House
sitting is a great way to extend your travel budget, enjoy accommodation
standards you couldn’t normally afford, or get to know a new area by living
like a local and exploring it for longer than a quick holiday. But how do you
arrange a house sit and what is involved? Here is my introduction to house
sitting.
What
does house sitting involve?
House
sitting is the exchange of services (looking after someone’s home and pets) for
free accommodation. International variances in homes and lifestyles mean each
opportunity is different. The most basic expectation is that house sitters keep
the house in good condition until the owner returns. There can also be other duties
such as pet care, gardening, pool maintenance and keeping an eye on the mail.
Why
house sit?
Accommodation
costs usually make up a large portion of travellers’ budgets. If you can stay
somewhere for free it represents a significant saving, which is clearly of
benefit to both holidaymakers and long-term travellers. Access to a kitchen
allows you to self cater too, which offers further cost-reductions.
House
sitting also enables you to live like a local and really get to know an area.
It is an ideal way to scope out a new neighbourhood or test-drive overseas
retirement, before committing entirely.
Is
house sitting for you?
In
theory anyone can house sit; there are no qualifications required. It is not
simply a free holiday though. When you house sit you take responsibility for
someone’s home and pets. House sitting is generally straight forward, but you
need to be prepared to solve any problems that arise in the owner’s absence,
such as a sick pet, frozen water pipe or a blocked toilet. You also need to be
prepared to complete tasks requested by the owner, such as pool maintenance or
regularly walking dogs.
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| Inside a Turkish home |
Getting
started
House
sitting has grown in popularity over recent years and there are several
websites matching property owners with house sitters. The most popular
worldwide sites are Trustedhousesitters.com, Mindmyhome.com and Housecarers.com.
There are also several sites specialising in specific areas that can be found
with a quick internet search of ‘house sitting’ and the name of the country or
area you are interested in visiting.
How
to get selected
Profile
- Most sites allow you to build a profile and search house sitting
opportunities for free but require you to have a membership in order to contact
property owners. The fees vary but are quickly worth it once you have your
first gig. Make sure your profile clearly explains your experience, skills (for
example gardening or caring for horses) and preferences. Be honest though; there
is no point saying you are happy to look after cats if you would hate every
minute of it.
Photo - It is also important to make sure you look like a trustworthy and
reliable individual in your photo. Party photos will not do you any favours
here.
References
- When trusting their home to a stranger most people like to have a chat first
and / or see references. The most relevant references are from previous house
sits, but can be from previous landlords if you have not looked after someone’s
home before. If you can get a few days’ experience looking after someone’s home
or pets, even just for a weekend, that is better. A good way to organise some
experience is to volunteer to help any friends or family that are going away
soon.
Research
the house sit
House
sitting is all about the house. It is not about you. While you are permitted to stay in someone’s home, it
is on the condition you look after their property. However, before you apply to
house sit you need to make sure it would suit you.
Do you need to always be at
the property, or is it acceptable that you overnight elsewhere occasionally
during the sit? Does the property have an internet connection? If it is in a
remote location is there a vehicle you can use? Are you allergic to any of the
pets? It is important to ask these questions before committing to a house sit to
avoid letting the owner down.
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| Property owners often seek a house sitter to take care of pets |
Successful
house sitting
Got
your house sit arranged? Great, just remember the number one rule in house
sitting is ‘care for the property as if it were your own’. Respect the property,
keep it clean and tidy, and make sure pets are well cared for.
Find
out from the property owners what their preferences are before they leave. How
many times do the dogs need walking? Is it ok to have overnight guests? Ensure
you also have contact numbers for the veterinarian (if there are pets), and
preferred local trades people, should you encounter any problems.
A few things to ask about before the owners leave the property:
Make
sure you have keys and if there is a spare key, where is it?
Are
there any quirks with household appliances?
If
there are pets, do they have any special health care requirements?
Do the
pets need exercise and, if so, how often?
What
are the contact details for the veterinarian?
If a
plumber or electrician is needed, is there a preference of who, should be
contacted, and what are their contact details?
What
maintenance does the garden need?
If
there is a pool, does it need any maintenance?
Should
you check the mail?
What
day is bin day?
If you have done some house sitting, what further tips would you add? Please share them in the comments below.
