The island's homes, kept.
A platform that will connect owners of empty Vineyard homes with independent island caretakers who agree to send a photo report after every visit. It is still in development, and people on the founding list help decide what it covers.
- First access when we open
- Early introductions to caretakers
- A say in what we build first
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, Dukes County, table B25004 (seasonal, recreational or occasional use).
The Census Bureau counts 9,698 seasonal homes in Dukes County, which is almost entirely Martha's Vineyard. That is more than half of all the homes here. Their owners spend most of the year somewhere else, and between visits they have to trust that the heat held, the storm missed, and someone would notice if it hadn't. We are building MV Caretaking so they can see for themselves.
Designed for the house you're not in.
These are the services independent caretakers on the platform plan to offer. Each caretaker sets their own prices and schedule. What launches first depends on what the founding list asks for.
-
01
Regular home checks
Through the off-season, a caretaker will walk the house on a set schedule, room by room, checking heat, moisture, the roof, and the doors and windows. You'll get a photo report after each visit.
Off-season -
02
Storm preparation and follow-up
Before bad weather, a caretaker will secure the outdoor furniture, check the doors and clear the drains. After a major storm, they'll inspect the house and send you a report.
Year-round -
03
Seasonal opening and closing
A caretaker will open the house each spring and close it each fall, water and heating systems included, with a licensed plumber where the work needs one. They go through the full checklist every time, so the house is ready when you arrive and protected after you leave.
Spring · Fall -
04
Contractor coordination
A caretaker will let in the trades you hire, keep an eye on the work, photograph the result and lock up after them. Whoever works on the house, you deal with one contact.
On demand -
05
Arrival preparation
Tell us when you're coming. The heat or air will be set, the walkways clear, and the basics stocked if you want them.
Before you arrive -
06
On-call island presence
A storm passes through, a pipe bursts, a delivery needs a signature. A caretaker who lives on the island can go and look, and tell you what they find.
As needed
Every visit, documented.
Caretakers on the platform agree to end every visit with a timestamped photo report, sent to your inbox and kept in your account, so you can see the state of the house from wherever you are. The report format is part of the platform we are building.
- Timestamped photos of every checkpoint
- A written reading for each system
- Delivered before the caretaker leaves the driveway
- Storm inspections reported inside 24 hours
- Heat58°F, at set point
- MoistureDry, all levels
- WaterMain off, lines drained
- DoorsLocked, windows closed
What caretakers agree to
To be listed on the platform, a caretaker agrees to three basic standards. How they run their business beyond that is up to them.
-
One caretaker per home
Each owner is introduced to one caretaker, who learns the house, how its systems run and how the owners like it kept.
- Coverage
- One name per property
-
Documented visits
Reports stay in your account after they are sent, so you can look back over the whole history of the house.
- Proof
- Timestamped photo record
-
A single point of contact
Your caretaker is your one contact. Whether the house needs an inspection, a contractor or someone there fast, one call or message to them starts it.
- Response
- One call starts it
Where things stand.
MV Caretaking is a platform in development. It will introduce owners of empty Vineyard homes to independent caretakers on the island. The caretakers are independent businesses: they set their own prices and schedules, and you sign your agreement with them directly. They pay MV Caretaking a fee for each client we introduce. We don't do the caretaking ourselves, and we never hold keys or alarm codes.
No services are sold or booked on this site today. When we launch, people on the founding list hear first and are introduced to caretakers first.
- Before we list a caretaker, we will ask for proof of insurance and references.
- Plumbing, electrical and alarm work goes to licensed tradespeople.
- We don't arrange rentals, find tenants, check in guests or collect rent.
Common questions
Where the service stands today, and what joining the list means for you.
Not yet. MV Caretaking is still being planned, and nothing is offered or sold at this stage. Joining the founding list is free and does not commit you to anything.
That depends on how much interest we see. We are aiming to be running for an upcoming off-season, and people on the list will hear first.
Each caretaker sets their own prices, and you agree on them with the caretaker directly. Introductions are free for owners. Caretakers pay MV Caretaking a fee for each client we introduce.
MV Caretaking is a platform based in Dukes County, Massachusetts, that will introduce homeowners to independent island caretakers. It is still in development, and we will publish full company details when we launch.
We are looking for established island caretakers. You stay independent, set your own prices and pay a fee only when an owner we introduce becomes your client. Choose "I'm a contractor or caretaker" in the form and we'll get in touch.
We use it to confirm your signup and to send launch updates, and every update has a one-click unsubscribe. We never sell it or share it for anyone else's marketing. If the project ever changes ownership, the list moves with the protections described in our Privacy Policy.
Something we didn't cover? Ask us directly.
Put your house on the list.
Tell us about your property and what you'd want handled. Only the email field is required.