Make Sure It Is Right For YouOne of the biggest benefits of house sitting is that you can find free accommodation while traveling. But like most things in life “free” doesn’t really mean free. Each house sitting assignment comes with responsibilities. Whether it is just being there so the house continues to look lived in, or whether it’s taking care of pets, you will have to make sure you don’t mind spending your travel time away from home on these tasks. If watering plants and scooping litter trays does not sound like something you can handle doing, then ask yourself whether this really is for you. We’ve been asked to dispense pet medication, go on walks at 5:30 in the morning, and even call the exterminator in a language we barely spoke . If you have no problem with these sorts of things (and more), then house sitting should be a breeze.
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Choose Your WebsiteThere are a few options out there when it come to websites to find house sitting opportunities. We personally use a site called Trusted Housesitters. It seemed to be the most popular and was recommended by two sets of family members who both use it to find sitters. It has a lot of listings in geographies we naturally like to travel to, and a decent interface for searching available house sits. They always seem to be making improvements to the site. One recent feature they added was showing you the number of people applying for a sit; another included three tiers of background checks and verifications. When you have limited or no reviews, focusing on assignments with fewer applicants can help you find that first one. Furthermore, they also have daily updates on the newest listings, so you can get in there quickly - something that has proven invaluable to us. Quite a few times being first has been what closed the deal. For $119 USD a year (less 25% if you use this link) it is a great value and Trusted Housesitters paid for itself ten-fold in just our first few house sits.
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There are some other sites out there that you might also like to check out for relevance to your particular situation and desires:
Nomador
$89/per year. Another top site and a good choice. It was initially mainly focused on France but seems to have been expanding rapidly to other areas.
Housecarers
$40/per year. They appear to have pretty extensive listings and allow you to browse the site for free to give you a good idea if it is a fit.
MindMyHouse
$20/year. This site is popular among many house sitters. It is smaller than some of the other sites but because the annual fee is low it still is worth it for many people.
You can also follow these sites on Twitter and they often post new and popular house sits there. There are other sites, many of them for specific regions and a quick Google search will lay them all out for you.
Nomador
$89/per year. Another top site and a good choice. It was initially mainly focused on France but seems to have been expanding rapidly to other areas.
Housecarers
$40/per year. They appear to have pretty extensive listings and allow you to browse the site for free to give you a good idea if it is a fit.
MindMyHouse
$20/year. This site is popular among many house sitters. It is smaller than some of the other sites but because the annual fee is low it still is worth it for many people.
You can also follow these sites on Twitter and they often post new and popular house sits there. There are other sites, many of them for specific regions and a quick Google search will lay them all out for you.
Create A ProfileHaving a good quality and detailed profile is very important for getting the best opportunities and making sure they are the right fit. You want to have background information to let homeowners get to know you a little bit, and say what would make you a good house sitter. Pictures to back up your friendliness, interaction with animals, travel experience, and special skills are definitely a must. A video introduction is also a plus. If available in your region, get a Police Report and have it ready upon request. Learn more about creating a great profile.
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Book Your First AssignmentFinally, you want to find that first elusive sit and book it! Remember to reply fast and professionally as soon as a new listing is posted. It may take a few tries but don't get disheartened. With enough applications and an excellent profile you’ll have your first sit scheduled in no time.
There is no use reading all of this, choosing a site, building a profile and then not actually benefiting. Whether it’s just a weekend in the next town over or a trip to the other side of the world, taking the plunge on your first assignment is the most crucial step. You’ll get that all important initial review homeowners look for, and you’ll feel confident that you are prepared for future applications and sits. |