Acuity Advantage Inc.

Accreditation isn’t something we earn once and then put on a shelf.

For us at Acuity Advantage, being CHWG Accredited means continuing to hold ourselves to established professional standards in how we operate, how we serve our clients, and how we care for the homes entrusted to us.

When someone hands us the keys to their home and heads off for work, vacation or otherwise, there is an enormous amount of trust that comes with that. Our clients deserve to know that the people looking after their property take that responsibility seriously, whether they’re gone for a weekend, several weeks, or an entire season.

We’re proud to be CHWG Accredited and equally proud of the standards that come with it.

A true Home Watch professional lives up to CHWG standards even when no one is looking.

That commitment doesn’t end when a business earns accreditation. CHWG-accredited businesses are reviewed annually to maintain their status and demonstrate that they continue to meet established professional standards.

That includes proper business practices, insurance, bonding, vetting, ethics, and accountability.

For Canadian homeowners, the CHWG Accredited designation represents more than a one-time approval. It means choosing a Home Watch business that has committed to maintaining those standards year after year.

For Home Watch business owners, it’s a commitment to doing things the right way every day, not just when it’s time to be reviewed.

Interested in becoming CHWG Accredited? Contact us to learn more about the requirements and see if your Home Watch business qualifies.

Canadian Home Watch Group
Canadian Owned. Nationally Accredited. Internationally Connected.
www.canadianhomewatchgroup.ca

Fall can change a property quickly, especially across Alberta and the Yukon.

A home that looked perfectly fine when you left can look very different after a few days of wind, falling temperatures, rain, frost, or an early snowfall. That’s why our Home Watch visits aren’t simply about checking that the doors are locked and everything is where you left it. We’re looking for the little changes that could signal something needs attention.

You can’t control what Canadian weather throws at your home while you’re away. You can make sure someone is there to keep an eye on it. Check out https://acuityadvantage.com to learn more about how we can help.

Leaves get plenty of attention this time of year, but they’re not the only thing worth noticing around a home.

As the seasons begin to change, a scheduled Home Watch visit may reveal visible conditions that weren’t present before. Debris can collect around the property, gutters and downspouts may show signs of buildup, exterior faucets and hoses may still need seasonal attention, and cooler weather can bring new signs of pest activity. Even the roofline may look different after wind and changing weather.

A Home Watch professional isn’t there to diagnose or repair these conditions. The job is to observe what’s obvious, document concerns, and communicate with the homeowner so the appropriate next step can be taken.

That trained set of eyes becomes especially valuable when a property is unoccupied through changing Canadian weather.

If your home will be spending more time without you this fall and winter, find a CHWG accredited Home Watch professional serving your community.

Canadian Home Watch Group
www.canadianhomewatchgroup.ca

We love good neighbours. But we also believe your neighbour should get to be exactly that: your neighbour.

When you’re away, asking someone to keep an eye on your home can quickly become a much bigger responsibility than bringing in a package or checking that everything looks okay from the outside. Professional Home Watch provides scheduled visits, documented checks, and someone who knows what to look for and what to do when something isn’t right. And while we expect the best, we're trained for the worst - so that you know your home is in good hands when you're away.

Keep the good neighbour. Let us handle the Home Watch.

Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold. Professional Home Watch serves a different purpose.

Your neighbour may gladly bring in a package, notice something unusual, or call if they see a concern. That doesn’t make them responsible for conducting scheduled Home Watch visits or documenting the condition of your property.

A legitimate Home Watch business has a defined professional responsibility. CHWG-accredited businesses also meet requirements involving insurance, bonding, vetting, business practices, and professional accountability.

There’s room for both.

Your neighbour can still be a great neighbour. Your Home Watch professional can handle the Home Watch.

Give your neighbour one less job while you’re away and connect with an accredited professional serving your community.

Canadian Home Watch Group
www.canadianhomewatchgroup.ca

Albertans and Yukoners are no strangers to extreme weather and crazy storms!

When you’re away, having a trusted professional watching over your home can make a real difference. Predicting exactly when severe weather will hit isn’t a perfect science, which is why timely Home Watch visits matter.

If a storm hits while you’re out of town, you want your home checked as soon as possible, not four or five days later when you get home, or whenever your buddy has time.

(No shade to your buddy.)

If a major storm rolls through while you’re away, you want to know your property can be checked as soon as conditions safely allow, not four or five days later.

An ordinary stretch of heavy rain or strong wind may leave branches down, move exterior items, affect drainage, or expose a condition that wasn’t obvious before the weather moved through.

This is one of the practical advantages of working with a Home Watch professional who actually serves the community.

They know what weather came through the area and when conditions changed. During the next scheduled visit, that information provides useful context for what they observe at the property.

Not every weather event becomes national news. Your home still experienced it.
When choosing a Home Watch professional, look for someone who understands the community as well as the responsibility.

Canadian Home Watch Group
www.canadianhomewatchgroup.ca

An important reminder that wildfire season does not necessarily end when summer does.

For homeowners who are away, preparation matters long before conditions change. On our website have a blog post that shares practical steps homeowners can take to help prepare their properties, from creating defensible space around the home to documenting belongings and having an emergency plan in place. While these tips are great to consider before fire season, we firmly believe they're something you can and should consider year round, so that you're always prepared.

If you missed it, you can read is here:
https://acuityadvantage.com/safeguarding-your-home-during-wildfire-season/

Wildfire conditions don’t necessarily disappear when summer holidays end.

In some parts of Canada, active fires, smoke, and changing conditions can continue well into the season. When you’re away from your property, having someone local who can be your eyes and ears can make a real difference.

Professional Home Watch can help keep you up to date on conditions at your home through scheduled visits, documented observations, photos, and communication. When appropriate arrangements have been made in advance, your Home Watch professional may also be able to assist with removing valuables or other important items from the property.

Before changing conditions arrive, photos can document the condition of your home. Afterward, another visit can provide updated photos and information about any visible changes or concerns.

Home Watch doesn’t replace emergency services, but it does give you a trusted local professional who knows your property and can keep you informed when you can’t be there.

Away from your Canadian home, cottage, or seasonal property? Connect with a CHWG-accredited Home Watch provider serving your community.

Canadian Home Watch Group
Canadian Owned. Nationally Accredited. Internationally Connected.
www.canadianhomewatchgroup.ca

September is Canadian Home Watch Month, and we are proud to take part.

Throughout the month, Home Watch professionals across Canada are helping raise awareness of what professional Home Watch means, why industry standards matter, and what homeowners should consider before leaving their properties for an extended period.

As we shared in our recent blog post:

“Home Watch continues to grow across Canada, and with that growth comes a responsibility to promote education, accreditation, certification, ethics, accountability, and standards that protect homeowners and strengthen trust in the industry.”

For us, Canadian Home Watch Month is about helping homeowners ask better questions before they leave.

Does your insurance policy have requirements while you are away? Is your home properly prepared for an extended absence? Who will be checking it? How will you stay informed? And what happens if something goes wrong while you are hundreds or thousands of kilometres from home?

We explore these questions and more in our latest article, Canadian Home Watch Month: Five Questions to Ask Before You Leave Home.

Read the full article here: https://acuityadvantage.com/canadian-home-watch-month-five-questions-to-ask-before-you-leave-home/

When you trust someone with your home while you are away, you should know who you are trusting.

We are proud to be a CHWG Accredited Home Watch business. The accreditation process means our business, insurance and professional standards have been independently vetted, with re-accreditation required every year.

It is an important layer of accountability, and one we are proud to maintain for the homeowners who trust Acuity Advantage with their properties.

Not just any company can earn CHWG Accreditation. There’s a strict vetting process behind it.

Company principals undergo criminal background checks, along with consumer affairs and complaint checks. Applicable business licences are verified at the appropriate federal, provincial, municipal, or local level. Accredited businesses must also maintain proper liability insurance and bonding.

But accreditation isn’t only about meeting requirements on paper. CHWG-accredited businesses agree to uphold the highest ethical standards in the Home Watch industry and follow established professional practices.

And it doesn’t stop after the initial approval. CHWG-accredited businesses are reviewed and re-accredited annually.

Own a Canadian Home Watch business and interested in gaining accreditation and certification? Contact the Canadian Home Watch Group to learn more about the requirements and see if you qualify.

Canadian Home Watch Group
Canadian Owned. Nationally Accredited. Internationally Connected.
www.canadianhomewatchgroup.ca

25 years later, the loss of September 11, 2001 is still carried around the world.

Today, we remember those whose lives were taken, and hold close the families and loved ones who have carried their absence ever since.

May we never forget.

This September 11, the Canadian Home Watch Group recognizes the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day that changed the world.

We remember the lives lost and the lasting impact on their families, first responders, and people around the world who were affected by the terrorist attacks.

We also remember the compassion, unity, and brotherhood shown across borders as nations and communities came together to help the United States of America during one of its darkest days.

Twenty-five years later, we remember those we lost, those who answered the call to help, and the humanity that brought people together when it mattered most.

We will never forget.

For of our clients, the end of summer also means it is time to start thinking about closing up their summer home for the winter.

Many of our clients have seasonal properties that are enjoyed throughout the warmer months but sit empty for much of the winter. Closing a home for several months takes more than locking the doors and turning down the heat. There are systems to check, outdoor areas to prepare, seasonal maintenance to arrange, and plenty of small details that can become much bigger problems if they are overlooked.

We can help you prepare your property for its winter closure and continue caring for it through regular Home Watch visits while you are away.

That can be especially valuable when your primary residence is hours away. Having someone local who can regularly check the property means you do not have to wonder what is happening after a cold snap, a storm, or weeks of freezing temperatures.

And even if you live in Calgary, making the drive to Sylvan Lake just to check on your second home can turn into most of a day. Sometimes, it is simply a day you do not have.

Your summer home may be closed for the season, but it does not have to be left completely on its own.

If you are starting to plan your seasonal closing, Acuity Advantage can help you prepare your home for winter and provide ongoing Home Watch services throughout the months you are away.

Before warm weather recreation turns into cold weather recreation, it’s worth thinking about who will be looking after your cottage or seasonal property when you’re not there.

For many Canadians, visits become less frequent as the seasons change. Temperatures drop, seasonal systems change over, and cottages can begin spending longer stretches unoccupied.

Maybe you’ve relied on a neighbour, friend, or family member to stop by and take a look. Professional Home Watch provides a professional alternative, with scheduled visits, documented observations, and clear communication about visible concerns at your property.

As your cottage transitions into the colder months, make Professional Home Watch part of your seasonal plan. Connect with a professional serving your cottage community before those stretches between visits get longer.

Canadian Home Watch Group
Canadian Owned. Nationally Accredited. Internationally Connected.
www.canadianhomewatchgroup.ca

The Canadian Home Watch Group proudly recognizes the spirit, diligence, and industriousness of Canadian workers whose efforts help make Canada the great country it is today.

Across our communities and industries, Canadians bring skill, dedication, and a strong work ethic to what they do each day. Their contributions strengthen our businesses, support our communities, and help move our country forward.

This Labour Day, we celebrate the people behind that work and the important role they play across our nation.

From the Canadian Home Watch Group, we wish Canadians from coast to coast to coast a safe, proud, and enjoyable Labour Day.