How Often Should You Check Your Florida Second Home?

Owning a second home along Florida’s Forgotten Coast is a dream—but leaving it empty for weeks (or months) at a time can create expensive surprises. Salt air, moisture, storms, and pests can all cause damage long before you notice from out of state.

So the big question is: How often should you check your Florida second home?

Here’s a simple guide based on local conditions and what we see every week at Keys & Collars.

🌧 Florida’s Environment = More Frequent Checks

Our climate creates unique risks:

• High humidity

• Salt corrosion

• Sudden storms

• Mold growth

• HVAC strain

• Exterior weathering

These aren’t things you want building up over 2–3 months.

🔎 Recommended Check-In Frequency

✔ Minimum: Every 2 Weeks This is the industry standard to catch:

• Leaks

• HVAC failures

• Mold or moisture

• Odors

• Unexpected power outages

• Pest activity

✔ Ideal: Weekly Most of our clients choose weekly because it:

• Protects the home faster

• Keeps HVAC running properly

• Ensures vendors are doing their job

• Provides peace of mind with consistent updates

If your home is used as a rental, weekly is almost essential.

🧰 What a Proper Home Check Should Include

A real home check is more than just “walking through.”

A good service should verify:

• HVAC functioning

• Dehumidifier levels

• Doors + windows fully secured

• No signs of leaks or moisture

• Toilets flushed + faucets run

• Fridge + appliances operating normally

• No odd smells, pests, or damage

• Exterior condition + porch areas

• Packages or debris removed

At Keys & Collars, we send photo updates so you always know your property is safe.

🏡 Peace of Mind When You're Not Here

Checking your home regularly isn’t an add-on—it’s a necessity for coastal living.Whether you're seasonal, out-of-state, or renting your home part-time, routine inspections protect your investment and prevent the kind of damage that only gets worse with time.

If you’d rather have someone local keep an eye on your home, we’re right here in Port St. Joe and happy to help.