Home Watch for Empty Homes on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
When a home sits empty, small problems grow quietly. A slow leak, an air conditioner that quit, a limb on the roof. On the Coast, heat, humidity and storms make it happen faster. Merit Management visits your property on a schedule, checks it, and sends you a report with photos.
Scheduled visits, inside and out. A photo report every time.
Tell us about your property and how we can help. We'll never sell or share your information — just a straight conversation with a local, family-owned team.
What we check on every visit
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Doors and windows locked and undamaged, with a look for signs of forced entry
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Inside: leaks, water stains, damp spots, musty smells, and signs of mold
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Air conditioning running and the home at a reasonable temperature
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Roof, gutters and yard: visible damage, fallen limbs, standing water
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Pests and animals
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Water run in sinks and tubs so drains stay healthy
What you get
A photo report after every visit
A phone call the same day for anything urgent
Repairs arranged through licensed vendors we already work with, only with your approval
One local contact who knows your property
Who It's for
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Owners of second homes or seasonal homes
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Families stationed away who still own a home here
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Executors and attorneys handling a house during probate
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Landlords with a home between tenants
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Owners who travel often
Plans and pricing
Single check — one full inside and outside visit with photo report
$75 in Jackson County · $100 outside Jackson County
Twice a month — two visits a month, photo report each time
$125 per month in Jackson County · $175 per month outside
Weekly — four visits a month, photo report each time
$250 per month in Jackson County · $350 per month outside
*Jackson County covers Ocean Springs, Gautier, Pascagoula, Moss Point and Vancleave.
Properties outside Jackson County, including Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, Pass Christian and Bay St. Louis, add $25 per visit for travel.
*Optional add-ons, priced per property: mail and package pickup, letting a vendor or contractor in while you are away, and air filter changes. Ask us when we set up your plan.
Post Storm Sanity Check
Our Post Storm Sanity Check is a post-hurricane home check. After a storm passes and it is safe to go out, we visit your home and look it over. Outside, we check the roof, siding, windows, doors, fence and yard. Inside, we look for leaks, water getting in, and whether the power and air conditioning are on. You get a dated photo report, and a phone call the same day for anything urgent.
Price: $100 per visit, or $75 for existing clients. Add $25 per visit for properties outside Jackson County. Anyone can book it.
What to expect. We cannot be at your home during the storm. After it passes, we visit as soon as roads are open and it is safe. After a major storm many homes need checking at once, so we start with existing clients and tell you when to expect us.
Our safety rule. We do not go inside a home that looks unsafe. If we see flooding, smell gas, or find structural damage or downed power lines, we check the outside only and tell you what we saw.
What it is not. We look and take photos. We are not insurance adjusters, engineers or contractors, and we cannot say how your insurance company will respond to a claim. The photos simply show what we saw.
What home watch is, and what it is not
Home watch is a visual check for obvious problems. It is not a security service or house-sitting, and it is not a repair service. We cannot promise a problem will never happen. If we find one, we tell you right away and, with your approval, arrange the fix.
How it works
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Call us. Tell us about the property and how long you will be away.
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Set up. We build a checklist for your home, arrange secure key access, and sign a short written agreement.
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Visits begin. We visit on the schedule you choose.
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You get a report. Photos and notes arrive after every visit.
Where we work
Ocean Springs, Biloxi, D'Iberville, Gulfport, Gautier, Pascagoula, Vancleave, Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian. If your property is nearby and not on this list, call us and ask.
Why Merit Management
Merit Management is the property management arm of C West Realty, a family-owned company serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast for over 40 years. We already manage homes and commercial property here, so we know the contractors, the weather, and the neighborhoods. If you later decide to rent or sell the home, we can help with that too. Merit Management is insured.
Common questions
How often should an empty home be checked? Many owners choose every week or two. Some insurance policies have their own rules for vacant homes, so check yours.
How do you handle my keys? Your keys are kept secured at our office in Gautier and taken out only for a scheduled visit to your property. Every entry is recorded. If contractors need to work at the house, we can install a lockbox so they have access without a key leaving our office.
What happens if you find a problem? We call you the same day with photos. You decide what happens next, and we coordinate the repair if you ask.
Can you check a home that is in probate? Yes. Attorneys and executors are welcome to contact us directly.
Who can check on my house while I'm away? We can. We visit on the schedule you choose, check inside and out, and send photos after every visit, so you have a written record.
How is home watch different from house sitting? House sitting means someone stays in or looks after a home for a short time. Home watch is a scheduled visual check of an empty home by a professional, with a report after each visit.
Does my insurance require someone to check a vacant home? It depends on your policy. Some policies have rules for vacant homes, so ask your insurance agent. Our photo reports give you a dated record of each visit.
Do you check homes after a storm? Yes. Our Post Storm Sanity Check is a visit after the storm passes, once it is safe. See the section above.
Ready to talk? Call 228-497-3797 for a quote.