South Florida lends itself to seasonal living. Whether we’re escaping a northeastern winter or reveling in the glories of a West Palm Beach summer, our neighborhood tends to flow with the turning of the year. For some of us, Ibis is only one of our homes; we spend time elsewhere enjoying another kind of season and another set of opportunities. But Ibis is still home, and our houses here are still precious to us. So how do you keep an eye on your castle while you’re away? This month’s Sponsor Spotlight has a solution. Gene Lesko of Watchman Professional Home Watch Service brings attention to detail and a personal touch to every home under their care.

We started our conversation with Gene by asking what Watchman does, and his explanation not only presents what services he offers, but what sets him apart from similar businesses: “The basic gist of it is I watch their home when they’re gone. I treat it like it was my own home, I make sure everything is working no leaks, plumbing electrical AC. If there are small things I fix it for them and send them the cost of doing it. I also do a lot of handyman work for my customers when they’re in town, hanging pictures, drywall repair, stuff like that.” 

 

Gene’s devotion to his clients and their homes comes in part from his own experience. After building a successful injection molding business in his native Erie, PA, Gene fulfilled a lifelong dream and bought a second home in West Palm Beach. After 15 years of part-time residency, Gene relocated down here to be closer to his son’s family–”I decided to move down here permanently rather than being 1500 miles away from my grandkids.” Far from ready for retirement, he started looking for another business venture and discovered home-watching: “I was looking for businesses while I was down here. I was only 54 at the time, I wasn’t ready to retire by any means. I was looking for businesses to purchase and run, and I didn’t want to deal with employees. I had never heard of a home watch business and I thought ‘That sounds interesting’. No employees, just me, so once I learned about it I figured yeah, I can do this. It seemed like a reasonable way to get in, so I bought the business from [the previous owner] and since then I’ve tripled its size.”

 

Watchman’s services include a weekly visit to the client’s home during their absence. This visit entails far more than just a quick check-in; Gene provides a thorough walkthrough of the home to check for any acute problems–leaks, broken windows, and the like–while also inspecting the house’s core systems to ensure that the air, plumbing, and electrical are all functioning properly. “It’s a lot more involved than what many similar businesses offer,” he tells us. “I’m a detail-oriented person and it shows in how I approach this.” Gene also prides himself on dealing with any problems immediately and effectively, offering quality repairs himself or calling in other professionals as needed. Homeowners receive weekly communications with updates as to how their house is faring in the absence. This additional layer of communication and customer service is a hallmark of what Watchman offers to its clients and another manifestation of Gene’s devotion to quality service.

 

So what advice does Gene have for homeowners considering a home watch service? We asked and he once again offered a thoughtful response: “I always tell people that you have to trust the person you’re hiring to walk through your house every week, it’s your home, and you have to trust them to do what they're going to do when they say they’re going to do it. I pride myself on being that kind of person.” 

 

Ibis may be home, but if you spend part of the year elsewhere it might just be worthwhile to give Gene a call. You’ll be confident knowing that your home is in good hands while you’re gone and that upon your return it will be welcoming and ready for you no matter what season you choose to spend here. 

You can reach Gene at 561-246-0908.