Breakwater Home Watch Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, Manchester By The Sea

About

Breakwater Home Watch was established to meet the growing need for regular inspections of unoccupied properties throughout Cape Ann on the North Shore of Massachusetts. With a commitment to precision, communication, and reliability, Breakwater Home Watch specializes in servicing a range of property types, including waterfront estates and investment properties. We provide meticulous attention and care to each property, no matter the size, type or location.

As an accredited and certified member of the National Home Watch Association, Breakwater Home Watch upholds the highest industry standards. The company holds an active Watch Guard license administered by the Massachusetts State Police, signifying completion of a rigorous vetting process (including background checks and compliance with state regulations). In addition to licensing, Breakwater Home Watch is fully bonded and insured, providing an extra layer of protection and professionalism that distinguishes it from other service providers in the region.

Breakwater Home Watch conducts comprehensive visual inspections of both the interior and exterior of unoccupied properties, identifying any potential concerns through a structured, multi-point inspection system. Customized concierge services are also available, addressing specific client needs beyond the standard inspection checklist. A proprietary scheduling system assists us maintain timely and consistent service, with additional inspections available upon request for circumstances such as severe weather events.

Client intake begins with an in-depth, on-site consultation to assess property needs, review credentials, and establish a service plan tailored to the client’s requirements. The company prioritizes proactive communication, keeping property owners informed about inspection schedules and any arising concerns.

Founded by a father-and-son team with decades of experience monitoring vacant properties, Breakwater Home Watch was built on a foundation of trust, technical skill, professionalism, and attention to detail. By maintaining the highest level of service, licensing, and security, Breakwater Home Watch provides property owners with confidence and peace of mind while their homes remain unoccupied.

Dan Bates

Dan is a graduate of the Bertolon School of Business at Salem State University, graduating in 2013. Since then, he has worked in many fields, including insurance and property maintenance. After leaving a corporate insurance job working as a damage appraiser, his side gig of working in property maintenance started to pick up. Due to this line of work, he has grown his network of property owners who were in need of various services for their residential and commercial properties. Many of them have inquired about making routine visits to their unoccupied properties while they were away for either a short or extended period of time.

This led Dan to start a Home Watch business alongside his father, Jim. After discovering the National Home Watch Association, Dan decided to start Breakwater Home Watch and become accredited and certified by the NHWA and license by the State of Massachusetts. Dan has the reputation of being trustworthy, honest and dependable. Because of this, he has been able to grow his network of clients organically, mostly by word of mouth. Establishing Breakwater Home Watch is a way that he hopes to grow his clientele and serve his community.

Jim Bates

After trade school, Jim began his career as a mechanic working in Boston, eventually opening a business in Ipswich, then moving his business to Gloucester. After 10 years, he sold his business to his employees and accepted a position at an insurance carrier based in Peabody where he joined their claims department as an auto damage appraiser. During his years with three different carriers, Jim moved up into a management position where he oversaw teams charged with documenting damages to autos and homes. During this time, Jim was involved in several Catastrophe team responses, traveling to areas devastated by storms, both locally after Hurricane Bob and The Perfect Storm as well as nationally after Hurricane Andrew in Florida and Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. Jim worked for these three different carriers nearly 40 years, retiring this year and looking forward to working with his son Dan.

Jim looks forward to joining Dan at Breakwater Home Watch brining his unique detail oriented observation skills along with his focus on documentation and communication with customers.