections for dishwashers if installed
  • Look for swelling of cabinetry wood, warping, (an early sign of water, delayed moisture damage)

Appliances

  • Confirm that fridge/freezer are running normally (sound, temperature feel, door seal)
  • Check for pooling of water under fridge or freezer
  • Check that oven, range top and broiler are off, safe
  • Check extractor hood filter area for build up of grease if long vacancy

Surfaces + pests

  • Look for signs of ants, roaches, and/or droppings, in corners, underneath appliances
  • Inspect food storage areas (anything left behind, see below, can and will attract pests)
  • Confirm that windows, sills, and seals close fully

Electric safety

  • Check that outlets show no notable sign of damage, discolouration, or heat marks
  • Note any kitchen circuit breakers that have fallen (common from appliance surge)

Bathrooms

Bathrooms are high-risk zones for any home watch to deal with since the potential for hidden leaks is significant, rapidly spreading into adjacent walls and floors and sometimes, into adjoining apartments.

Plumbing

  • Flush toilets to confirm no continuous running and that it refills normally.
  • Look around the base of the toilet for seepage or staining.
  • Run sinks briefly, then look under sink cabinets and check how quickly water drains; slow drains may indicate buildup of sludge in pipes. Look for moisture, for mold odor, for evidence of corrosion.
  • Check the shower/tub drain speed and look for visible lines of sealant.

Water pressure and hot water

  • Just check to see that the hot water flows (is there hot water? This can be important in a house vacancy lasting for more than several days).
  • Note any weird sputtering or discoloration; that can indicate that air or sediment is caught somewhere in the pipes.

Ventilation and humidity

  • Look for signs of condensation or water damage: peeling paint and the black spots where moisture has found its way against corners in the ceilings.
  • If an exhaust fan is present, make sure that it runs.
  • Sniff for mustiness (especially in a bathroom that is “interior,” that is, without a window looking to the outside).

Safety

  • Look for cracks that might expand in the tiles or a fixture that is loose enough to bring risk as it loosens further.
  • Check that no water has poured along the floor edges.

Living areas

Living rooms and other “living areas” are particularly liable to environmental effects that the owner may not realize are taking place while he is not there, such as excessive humidity, cold drafts, variations in power, and indications that someone may have been breaking in.

Windows and doors

  • Check if the locks latch down completely.
  • Look at seals for missing gaps, or for any signs of force entry even in the sealer itself.
  • Look for water marks around frames (wind driven rain may be able to get in).

Walls, ceilings, floors

  • Look at ceilings for faint musty stains and “shadow” patches (that they have had small leaks from coming).
  • Look for humidity marks in corners of wall, or speckled weevil mold.
  • Look for damages in the floor surface that look like “bubbling” (especially at balcony doors and outside walls).

Electrical

  • Make sure that there is a basic complement light that goes on.
  • Look for lights that flicker on and off rapidly, as that often indicates it is a wiring issue problem, or with the building supply.
  • Look for tripped breakers in the main panel.

Air Quality

  • Just smell the place, immediately for damp.
  • Look for curtains, soft furnishings, rugs that “feel” damp to touch.

Security

  • Make sure that alarms (if fitted) all show normal status.
  • Check mains visible cameras or sensors are powered on (if owner uses that).

Bedrooms

Bedrooms are “quiet rooms” on purpose – so will generally make themselves known by gaining signs of problems with humidity and pests first.

Humidity, and ventilation.

  • Look behind the wardrobes, if possible. Mold has a tendency to start there.
  • Look at exterior corners of walls for darkening and stresses to the paint surface.
  • Check windows close very well and latch completely.

Bedding and textiles

  • Look for damp smell in the linens of the bed., or an area of that mattress.
  • Look for signs of pests excreta, small stains on the linens, i.e. “insect trails”.

General Condition

  • Look that no signs of new cracks or other odd settling around the frames of the window of course.
  • Look at the floor space close around the outside of the walls for signs of unevenness or softness.

Balconies/exterior

Balconies and exterior access points, are toxic multiplier risk zones in Athens area when judiciouslights mixedwith strong wind and heavy rain and blowing leaves hanging there seasonally.

Drainage

  • Check balcony drains are empty (leaves dust dirt etc)
  • Look for water coming to places it would not e.g.: standing water, damp patches that ought to be dry
  • Check water is flowing towards the drain and not towards the interior door

Doors and frames

  • Look at threshold for water ingress
  • See if door seals and or track need a cleaning, dirt will stop them closing properly

Railings and safety

  • Ensure railings feel secure
  • Look for rust or corrosion, particularly near the coast

Exterior signs

  • Check for broken tiles etc, if there are any loose items be sure to check them, though they may have been put there to protect against wind damage
  • Check shutters are secure

If your property comes within the Ellinikon, Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Vari corridor, balcony drainage and coastal effects become all the more crucial. Here is an example of how we do owner focused oversight in that area: https://homewatchathens.com/blog/property-management-company-near-ellinikon-glyfada-vouliagmeni-vari/

Systems checklist (plumbing, electric, HVAC)

Room checks pick up visual issues, systems checks pick up the less visible problems that will cost us the most when overlooked.

Plumbing

  • Look around the water heater for leaks, rust or other unusual things
  • Inspect visible shutoff valves for corrosion seepage etc
  • Run the water for a moment in a number of taps to ensure the flow and pressure is consistent
  • Odour from sewer near drains (may indicate dry traps, no ventilation etc)
  • Look for signs of water hammer (pipes banging) when cuts off taps etc
  • Confirm no hidden signs of leaks: damp skirting boards, swollen wood, stains

Pro tip: You could run a “minor” leak for days in an empty home. A checklist-based system check is how you catch it early.

Electrical

  • Check main panel for any tripped breakers
  • Confirm circuits of critical devices operating (fridge, boiler, basic lights)
  • Burning smell or warm to the touch outlets (rare but responsive)
  • All surge protectors in place / working
  • Note repeated tripping lay out (this may be more serious requiring an electrician visit)

HVAC (air conditioning and ventilation)

  • Try units briefly to confirm running (if only cooling/heating cycle reaction)
  • Check filters visually if accessible (clogged filters impair humidity control efforts)
  • Water drip from indoor unit (drainage problem if happens frequently)
  • Outdoor unit intact (where visible or accessible)
  • Musty odor when AC runs (may mean mold in system)

In Athens, humidity control should be of interest for the property owner’s sake and to control mold risk in empty apartments.

This is what we document (photos, timestamps):

A home watch visit should produce a clear record. That record is useful for:

  • tracking condition over time
  • proving that you actually did check
  • supporting maintenance decisions
  • making the insurance conversation easier if something goes wrong

What gets caught

  • Entry confirmation (timed and upon arrival)
  • Key areas (kitchen, bathrooms, family rooms, bedrooms)
  • Risk areas (putting things under sinks, boiler area, main electrical panel)
  • Balcony drains and exterior thresholds

So long as employee management ain’t my job, I’m cool with it. But what good documentation looks like?

  • Photos show problem, and also setting, for useful record
  • Notes borne of investigation explaining severity and assumption of cause (where reasonable to do)
  • Clear date and time, traceable to the report visit

If you doing your research what you will notice though is this is one of the biggest differences between home watch and property management: the latter is based on tenant management, the former on inspection and reporting.
https://homewatchathens.com/blog/home-watch-vs-property-management-whats-the-difference/

What is an escalation? Escalations are a subset of findings. Here’s what makes an escalation.

A checklist should not freak a person out. Figure anything scary with the understanding most is minor and noted calmly. Escalation is to elevate an issue that is deserving of a prompt response, is urgent, fast-moving, or likely costly if not isolated.

Escalation triggers (emergency)

  • Active water leak (anywhere)
  • Standing water, for example, on the balcony and risk of it getting in
  • Electrical burning smell, sparking, tripping breakers off
  • Break-in signs, forced entry, missing property, etc.
  • Strong sewage smell (possible toilet drain failure)
  • Rapidly spreading mold or water damage in a wide radius
  • Boiler, important, if on somewhere. Leak that poses visible issues, etc.
  • Neighbour Issues

Escalation triggers (spot and fix)

  • A slow drain full of junk that might become a blockage
  • A moisture mark that’s new regarding last visit
  • AC unit lightly dripping, early condensation
  • A window that for some reason won’t lock up
  • Evidence of pest infestation

FAQs

What is an escalation Process?

  • Immediate notification (notification given to home owner, with photos)
  • The recommended next step is clear
  • Coordination of a qualified technician, if needed
  • Summary photographs after the work is completed

How often should a home watch checklist be completed?

It depends on property type, season, and risk profile. A coastal home, an older apartment building, or a property with balconies and drainage exposure usually needs more frequent checks than a modern interior unit. What matters most is consistency and the ability to catch issues early.

Is a home watch checklist the same as property management?

No. Property management is often tenant-focused and operational. Home watch is owner-focused: inspection, prevention, documentation, and escalation while a property is unoccupied.

Why do photos and timestamps matter so much?

Because they create a condition record. When something goes wrong, owners need to answer “when did it start?” and “was it being monitored?” Documentation supports smart decision-making and can reduce friction with insurers and third parties.
https://homewatchathens.com/blog/how-greek-property-insurance-works-for-overseas-owners/

What are the most common problems found during home watch visits?

In Athens, common issues include minor leaks, humidity buildup, blocked drains, electrical faults after outages, and signs of pests. Many start small, which is why checklist-based visits matter.

Does this checklist apply to apartments and villas?

Yes, but villas add additional zones: exterior perimeter, garden irrigation, pool systems, storage rooms, and more entry points. Apartments often have higher neighbor-risk exposure, meaning a leak can become a building issue quickly.

What if a neighbor complains about a leak from my apartment?

That is exactly the scenario checklist visits are designed to prevent. If a leak occurs, fast confirmation and coordination are crucial. Having a trusted local representative reduces delays and confusion, especially when you are abroad.

Do I need power of attorney for home watch and repairs?

Not always. Many tasks can be handled through authorization and coordination, but certain formal actions may require POA depending on the institution or situation. The key is to understand boundaries early and have the right structure in place.

I own near Ellinikon, Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, or Vari. Is the checklist different?

The core checks stay the same, but coastal exposure increases the importance of humidity control, balcony drainage, corrosion checks, and exterior seals. This page explains your localized approach:
https://homewatchathens.com/blog/property-management-company-near-ellinikon-glyfada-vouliagmeni-vari/