House sitting is a growing lifestyle industry that is very attractive to people who welcome new opportunities to meet people, enjoy free accommodation in new surroundings, save money on holidays and who love animals and want to enjoy more time in their company. The house sitter offers the homeowner flexibility and peace of mind to leave their home and beloved pets more often, and for longer, than they ever thought possible ….
So you want to become a house sitter? Well it’s not rocket science, anyone who’s ever lived in a home has been a house sitter. Although not a “professional” in the true sense of the word if you're talking salaries anyway, I am a very experienced house sitter and also a home owner who’s engaged pet and house sitters on many occasions, with great success.
First lets talk character and personality for starters you must like people and love animals not just your own either, there is a big difference! You need to be an excellent communicator with a good sense of humour, motivated and proactive, be flexible, adaptable, reliable, energetic, practical, organised, unflappable, a good housekeeper and most of all absolutely, honest and trustworthy ..... take a breath!!
It goes without saying that you love and want to travel, the main motivation for becoming a house sitter, but with the travel comes responsibility, pet and house sitting isn’t a free ride and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. House sitting is NOT a vacation in the true sense of the word, if you're looking for that kind of travel take a cruise or check into a five star hotel! What it does offer is some of the very best self catering accommodation ... for free! I have enjoyed wonderful opportunities throughout the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. Global opportunities are rapidly increasing house sitting can take you around the world. Every property is different, home owners have different needs, there is no such thing as a typical house sit, that’s what makes this lifestyle choice interesting, exciting, sometimes challenging, but never dull.
First lets talk character and personality for starters you must like people and love animals not just your own either, there is a big difference! You need to be an excellent communicator with a good sense of humour, motivated and proactive, be flexible, adaptable, reliable, energetic, practical, organised, unflappable, a good housekeeper and most of all absolutely, honest and trustworthy ..... take a breath!!
It goes without saying that you love and want to travel, the main motivation for becoming a house sitter, but with the travel comes responsibility, pet and house sitting isn’t a free ride and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. House sitting is NOT a vacation in the true sense of the word, if you're looking for that kind of travel take a cruise or check into a five star hotel! What it does offer is some of the very best self catering accommodation ... for free! I have enjoyed wonderful opportunities throughout the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. Global opportunities are rapidly increasing house sitting can take you around the world. Every property is different, home owners have different needs, there is no such thing as a typical house sit, that’s what makes this lifestyle choice interesting, exciting, sometimes challenging, but never dull.
So how can you get started? The Internet is full of house-sitting directories, my preferred one is www.trustedhousesitters.com and of course this website, many home owners contact me here. Sometimes home and pet owners don't list their assignments preferring to search house-sitter profiles and contact ones that interest them directly. Registering is simple the most important part is creating a on line profile. This should be an interesting, relevant personal bio from which the home owner can get a real sense of who you are and a feeling that you're someone they can trust their most precious possessions to. References, photographs and a police clearance are a vital part of this comprehensive profile.
