Why Weekly Home Watch Visits Matter: What Fort Myers and Babcock Ranch Homeowners Need to Know About the 14-Day Rule

Aug 25

If you own a second home in Florida and only check on it every few weeks—or rely solely on smart devices to keep tabs while you’re away—you may be unknowingly putting your property and your insurance coverage at risk.

Let’s talk about one of the most misunderstood clauses in many Florida homeowners insurance policies: the 14-day water damage exclusion.

What Is the 14-Day Rule?

Many standard homeowner insurance policies in Florida now include a clause that excludes coverage for water damage that results from a leak or seepage that continues undetected for more than 14 days. That means if a pipe bursts, an A/C drain line clogs, or a roof leak develops and no one discovers it within that 2-week window, your insurer may legally deny the claim. In other words: Timing is everything.

Real-World Examples

Imagine this: your air conditioning fails in the middle of a humid Southwest Florida summer. No one notices for 10 days, and by the time your next home watch visit rolls around, mold has already taken hold in your drywall and baseboards. Now imagine your insurer determines that the damage began before that 14-day window—you’re stuck footing the bill.

The same scenario can play out with:

Water heaters or supply lines that start to leak
Roof damage after a summer storm
Clogged gutters that cause foundation water pooling
Unnoticed broken windows or damaged seals

These things don’t just cause damage—they compound over time.

Why Weekly Visits Are the Best Choice

At Hive Home Watch, we strongly recommend weekly home watch visits, especially during Florida’s storm season and humid summer months. Here’s why:

Faster issue detection: The earlier we catch a problem, the more likely we can stop it before it escalates—and before that critical 14-day window closes.
Insurance compliance: Weekly visits align with most insurance policy language and offer proof of regular home reports if a claim is ever needed.
Peace of mind: You shouldn’t be left wondering if your home is safe. Weekly visits give you confidence that someone is checking in, inside and out.

Want to dive deeper? Several insurance and home watch professionals confirm the risk of infrequent checks:
Marshall Dennehey Law Firm
Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog
Home Watch Services Blog

What About Cameras and Smart Thermostats?

We’re big fans of smart home technology, but they’re not a substitute for a trained professional checking your home. Cameras won’t notice a slow leak in your laundry room. A thermostat won’t tell you if water is pooling by your lanai door. Weekly physical visits are your best defense.

Final Thought: Would Your Insurance Hold Up?

If your policy requires that your unoccupied home be checked within a 7–10 day window, and your provider only comes every other week, your coverage could be compromised. That’s a risk most homeowners can’t afford.

At Hive Home Watch, we’re not just checking boxes, we’re helping you safeguard your investment. Our weekly home watch visits are designed to give you peace of mind, detect issues early in your home, and help you stay covered in case of unexpected damage.

Kaddie Osborn