7 AMAZING TIPS GUARANTEED TO GIVE YOU A GREAT HOUSE-SITTING CAREER

Did you know you can save money while travelling as a house sitter or a pet sitter? Well, you can! So sit tight because in this article, I will show you how, through the wonderful professions of house-sitting and pet sitting, you can travel the world watching over other people’s homes and pets while spending less! Also, if you would like to find some sitting opportunities, you should read this because I have included some of the best sites for house sitters and homeowners to connect.

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Who is a house sitter and a pet sitter?

A house sitter is someone who watches over other people’s houses while they are away. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a house sitter is “a person who occupies a dwelling to provide security and maintenance while the tenant is away.” Many people, especially when travelling for a long time, don’t like to come back to their houses covered in cobwebs and see their plants dead, so they hire someone to stay in the house and care for it the way they would until they get back. A pet sitter does the same thing as a house sitter, but for pets. A pet sitter takes care of a pet (or pets) in its own house. According to Wikipedia, pet-sitting is the act of temporarily taking care of another person’s pet for a given timeframe. Typically, house sitters double as pet sitters because the idea is for the pet to stay home until its owners get back. So in this article, I’ll be using the term house sitter for both house and pet sitters.

Becoming a fantastic house sitter – the top 7 things you’ll need and much more 

There are some qualities that you must have to be a successful house sitter. Like every other profession, house-sitting has some duties that require specific types of skills and abilities. Some of the top qualities you need to be a successful house sitter are:

1. Genuinely love pets and animals generally

This is a huge deal breaker most times. You have to love pets and be comfortable around animals and be okay with keeping them comfortable and healthy in their own homes. While it’s not all house-sitting jobs that come with pets, most of them do. So, your chances of getting a great house-sitting opportunity are significantly higher if you love pets and you can take good care of them.

2. Collate your details

A homeowner giving you full access to their home will want to verify some things about you to ensure that they are in safe hands. So, have the police check your documentation, gather references from other people you have done some house-sitting for and collate all other relevant personal documents. 

If you’re starting, it may be tricky gathering references because you have none. A way around this is asking your family and friends for their references and reviews after you help them with pet or house sitting. Remember that your stay does not have to be long for the opportunity to count! 

Having all these details and documents at hand immediately shows your trustworthiness and increases your chances of landing a house-sitting opportunity.

3. Sign up on house-sitting websites

There are several great and legitimate house-sitting websites that link homeowners up with house sitters. House-sitting websites are a great way to find house-sitting opportunities because they have the broadest range of homeowners looking to find someone. I’ve included links to 5 of the best house-sitting websites below:

Trusted house sitters – It is an international house-sitting website, so there are multiple opportunities in different parts of the world! If you’re looking to travel the world, you should check out the trusted house sitters website. It offers three annual plans starting at 129 USD for the basic plan, 169 USD for the standard plan and 259 USD for the premium plan.

Nomador – It also offers excellent international opportunities, but it seems like the best of its opportunities are in Europe. So, if you’re looking for house-sitting opportunities in Europe, you should absolutely check it out. It provides a free option with limited features and a paid option costing 99 USD per year for house sitters.

Aussie house sitters/Mind a home – These sites are best for Australian house-sitting opportunities. Aussie house sitters has an annual plan costing 84 AUD, while Mind a home has a yearly plan costing 59 AUD annually.

House carers – It offers international opportunities, but it is best used for the USA. If you’re looking for house-sitting opportunities within the US, this site’s for you! It offers a free option that allows you to sign up, create your profile and receive opportunities in your email. But to apply, you’ll have to sign up for the paid option costing 50 USD annually.

Care guide Pet sitter – This site is great if you’re looking for just pet-sitting opportunities in the US and Canada. It has a monthly, quarterly and annual membership option. 

Care guide house sitter – This site is great if you’re looking for house-sitting opportunities in the US and Canada. It has a monthly, quarterly and annual membership option.

Some of these sites also provide a community feature, so it is easy for sitters to form enduring relationships with their homeowners. If you are a pet sitter looking for homeowners to connect to, you should check them out. 

4.Build a great profile

After signing up, make sure you pay attention to your profile and make it pop! Communicate your efficiency, trustworthiness and abilities through your profile because it is a primary influencer of homeowners’ decisions. Don’t be scared to show off your unique skills, experiences, references and ratings!

5.Personalise your introductory messages

When applying for house-sitting jobs, constantly personalise the message you’re to send along with your application. Keep it simple, straight to the point, short and relevant. Highlight the qualities you have that make you the best fit for the opportunity and make sure you communicate your enthusiasm.

6.Apply to opportunities promptly and follow due processes

Make sure you apply for these opportunities promptly because there are many other people vying for them like you. Sending in a prompt, well-structured application followed by a killer profile will guarantee you the role. Prepare for interviews well and pay attention all the time. Even if the homeowner does not request an interview, you should do so that you can duly cover all bases.

7. Aim to impress

When you finally land a house-sitting opportunity, make sure that you give it your absolute best! This way, you’ll get a glowing recommendation from the homeowners, and it could lead to a long term relationship.

How do house sitters save money on travelling?

Since you get to live in the house and take care of it, you don’t have to worry about accommodation when you travel! In many cases, the homeowners will even cover the cost of travel for their most trusted house sitters. So, as a house sitter who wants to travel, search for a homeowner in your travel destination. Who knows, someone who needs your services may just be available at that time, and at the very least, you won’t have to cover your accommodation costs. Also, if you have a remote job, this is a great way to travel and explore new places while carrying your work with you! If you are looking to save money while exploring new places, this career might be for you.

You can also start a blog documenting your experiences as a house sitter. The opportunities are endless! Your blog could focus on your journeys, or on the decors and designs you get to experience, or on those types of pets you get to meet. With the right blog strategies, you could become profitable, and this is one way to earn money as a house sitter. Document your experiences and thoughts. Since it’s a unique profession, you will have a lot of mind-blowing stories, so why not channel them into making profits for yourself?

Think house-sitting is for you? Give these tips a go! Make sure you give it your best – it’s a profession like any other – and always aim to exceed your hosts’ expectations.

Happy house sitting!

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