Property Verification & Home Watching
Confidential walkthroughs, contractor coordination, and local management for your secondary residence in Biarritz, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and Hossegor.
- CNAPS state licence
- Reply within 24 hrs
- English spoken
Quick summary
Leaving a prestige villa on the Basque Coast or Landes unoccupied for months introduces risk. Alarms detect intrusions, but they do not detect slow water leaks, heating failures, or absent contractors. Our **property verification service** acts as your local liaison: professional inspections, contractor supervision, and pre-arrival preparations, backed by a **written confidentiality agreement**.
Rigor and confidentiality for your peace of mind
We are not a tourist rental agency. We do not manage short-term holiday guests. We work exclusively for you to preserve the integrity and value of your home.
Single local contact
You deal exclusively with one identified advisor. No opaque outsourcing, no rotating anonymous staff accessing your private residence.
Confidentiality contract
All information regarding your estate, security systems, and private schedule is protected by a strict, written confidentiality agreement.
Rigor of investigation
Our background in private investigation instills a culture of extreme detail, methodical verification, and absolute discretion in everything we do.
What we handle in your absence
1. Regular inspections
- Planned walkthroughs of interior and exterior spaces
- Utility checks (heating, water, electricity, ventilation)
- Verification of security and alarm systems
- Early detection of anomalies (damp, leaks, pests)
2. Contractor coordination
- Greeting and supervising housekeepers, gardeners, and builders
- Secure key holding and access management
- Verifying the execution and quality of contractor work
- Mail collection and parcel deliveries management
3. Arrival & departure preparation
- Mise-en-scène of the residence before owner or family arrival
- Stocking supplies and groceries per your instructions
- Post-departure closure, waste removal, and winterization
- Post-departure system check (heating lowered, alarms armed)
4. Post-incident or post-works check
- Rapid inspection and damage assessment after storms or incidents
- Detailed photographic documentation for insurance claims
- Work reception and compliance verification after renovations
- Liaising with local syndics and public services if required
A systematic, step-by-step verification method
1. Initial inventory
A thorough on-site walkthrough of the property, cataloging all installations, security systems, current contractors, and key points of vigilance.
2. Custom checklist
Defining visit frequencies (weekly, bi-weekly, on-demand), exact checkpoints, emergency procedures, and contact protocols.
3. Planned visits
Inspections and contractor supervision on-site. Any emergency is immediately reported with photographs and live updates.
4. Secure reporting
You receive structured progress reports with time-stamped photographs. All data is deleted or archived securely per your instructions.
Unoccupied luxury villas: risks alarms do not cover
Alarms trigger after an intrusion occurred. They do not trigger when a copper pipe bursts, ventilation fails causing mold, or when a storm compromises your roof tiles.
The French "Clause d'Inhabitation" (Insurance Voidance)
Most French home insurance policies feature a clause that voids or heavily restricts coverage (especially for theft and water damage) if the property is unoccupied for more than a set duration—usually **60 or 90 consecutive days**.
Regular, documented walkthroughs from a local liaison with dated progress reports serve as **admissible evidence** that you have maintained and verified the property, safeguarding your insurance rights. Our detailed guide, Second home in France left empty: what your insurance may not cover, walks you through the exact checks to make.
Neutralizing Empty House Signals
Piles of mail, unkept lawns, or permanently closed shutters advertise your absence to passing observers. A core element of our planned inspections is neutralizing these signs: collecting mail, cycling shutters, and supervising the maintenance of gardens and pool areas.
Contractor Supervision & Cost Control
Is your gardener billing for hours they did not work? Are your pool systems serviced correctly? Without on-site eyes, you pay purely on trust. We supervise local contractors, check their entries/exits, and verify the quality of their work on your behalf.
Inspections and management packages
Flexible options designed around your property's schedule, size, and contractor volume.
Essentiel
Regular programmed inspections to ensure your property remains safe, dry, and secure.
- Bi-weekly interior & exterior inspections
- Utility and alarm system checks
- Monthly photographic progress report
- Immediate alert in case of anomalies
Confort
Active management: contractor coordination, arrival preparation, and logistics.
- Weekly property inspections
- Full supervision of local contractors
- Arrival preparation & winterization
- Mail & delivery handling
- Weekly detailed progress report
Custom
A dedicated local partner managing administrative affairs, renovations, and custom requests.
- All Confort features +
- Local administrative & utility support
- Renovation monitoring & works reception
- Extended hours of availability
- Direct priority line with director
First consult and villa visit are free. A written estimate is provided prior to any contract execution.
Frequently asked questions
What is "home watching" or "home sitting"?
These terms designate the supervision, care, and management of empty secondary homes in the owners' absence. Our property verification service covers these needs (regular visits, contractor management, winterization) but elevates them with the professional rigor and strict confidentiality derived from the investigation industry.
How is this different from security patrols or alarm monitoring?
Property verification is an administrative and management service (inspection, coordination, reports). Security patrols and alarm responses in France are regulated activities requiring specific licenses and armed responders. We provide the eyes and hands to prevent maintenance disasters, but if you suspect criminal squatting or require active security patrols, we will direct you to our CNAPS-licensed investigation and security network.
How do you manage keys and access codes?
We establish a strict, written key-log agreement during the initial walkthrough. Each key handover to a contractor is logged, and codes are never shared with third parties without your written consent. You know exactly who has accessed your home and when.
Does this service help with my home insurance?
Yes. Most French home insurance policies contain an "uninhabitation clause" (clause d'inhabitation) which reduces or suspends coverage (for theft or water damage) if the property is left empty for more than 60 or 90 consecutive days. Our dated, photographic inspection reports serve as proof of diligent maintenance and regular visits, protecting your insurance rights in the event of a claim.
Do you work in English?
Yes, we are fully bilingual. All our communications, contracts, and progress reports can be written in English. However, if a report is needed for a French court or local insurer, it will be drafted in French (as legally required) with a complete English translation provided.
Entrust your Basque residence to local experts
Keep your property secure, verified, and ready for your next arrival. Contact us for a free estimate. For sensitive matters beyond the property itself — representation, confidential errands, delicate coordination — see our confidential assistance service.