Keys Property Watch

08/27/2025

Good news for the next week or so for all of the Gulf and East coast! Let's enjoy our Labor Day weekend in style!

No news is good news... right? Nothing new in the NHC map to watch the next 7 days. That puts us through Labor Day.

06/24/2025

Fourth of July traffic is typically heavier than normal throughout the Florida Keys — on and off the water.

• Deputies will be on the roadways watching for impaired and unsafe drivers. Don’t pass in no-passing zones or in center turn lanes as you are likely to get a ticket. If you plan to drive anywhere in or out of the county, plan extra time. Expect delays from the 18-Mile Stretch to Key West.

• Designate a sober driver — for your car or your boat.

• The Sheriff’s Office will have extra Deputies on the water to keep mariners safe. Be patient and courteous at sandbars, other gathering areas, and especially at marinas and boat ramps as they are expected to be busy.

• Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Please do not call 911 to report others using fireworks as Florida law allows the use of personal fireworks on the Fourth of July.

• Discard trash properly. You could be charged with littering.

Traffic:

• There will be a parade in Key Largo on July 4 that is expected to cause traffic congestion. Northbound traffic will be temporarily closed at Mile Marker 97 from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. All traffic will then be diverted into southbound lanes starting at 9:45 a.m. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and will last about two hours. The highway is expected to return to normal by 1 p.m. Motorists should avoid the area during those times if possible.

• There will be possible longer than normal traffic lines/traffic times at U.S. 1 and Founders Park in Islamorada due to the Village of Islamorada and Upper Keys Rotary Founders Park Fourth of July Celebration from approximately 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• There will be possible longer than normal traffic lines/turn times at the U.S. 1 and Sombrero Beach Road traffic light for the Marathon Fourth of July Parade from Marathon High School to Sombrero Beach from approximately 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Rotary Club of Marathon fireworks are scheduled for approximately 9 p.m. at Sombrero Beach.

• There will be possible longer than normal traffic lines/traffic times at U.S. 1 at the Big Pine Key traffic light for the Lower Keys Rotary Independence Day Celebration from approximately 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on July 3 at Big Pine Community Park.

• There are not any significant traffic lines/issues expected on U.S. 1 due to the myriad Fourth of July events scheduled in Key West, which can be viewed at www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov

Have a safe Fourth of July!

06/23/2025

Summer is a breeze here in the Florida Keys. Here's why you should have Keys Property Watch checking your seasonal home while you're away.

Summer in the Florida Keys is a vibrant time, buzzing with visitors eager to soak up the sun and enjoy our island paradise. However, for seasonal homeowners with vacant properties, the summer heat and increased activity ...

06/20/2025

Do you have a pool at your property? Are you certain the pool is being serviced regularly? We recently visited a home, and the pool was an ugly Green color. The owner wasn't happy; they had been paying for a service that wasn't being done. They now have a new pool company (yay Spotless Pool Cleaning Inc!), and are getting what they paid for!

Vendor verification keeps the honest people honest. Ensure your vendors are meeting their commitments with property checks through Keys Property Watch. www.KeysPropertyWatch.com

06/02/2025

We all like to save money. Here's why turning off your AC to your seasonal home isn't a good idea.

While this might seem like a smart money-saving move on the surface, in the unique, humid climate of Marathon and the surrounding Keys, it's a decision that can quickly lead to a silent, costly disaster.

05/26/2025

Today, we remember those who laid down their lives in service to our country.

May we never take for granted the freedom afforded to us as a result of their sacrifice 🇺🇸

05/22/2025

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# # Hurricane Season in the Florida Keys: Get Ready!

It's that time of year again, folks – hurricane season is officially here in the Florida Keys! Don't get caught off guard. Now's the time to get your home hurricane-ready and tackle those tasks you've been putting off.

# # # Shutter Maintenance: Don't Delay!

Your hurricane shutters are your first line of defense. Take the time *now* to:

* **Clean the tracks:** Dirt and debris can prevent your shutters from deploying properly.
* **Locate your equipment:** Make sure you know exactly where your panels, wing nuts, shutter keys, and any other necessary hardware are stored. You don't want to be searching for these in a panic when a storm is approaching.
* **Test your shutters:** If possible, deploy your shutters to ensure they fit correctly and all mechanisms are working smoothly.

# # # Additional Hurricane Season Preparations:

Beyond your shutters, here are some other crucial steps to take:

* **Create a disaster kit:** This should include at least a week's supply of water (one gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, a first-aid kit, flashlights, batteries, a hand-crank radio, medications, and important documents.
* **Review your evacuation plan:** Know your evacuation zone and route. Discuss with your family where you'll go and how you'll communicate if separated.
* **Secure outdoor items:** Anything that can become a projectile in high winds needs to be secured, brought inside, or tied down. This includes patio furniture, grills, trash cans, and decorations.
* **Trim trees and clear gutters:** Remove dead or weak branches that could fall during a storm. Clear your gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage and prevent water damage.
* **Fuel your vehicles:** Keep your car's gas tank at least half full during hurricane season, especially if an evacuation becomes necessary.
* **Charge all devices:** Ensure your cell phones, power banks, and any other essential electronics are fully charged in case of power outages.
* **Photograph your property:** Take pictures or videos of your home's interior and exterior *before* a storm hits. This can be invaluable for insurance claims if damage occurs.
* **Stay informed:** Monitor local weather forecasts and official advisories from reputable sources like the National Hurricane Center and local emergency management.

Being prepared is key to staying safe during hurricane season. Don't wait until a storm is bearing down on us – start getting ready today!

Send a message to learn more

05/21/2025

Pre-storm checks save you time, money, and most importantly, anxiety. Let us help you BEFORE the storm.

Approaching Hurricane Season in the Keys: Is Your Investment Protected?

05/20/2025

Protect your paradise by scheduling a property check today! Ensure your home remains safe and secure while you’re away. 🌴✅

www.KeysPropertyWatch.com

05/20/2025

Hurricane season is approaching! Now is a great time to get a Pre-Storm season inspection (with photos) done to protect your investment. Photographs greatly improve your claim process in the event of a storm. Give us a call today!

www.KeysPropertyWatch.com

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days for the eastern North Pacific east of 140 degrees west longitude.

Today marks the first day of the eastern North Pacific hurricane season, which will run until November 30. Long-term averages for the number of named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes are 15, 8, and 4, respectively.

A full list of eastern North Pacific basin tropical cyclone names and pronunciations can be found at:https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/aboutnames_pronounce_epac.pdf

This product, the Tropical Weather Outlook, briefly describes significant areas of disturbed weather and their potential for tropical cyclone formation during the next seven days. The issuance times of this product are 5 AM, 11 AM, 5 PM, and 11 PM PDT. After the change to standard time in November, the issuance times are
4 AM, 10 AM, 4 PM, and 10 PM PST.

A Special Tropical Weather Outlook will be issued to provide updates, as necessary, in between the regularly scheduled issuances of the Tropical Weather Outlook. Special Tropical Weather Outlooks will be issued under the same WMO and AWIPS headers as the regular Tropical Weather Outlooks.

A standard package of products, consisting of the tropical cyclone public advisory, the forecast/advisory, the cyclone discussion, and a wind speed probability product, is issued every six hours for all ongoing tropical cyclones. In addition, a special advisory package may be issued at any time to advise of significant unexpected changes or to modify watches or warnings.

NHC has the option to issue advisories, watches, and warnings for disturbances that are not yet a tropical cyclone, but which pose the threat of bringing tropical storm or hurricane conditions to land areas within 72 hours. For these land-threatening "potential tropical cyclones", NHC will issue the full suite of advisory and
watch/warning products. Potential tropical cyclones share the naming conventions currently in place for tropical depressions, being numbered from a single list (e.g., "One-E", "Two-E", "Three-E", etc.).

The Tropical Cyclone Update is a brief statement to inform of significant changes in a tropical cyclone, to post or cancel watches or warnings, or to provide hourly position updates between intermediate advisories when the storm center is easily followed by
radar. The Tropical Cyclone Update is also used in lieu of or to precede the issuance of a special advisory package. Tropical Cyclone Updates, which can be issued at any time, can be found under WMO header WTPZ61-65 KNHC, and under AWIPS header MIATCUEP1-5.

All NHC text and graphical products are available on the web at https://www.hurricanes.gov.

More information on NHC text and graphical products can be found at
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/NHC_Product_Description.pdf.

New and updated products for the 2025 season can be found at
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/NHC_New_Products_Updates_2025.pdf.

You can also interact with NHC on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NWSNHC.

Notifications are available via X when select NHC products are issued. Information about our east and central Pacific X feed () is available at
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/socialmedia

05/02/2025

We ran into a common problem that we see with our new customers. They have been away from their home for awhile, and no one was checking on the house. They called us and we did a home check. The inside smelled "really" bad. Sewer gases were collecting in the home because all the water in their p-traps and toilets had evaporated. This also allows pests and insects to get in as well.

We have them back up and the home is now on a bi-monthly service plan. Don't let your seasonal homes go unchecked. Call us today for your FREE service estimate.

www.keyspropertywatch.com

04/22/2025

Are you a seasonal homeowner? Don't let your investment go unchecked. Let us keep our eyes on your prize. Give us a call today!

www.KeysPropertyWatch.com