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Are you an animal lover looking to explore the world, live in fabulous homes, take care of adorable furry (or feathered, or scaley) companions, and pay zero rent? If that sounds great to you, house sitting is the perfect way to do all of that and more.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about house sitting: how to start house sitting, go over your house sitting responsibilities, how to find the best house sits, and teach you how to become a house sitter, and a great one at that.
We’ll also share what you need to know as a homeowner looking for house sitters to ensure everyone is on the same page to ensure a smooth transition between you and the house sitters so you can go on your vacation with peace of mind.
What is House Sitting and How Does it Work?
House sitting usually works as an exchange. The house sitter takes care of the home and the pets, plants, and any other agreed-upon responsibilities during the time of their stay. In exchange, the house sitter gets to live in the homeowner’s accommodation rent-free. And sometimes, per the owner’s discretion, you can use their vehicle.
The homeowner, on the other hand, gets verified and responsible house sitters to take care of their home, pets, gardens, and anything else they want you to take care of while they’re away. This saves the homeowner a lot of time, money, and stress since they don’t have to board their animals in a kennel.
While there are different ways to find house sits, we highly suggest that you find all of your house sits through a house sitting platform.
We personally recommend Trusted Housesitters because it’s the platform we’ve used to secure 25 months of free rent in new and interesting parts of the world over the past four years.
Why Do People Choose to House Sit?
House sitting is incredibly beneficial for the house sitter. There are obvious benefits, like getting free rent, but there are also some benefits that are not as plainly evident.
First and foremost, the house sitter can save a ton of money on accommodation. Getting a hotel or Airbnb in a big city like London can cost hundreds of dollars a night or more! And even if you book a month at an Airbnb to drive the price down, you could still be spending more than the annual membership cost for a house sitting platform like Trusted Housesitters per night!
Another benefit for the house sitter is the chance to live in a home. Staying in a hotel is nice for a short period, and Airbnbs can have some nice homey touches for longer stays, but nothing beats staying in an actual house: the nice appliances, the comfy furniture, the sensible layout. Staying in a home also means you’ll have access to a full kitchen so you can cook, saving you even more money.
Staying in a local’s home also means you get to experience living in a local neighborhood in a part of the world you might not have had the chance visit to otherwise. You can learn about your new environment, meet the neighbors, and try on life as a local in a way that would be impossible without house sitting.
The fuzziest, or potentially scaliest, perk of house sitting is the pets. We love animals, but we can’t have pets of our own with our nomadic lifestyle. House sitting gives us the joy of hanging out with pets while maintaining the travel lifestyle that we love.
Okay, but What Do House Sitters DO?
There are a lot of things you have to do to fit the house sitter job description. House sitters take care of the homeowner’s home, pets, gardens, and any other house sitting responsibilities that the property may require.
House sitting responsibilities may include watering the gardens and indoor plants, taking out the garbage, keeping the home clean, house security such as switching on lights and alarm systems, collecting mail and packages, coordinating with household staff such as gardeners, pool cleaners, or housekeepers, odd jobs, and most importantly, caring for the pets. Pet care can include things like feeding the animals, taking them on walks, cleaning litter boxes or cages, administering medicines, and more.
Almost every house sit includes taking care of pets as well. There are some house sits out there that do not. Sometimes it’s only plants or even just taking care of the home, but those sits are few and far between.
If you are going to house sit, nine times out of ten, you’re also going to be taking care of the homeowner’s pets.
The majority of pet sits you’ll find will be for cats and dogs, but people have all sorts of different pets that need to be looked after.
We’ve taken care of guinea pigs, a snake, ferrets, and an owl, plus a bevy of cats and dogs during our house sitting adventures. There are even house sits on working farms where the homeowners are looking for folks who know how to take care of horses!
Why Do People Need House Sitters?
There are many perfectly sensible reasons that homeowners opt to use house sitters. For one, homeowners appreciate the peace of mind of having a housesitter. That way they know their home and animals are being looked after while they are away. Having someone in the house to collect the mail, water the plants, and take care of other necessary chores is very helpful.
Pets appreciate being able to stay in their home with a caring pet sitter to look after them, rather than staying in a kennel.
Plus pet owners save LOTS of money not having to board their animals during their trip or hire a professional pet sitter from a service.
How to Become a House Sitter
1. Join House Sitting Websites:
Navigate the vast landscape of house sitting opportunities by joining one of the dedicated house sitting platforms that connect house sitters with homeowners. Some platforms, like TrustedHousesitters, have house sitting opportunities available all over the world. Other platforms, like House Sitters UK, Aussie House Sitters, House Sitters Canada, Kiwi House Sitters, and House Sitters America, focus on house sits in specific countries.
2. Create a Standout Profile:
Your house sitting journey begins with creating an attention-grabbing profile. Think of it as your digital resume, showcasing your reliability, responsibility, and genuine passion for house sitting.
Your profile should include relevant details like your experience with house or pet care, what animals you’ve had as pets, and any other special information that will help you stand out.
Don’t forget to upload friendly photos, even better if you have some with pets. Homeowners want to know they can trust you with their space and your profile is the best way to make a great first impression.
3. Build Your References:
Just starting out? No worries! Gather references from friends, family, or colleagues who can vouch for your trustworthiness and responsibility. As you complete more house sits, make sure to ask homeowners for references and reviews to build a solid portfolio.
Positive references can significantly boost your chances of landing desirable house sitting assignments.
Trusted Housesitters makes the process of asking for character references when you’re just starting out very simple. They even walk you through the process as you set up your profile.
As an added level of security, Trusted Housesitters membership includes third-party background checks for both house sitters and homeowners.
4. Start looking for House Sits!
Now for the fun part! Once your profile is ready and raring to go, you can start searching for house sits! It’s really fun to just scroll through all of the available house sits in the world and see where you could possibly go.
You can narrow your search to a specific part of the world, set a date range, filter for what pets you want to sit, and many other options to find the perfect house sit for you.
Of course, only apply for the house sits that make sense for your schedule and abilities, but don’t let reality stop you from searching all over the world!
5. Craft a Compelling Application:
Each house sitting opportunity is unique, so tailor your applications accordingly. Showcase your suitability for a specific assignment by emphasizing relevant experience, your love for pets, and your commitment to maintaining a home. Personalize your application to stand out from the crowd and reassure homeowners that their property and pets are in capable hands.
6. Be Flexible and Open-Minded:
Flexibility is key to unlocking a myriad of house sitting opportunities. Be open to various locations, durations, and types of homes. The more flexible you are, the broader your range of potential assignments. It’s not just about finding a free place to stay; it’s about embracing diverse experiences and lifestyles.
7. Communication is Key:
Clear and timely communication is crucial in the house-sitting world. Respond promptly to messages from homeowners, and be transparent about your expectations and limitations. Establishing open communication sets the foundation for a positive house-sitting experience for both parties.
We highly recommend jumping on a video call with a homeowner to ask all of the questions you have to manage everyone’s expectations BEFORE accepting a house sit.
8. Start Locally and Expand:
If you’re new to house sitting, consider starting locally to build your profile and references. As you gain experience and positive reviews, gradually expand your horizons to encompass national and international opportunities. Local sits can serve as valuable stepping stones to more adventurous house-sitting experiences.
How to Find a House Sitter
1. Join a House Sitting Website
If you are a homeowner looking to find a good house sitter to watch over your home and pets, check out one of the many house sitting platforms out there. Some are free for homeowners to list their properties, while others require a fee to be a member. Find one that fits your needs, sign up, and create your listing.
2. Create Your Profile
Your profile should include pictures of your home, pets, and any other things you think are relevant to piquing potential house sitters’ interest. Make sure to include details about your pet’s typical schedule: feeding, walks, and things of that nature. Be upfront about any extra care your pets may need, like medications or special dietary needs.
Don’t forget to include details about proper home maintenance and any responsibilities you want taken care of while you’re gone.
3. List your home!
Once you have your profile set up and your vacation planned, you can start looking for house sitters. It’s a good idea to start looking for house sitters a month or two before your trip so you can establish communication with the house sitter and so they can make the necessary preparations to get to your house.
4. Prepare for the house sitters’ arrival
House sitters aren’t exactly the same as having company over, but it’s a good idea to have the house as clean as you would like it to be when you get back.
It’s a good idea to create a welcome guide for the house sitter with things like emergency contacts in case you are unreachable, neighbor’s numbers, vet’s numbers, and any local restaurants or attractions you think they should check out, as well as outline the responsibilities you want taken care of while you’re away. That way the house sitter can reference it without having to get in touch.
It’s also important to let the house sitter know how often you would like updates about your house and your fur (or feathery or scaly) babies. The more information you leave them before you go, the better.
Do You Get Paid to House Sit?
Through most house sitting platforms, including Trusted Housesitters, house sitting is done as an exchange where the house sitters stay in the homeowner’s home, and look after the pets and any other agreed-upon responsibilities while living there rent-free. No money is changing hands.
A big reason you don’t get paid is that when you charge money for house sitting, the government wants their cut. And if you are pet sitting internationally, things can get very complicated with taxes and legality very quickly, so it’s best to just avoid any possible run-ins with the law. We’ll get more into how to house sit internationally in a little bit.
If you are pet sitting in your home country then it may be possible to get paid to house sit. There are companies such as Rover where you can set up a profile and charge money for your house sitting and pet sitting services in the USA, Canada, the UK, and Europe.
Websites for House Sitting
There are many different house sitting websites that connect house sitters with homeowners who are looking for help.
Since 2019, we’ve used the website Trusted Housesitters to find house sits all over the world. We’ve done 15 house sits in 10 different countries in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America through Trusted Housesitters.
In our opinion, Trusted Housesitters is the best house sitting website because it has one of the largest user bases of house sitting opportunities worldwide, strong safety features such as background and ID checks, and many additional benefits depending on which Trusted Housesitters membership plan you choose.
There are other house sitting and pet sitting websites that are specific to certain regions such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The majority of house sitting websites charge a fee to be a member and get access to their database of available house sits and house sitters.
The Best House Sitting Website
We’ve been talking a lot about how great house sitting is, and here are some of the platforms where you can get started finding the best house sits and house sitters so you can get started on your house sitting journey.
House Sitting Websites: Your Gateway to Extraordinary Journeys
- Trusted Housesitters: We love Trusted Housesitters. It’s the platform we’ve used to find all of our house sits over the past four years. The platform connects homeowners with reliable house and pet sitters on a global scale. From urban escapes to rural retreats, TrustedHousesitters opens doors to a world of possibilities, allowing you to experience new cultures while caring for cherished homes and pets.
- Housecarers: For those seeking a diverse range of house-sitting opportunities, Housecarers is a treasure trove. This platform caters to both house sitters and homeowners, fostering connections that go beyond the transactional. Find your perfect match and enjoy an extended stay in unique locations, all while making a positive impact on the lives of homeowners and their pets.
- Nomador: Nomador has a system very similar to Trusted Housesitters, with house sits available all over the world. Nomador has a unique feature where homeowners can list their homes as stopover locations for travelers, similar to Couchsurfing in a way.
If you’re looking for a more local experience, there are house sitting sites that cater to specific countries.
All of these websites are pretty similar and are easy to navigate. They all charge an annual fee to be a house sitter. The fees are all charged in the local currency, but they are all around $50 a year. Homeowners do not have to pay to use the service.
The Best House Sitting Website: Finding Your Perfect Match
Navigating the sea of house sitting websites can be overwhelming, but fear not; the best house sitting website for you is just a click away. Consider the following factors when making your decision:
- Global Reach: Look for platforms with an extensive global network to broaden your horizons and explore diverse destinations.
- User-Friendly Interface: A website that is easy to navigate enhances your overall experience, making it simpler to find the perfect match.
- Comprehensive Profiles: Opt for platforms that allow detailed profiles. This ensures that both homeowners and sitters can showcase their personalities, preferences, and experiences effectively.
- Secure Messaging System: A secure messaging system is crucial for clear communication between homeowners and house sitters, fostering trust and transparency.
As you embark on your journey into the world of house and pet sitting, remember that the best website is the one that aligns with your unique preferences and aspirations. So, dive in, explore, and get ready to make incredible memories through the power of house sitting websites.
How Does Getting a House Sit Work?
When you sign up on Trusted Housesitters, the first thing you’ll do is set up your profile. We’ve created a guide on how to write a killer house sitting profile that you can read here.
Homeowners also set up profiles with information about their home and pet(s). When homeowners are in need of house sitters they list their dates on the website along with the types of responsibilities involved with the sit.
House sitters can then browse available house sits on the Trusted Housesitters website to find sits they are interested in based on location, dates, and many other filters.
When you find a house sit that you want to apply for, make sure to read through the homeowner’s profile thoroughly, then send them a message with a bit of information about yourself and why you are interested in house sitting for them. We suggest always in our opening message to the homeowner that we should all get on a call so we can get to know each other better.
If the homeowner is interested in you then you can coordinate a call with them (we usually do this on Zoom or Skype) and chat for 30 minutes to an hour to get to know them and usually get a brief tour of their home and meet the pets.
House Sitting Responsibilities
It’s important to get a good understanding of the responsibilities you’ll have while at their home, so ask a lot of questions. Sometimes homeowners don’t update their profile regularly, so that’s why we like to ask if everything we have read there is still relevant.
If you both feel good about going forward with the sit, then the next step is the homeowner formally inviting you to do the sit through the Trusted Housesitters website.
We usually keep in touch with the homeowner leading up to the sit on WhatsApp or email in case any questions pop up before we arrive. We also try to coordinate our arrival at the house with the homeowner, as sometimes they will come to pick us up at the bus or train station if the house sit isn’t easily reachable by public transport.
Do You Meet the Homeowners Beforehand?
Ideally, you’ll be able to arrive at the house sit a day or two early so that you can meet the homeowners and the pets. During this time the homeowners will show you around their property and go over important things like showing you where the fuse box and water mains are, the garbage bins, and any other logistical things around the house.
They’ll also go over all of the important information about caring for their pets, like their food and any medications they need. And, if you’re caring for dogs, then they’ll probably show you their favorite walking routes around the neighborhood.
In many cases, we’ve been introduced to friends and neighbors who will be available to us in case anything comes up during our stay.
We have had situations where we’ve spent a day or two with the homeowners. Other times we only had a few hours with the homeowners before they left on their trip. And one time we didn’t meet the homeowner at all and just picked up the keys at their apartment’s reception!
Honestly, that’s not preferable for us as one of the things we love about house sitting is getting to know the homeowners, and it makes communication easier during the sit. In many cases, we’ve even become friends with the homeowners and keep in touch!
House Sitting FAQ
Do you usually book a flight and then try to find a house sitting option or find the house sit and then book the flight?
- In most cases, we secure the house sit before booking flights. Flights are a big investment, so we want to make sure we have our housing covered before we commit.
Does it cost money to be a house sitter?
- Almost all house sitting platforms charge house sitters an annual fee to be a part of their platform.
Where have you done house sits?
- We’ve done house sits in Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Romania, the UK, the USA, France, Spain, Peru, Costa Rica, and Panama.
How long are the house sits?
- House sits can last from one night to several months.
Are there always animals involved in a house sit?
- Not always! But house sits without animals are not very common.
Have you ever taken care of any animals that aren’t dogs and cats?
- Folks have all sorts of animals. We’ve mostly taken care of cats and dogs, but also ferrets, guinea pigs, a snake, parrots, and an owl.
Are there any cons with house sitting?
- The biggest con that might turn people off of house sitting is the lack of flexibility with travel dates and destinations. You can only house sit when and where they are available.
How to Write Your House Sitting Profile
When it comes to creating a great house sitting profile that will help you get chosen by homeowners, here are some things we do ourselves that have landed us over 15 amazing house sits all over the world.
Profile info
You will need to provide background information about yourself. Some important things to include in your house sitting profile are: where you’re from, what you do for work, whether you’ve had experience caring for pets, if you’ve had pets of your own, if you will be traveling with anyone else (there are many pet sitting couples and families out there!), and why you are house sitting.
In your profile, focus on how you can help the homeowner feel secure knowing that their home and pets will be in good hands through your care so that they can enjoy their trip.
Photos
You’ll also be able to upload photos of yourself along with a short description. If you are traveling with a partner or your family, be sure everyone who will be at the house sit is in your main photo. Add more photos of you with pets and a couple of photos sharing things about yourself such as you in your own home or doing something you enjoy. Be sure your face is in the photos! Include at least 5-10 photos.
References and Reviews
We all know the importance of reviews and how they influence our decisions. Having references from people who know you well and can speak to your character is very important when you are first starting out as a house sitter.
Trusted Housesitters makes this easy through External Character References that you can request from family and friends directly through the website.
If you’ve been a pet sitter or house sitter before, reach out to the homeowner to see if they will write you a review.
If you haven’t been a pet or house sitter before, but you have friends with pets who you have spent time with, ask them to write you a character reference.
As a new house sitter, having these character references is very important to help you land your first house sit on Trusted Housesitters.
Going forward, be sure to get a pet or housesitting reference after every house sit you do to add to your profile.
Verification
Different platforms use different systems to verify their users. Most will ask for you to upload a picture of your government ID, like a passport or driver’s license, as well as verify your email and phone number. Obviously, the more verification steps you take, the more likely you’ll get chosen to be a house sitter.
Trusted Housesitters has all of these as well as a third-party background check verification for everyone who joins the website, both homeowners and house sitters, that is included in the price of your membership. We think this is a very important step to help both housesitters and homeowners feel safe.
All of these pieces together will create an attractive housesitting profile that shows your character and experience, and builds trust with homeowners to help you secure more house sits!
If you want additional help setting up your profile, we’ve created a step-by-step mini-training where we walk you through setting up your profile. We share our personal profile that has landed us house sits all over the world. We also give you templates to fill in to create your own profile to make it easier.
How to Be an Awesome House Sitter
When you agree to do a housesit, the pets and home need to be your main priority while you are there. Of course, you’ll also want to explore the place where you are and homeowners know that. Many homeowners on Trusted Housesitters are petsitters themselves!
It is important to come to an understanding with the homeowners on what they expect from you during your time there. These are conversations you should have on your call before you agree to the sit.
Questions to Ask on a House Sitting Call BEFORE Accepting the House Sit
The call is really about getting to know one another and making sure you understand what the homeowner will require of you while you’re in their home so that you can do the best job possible to care for their home and animals.
Some example questions to ask:
- What is [pet’s name] schedule?
- We would like to explore the city a bit while we are there. What is an okay amount of time to be away from [pet’s name]?
- Are there any household chores that need to be taken care of?
- How often do you want updates on the house and pets?
Be open and clear with your communication upfront and ask any questions you have. There are NO stupid questions!
Remember, this is an exchange and you’re being entrusted with a big responsibility of caring for someone’s home and pet family member, so be sure to let them know whether you’re up for doing the things they need.
The first call with the homeowner is very much a vibe check to make sure they are people you can get along with so that you can have clear and easy communication throughout your stay, and even become friends. We are still in touch with the majority of people we’ve house sat for, and have even met up with some of them again.
Go Above and Beyond
We try to make sure we replace any food we eat and ensure there is some food in the fridge for their return home. No one likes returning home hungry to an empty fridge! We also bring or leave a bottle of wine or other small gift to say thank you. Sometimes we even cook a meal for the homeowners when they return.
These things aren’t required but can be a nice gesture of gratitude.
International House Sitting
House sitting can take you on all sorts of adventures all over the world. People have pets and homes that need to be taken care of at every corner of the globe. The international house sitting community is very large and is growing every day.
It’s important to note that house sitting abroad is a slightly different beast than house sitting in your home country. You don’t have to worry about visa issues at home. But when you’re house sitting internationally, you need to be aware of your visa situation.
You need to know things like how long are you allowed to stay in a certain country or region, if you need to apply for a tourist visa beforehand, or any other possible immigration wrinkle. It’s also important to find the most up-to-date information available because visa rules can change pretty quickly.
For example, if an American wants to do a four-month-long house sit in France, that’s going to be quite difficult for them to do because France is in the Schengen Zone and Americans are only allowed to stay in the Schengen zone for 90 days in a 180-day period.
What NOT to do When House Sitting Abroad
Another reason why we recommend using a house sitting platform like Trusted Housesitters, especially when house sitting abroad. Using a house sitting platform takes money out of the equation, and that is especially beneficial in an international setting.
When you are house sitting abroad, you’ll most likely be entering on a tourist visa, depending on your passport. Tourists are prohibited by immigration laws from charging for house sitting on a tourist visa since you cannot legally work on a tourist visa in most countries. So unless you have a proper working visa, you likely cannot charge money for house sitting services abroad.
House sitting is by no means illegal, but it’s always a good idea to do your due diligence to keep the local feds off your back.
Long Term House Sitting: A Home Away from Home
If you’re looking for the chance to live in one place for an extended period and live like a local, long term house sitting is the perfect answer.
What is Long Term House Sitting?
Long-term house sitting is all about immersing yourself in a new community where you can live like a temporary local. Picture settling into a charming house or apartment for weeks or even months, experiencing the rhythm of daily life in a way that traditional vacations can’t offer.
The Benefits of House Sitting Long Term:
- Cultural Immersion: Long-term house sitting provides the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in local culture. You become part of the neighborhood, exploring hidden gems, meeting locals, and savoring the authenticity of the area.
- Cost-Effective Adventure: Forget about hefty accommodation expenses. Long-term house sitting allows you to live rent-free, freeing up your budget for experiences, local cuisine, and unexpected adventures.
- A Home Away from Home: Unlike the transient nature of hotels, long-term house sitting provides a genuine home away from home. You’ll have the chance to establish routines, cook your meals, and enjoy the comfort of a personalized space.
- Build Lasting Connections: Long-term house sitting allows you to form connections with the community and your neighbors. It’s not just about caring for a home; it’s about becoming a temporary member of a community and forging relationships that can last a lifetime.
House Sitting is for Everyone!
Whether you’re a house sitter or homeowner, house sitting is an amazing way to see the world and to be able to travel with peace of mind. House sitting is an amazing adventure that we think everyone should try at least once during their travels. You won’t regret it.
[…] Some digital nomads can afford to stay in fancy high-rise penthouses in major cities, while others may choose to live in local village homestays. Some may stay in co-living spaces or hostels, while others might reduce their accommodation costs through house sitting. […]