Home sitting is without doubt one of the finest methods to decrease your journey prices as a long-term traveler. That can assist you be taught extra about home sitting, our lead content material editor and researcher, Sam, shares her suggestions and insights from years of touring the world as a home sitter.
For years, I lived the lifetime of many price range vacationers’ goals: touring full-time and dwelling rent-free in idyllic areas, just like the US Virgin Islands; cosmopolitan cities, like NYC and London; vacationer scorching spots, like Granada, Spain; and lots of off-the-beaten-path locations, just like the forests of North Carolina.
I stayed in all places from luxurious condos with literal scorching tubs on the roof to solar-powered houses with outside showers.
I bought to hang around with the sweetest pets, from a cuddly kitten named Marshmallow to a hilarious parrot known as Sunshine.
I additionally made pals with locals around the globe, getting recommendations on the very best lesser-known locations to eat, and really dwelling like a resident in every vacation spot.
Once I paint this image to fellow avid vacationers, the instant response is, “What a dream life! How do I reside like that?!”
The reply is to deal with sit.
Home sitting is if you handle somebody’s pets and residential whereas they’re touring in change for lodging. No cash is exchanged between events, because it’s a mutually useful association: you get a spot to remain for gratis, and the proprietor will get house and pet care for gratis. (I keep away from utilizing the time period “free lodging,” because it implies that there’s no work concerned, which isn’t the case.)
Home sitting is gaining in reputation, however it’s nonetheless a little-known panorama for thus many vacationers. Whereas I’m often met with pleasure once I focus on this matter with people who find themselves not conversant in it, that additionally usually comes hand in hand with skepticism — and understandably so. There are lots of variables to think about, and if you happen to’ve by no means met anybody who’s completed it earlier than, it may be straightforward to assume that it sounds too good to be true.
I’m right here to inform you that home sitting with a purpose to journey at a diminished price is totally attainable. You’ll not solely take away most lodging bills (you may nonetheless should pay for an evening right here and there, relying on how lengthy you’re on the street), but in addition join with locals wherever you go (the individuals for whom you’re home sitting), really feel a way of house on the street, and sometimes get different perks as nicely, like a automobile to make use of.
The one prerequisite is that you could love animals, as 99% of gigs contain pet care. But when you are able to do that, then you’re good to go!
On this put up, I’m going to point out you methods to begin home sitting, so you possibly can be taught concerning the course of and see what’s required earlier than leaping in and giving it a attempt your self.
1. Decide your targets and preferences
At this level, you could be anxious to dive proper in, discover a gig, and hit the bottom working. However I promise that you simply’ll set your self up for a greater expertise if you happen to take a while to find out what you wish to get out of home sitting.
Your targets will tremendously influence the alternatives you make alongside your home sitting journey, and whether or not you stroll away with a optimistic expertise. (As a result of sure, like with something travel-related, there’s at all times the potential for issues to go incorrect — I’ll share methods to reduce the probability of this occurring later.)
It’s just about a on condition that if you happen to’re curious about home sitting, your aim is to cut back your journey prices so as to journey extra and/or longer.
However do you wish to home sit solely domestically, or around the globe? Are you scoping out locations the place you may ultimately buy a house, take a sabbatical, aspire to journey full-time, or just trying to scale back your prices on a weekend getaway?
These are all frequent causes. Take into consideration which of them apply to you.
For me, I wished to increase my travels for so long as potential whereas freelance writing, rising my journey weblog and podcast, and seeing what it was prefer to reside in other places around the globe. I couldn’t have completed any of these items with out home sitting, which lowered my prices so considerably (in spite of everything, lodging is often one’s largest journey expenditure) that I might hold touring regardless of not incomes a lot cash but.
Along with your targets, take into consideration your preferences. Do you’re feeling extra snug with canines or cats? Do you favor the town or the countryside? Do you have got an excellent size of time that you simply wish to spend in every place?
With a purpose to work successfully on the street whereas nonetheless attending to discover every place, I prioritized longer home sits (round 1–3 months). I additionally choose city environments the place I can discover on two toes or two wheels reasonably than needing a automobile, so I primarily looked for gigs in cities.
These are just some variables that can assist you to slim down which alternatives you think about. You’ll additionally possible develop these preferences over time as you determine what works finest for you.
2. Join an internet site
For those who’re critical about home sitting, your first order of enterprise is to join an internet site. These platforms join pet homeowners and home sitters to rearrange mutually useful stays. They’re the best and most direct method to begin.
Pet homeowners put up listings with their location, the dates they want a home sitter, their pets and kind of care wanted, any house care wanted, and (ideally) images of their house and pets. Potential home sitters create profiles itemizing their expertise, references, why they wish to home sit, images, and another particulars they wish to embrace.
Home sitters reply to alternatives that they’re curious about (pet homeowners may also attain out to deal with sitters privately), sparking a dialog which will ultimately result in each events coming to an settlement.
Most web sites function on a membership foundation, that means that members should pay a payment to be part of the neighborhood and to have the ability to organize gigs.
Many would-be home sitters balk on the concept of paying a yearly membership payment for these web sites. Isn’t home sitting speculated to be free?
However when you consider the sum of money that you would save, it’s a no brainer. Even the costliest web site, TrustedHousesitters, nonetheless solely prices the equal of a few nights of lodging. You solely should do one keep per yr to recoup your prices, and likelihood is that you simply’ll be doing much more than that, whilst an occasional home sitter.
There are a number of internet sites to select from, however the primary ones are these:
1. TrustedHousesitters.com (begins at $129 USD/yr) – That is the most important such web site worldwide, with 1000’s of energetic listings throughout the globe. It began and relies within the UK, so that you’ll discover the very best variety of gigs there, although Europe, the US, and Australia are additionally nicely represented. If you’re open to house-sitting anyplace on the planet, that is the location to decide on. You’ll be able to learn my evaluate right here if you wish to be taught extra.
2. Nomador.com ($99 USD/yr) – Nomador facilities on alternatives in Europe (principally France), although you can too generally discover some within the US and Australia too. There’s a free “Discovery” possibility, so you possibly can have a look at what’s obtainable, in addition to a “Stopovers” characteristic, which is like Couchsurfing, so you could find a spot to stick with members of the Nomador neighborhood between your gigs.
3. MindMyHouse.com ($20 USD/yr) – This website has a low payment to affix, a good variety of listings (primarily in North America and Europe), and a well-laid-out web site.
Along with the above web sites that cowl a number of international locations, there are additionally country-specific ones, resembling Home Sitters America, Home Sitters UK, Home Sitters Canada, and many others. For those who’re solely curious about home sitting in a selected locale, these web sites often have method much less competitors than the larger gamers, making it simpler to get your first gig. Additionally they have decrease annual membership prices, making it a extra palatable alternative for getting your toes moist.
3. Create your profile
When you’ve signed up for an internet site, it’s time to create your profile. Above is an instance from my TrustedHousesitters account.
Your home-sitting profile is like your résumé. That is the place pet homeowners look to be taught extra about you, and it’s important to element any and all pet-care expertise you have got. Have you ever completed any house- or pet-sitting for family and friends? Many individuals have appeared in on a neighbor’s cat whereas they had been away or taken a member of the family’s canine on walks.
Embrace something you possibly can to point out the breadth of your pet-care expertise (although after all be trustworthy). Any related home-care expertise or different expertise (resembling if you happen to converse one other language) are value mentioning right here as nicely.
You’ll additionally wish to embrace a bit about your self, with details about why you wish to home sit, what you prefer to spend time doing, and the rest, in order to color a portrait of your self.
Lastly, select some images of you (ideally with pets) to spherical out your profile, in order that the homeowners can see who you’re!
4. Ask for references
Now that you simply’ve stuffed out your profile, it’s time to hunt references to beef up your profile.
When you begin home sitting by these web sites, you’ll get “native” references exhibiting that the gig was organized by the web site, growing your belief issue for individuals you may home sit for sooner or later.
However most web sites additionally mean you can get “exterior” references to point out that you simply’re a reliable individual earlier than your first “official” gig. Ideally, you’ll have completed some sort of pet-sitting earlier than and may ask these people to supply a reference. However references may also come from work colleagues, a landlord, or anybody else that may converse to your accountable character.
These references are key at first, as being vouched for generally is a highly effective belief indicator. Don’t skip this step!
5. Browse and apply for home sitting gigs
So that you’re all arrange together with your profile and references stuffed out. Now comes the thrilling half: shopping for and making use of for gigs!
Spend a while trying by the listings on the web site(s) you’ve joined. For those who discover one which sounds good to you — and also you’re obtainable for the timeframe — don’t hesitate to use! Gigs, particularly in fascinating areas, can go in a short time, so don’t dawdle if you happen to’ve discovered one that you simply’re curious about.
Bear in mind: An software will not be an settlement to deal with sit; it’s merely an announcement of curiosity.
In your message to the pet proprietor, embrace a bit about why you’re , spotlight your related expertise, and point out that you simply’d like to arrange a time to speak additional concerning the alternative. You don’t want to jot down an essay right here, simply sufficient to pique their curiosity and have them have a look at your profile for extra data.
6. Prepare a video chat
Whilst you could be so excited to start out that you could be wish to comply with a possibility as quickly because it’s supplied to you, don’t skip this essential step. In a fast video name, each events can ask questions to make sure that everyone seems to be on the identical web page and that the association is an efficient match.
As a home sitter, you’ll wish to ask questions on pet and residential care to make sure that you may (and wish) to do it, in addition to the instant space round the home or house, house facilities (at all times ask about Wi-Fi!), and the rest that you simply’re itching to know.
Each single time that I hear of a home sitting gig gone incorrect (whereas it’s uncommon, it does occur), it’s because of mismatched expectations that often might have been averted with a direct and trustworthy preliminary dialog.
I completely by no means agree to deal with sit with no video name. It is a private alternative, and a few individuals do forgo this step, however it has by no means steered me incorrect up to now, and personally, I’d reasonably be protected than sorry. A video name takes 20-Half-hour and does wonders for placing each events comfortable — and getting excited concerning the gig!
After years in a pandemic, we’re all acquainted (possibly too acquainted) with Zoom nowadays, so there’s (in my view) no cause why each events shouldn’t have the ability to sit down face-to-face for a short dialog.
Some issues that you simply may wish to ask within the video chat step above and/or main as much as the gig embrace the next:
- What’s the pet-care routine (e.g., when meals are, if walks are wanted, and many others.)?
- Are there any quirks concerning the pets that it is best to find out about (e.g., for canines, how do they do on walks round different canines, and many others.)?
- Have they got an everyday vet (and what’s the process, together with fee, if a pet must go)?
- What’s the neighborhood like?
- What are the pet homeowners’ departure and arrival occasions? Do they need you to return the night time earlier than they go away or on the day of departure?
That is only a beginning listing of some fundamentals, however when you have particular wants or questions, remember to ask them. You don’t wish to be left questioning and discovering out one thing essential after you get there.
7. Conform to the gig
Assuming all has gone nicely within the above steps, it’s time to agree to deal with sit!
Just be sure you achieve this by the web site that you simply’ve linked on, for a few causes. Many web sites have safety that kicks in ought to one thing go incorrect, however provided that you’ve confirmed the gig by the web site.
Safety for home sitters and householders varies by web site (verify the nice print of the one you join) however can embrace harm safety (you by chance drop an costly glass) and sit safety insurance coverage (which may also help cowl nightly pet care or lodging prices if the gig will get canceled on the final minute).
You’ll additionally need to have the ability to ask for on-platform references after you’ve efficiently accomplished the job. You’ll be able to solely get these by confirming the gig by the house-sitting web site.
And as soon as all the things is confirmed, don’t hesitate to keep up a correspondence. You probably have any extra questions or considerations, ask them! Direct and trustworthy communication is vital to profitable home sitting, so don’t be shy.
8. Have a improbable time
Whereas home sitting is a giant duty, keep in mind why you’re doing this within the first place — to discover a brand new place and have enjoyable!
That being mentioned, at all times honor your dedication. Don’t again out on the final minute since you discovered a extra glamorous gig elsewhere, you modified your journey plans on a whim or the rest that’s not a respectable emergency.
If you wish to keep spontaneous on the street, then home sitting isn’t possibility — or no less than not on a regular basis. Whereas some vacationers do that full-time, the overwhelming majority don’t. Some nomads combine in intervals of home sitting between different extra versatile lodging choices, whereas others aren’t nomadic in any respect and easily home sit to get pleasure from a unique, extra inexpensive method of touring.
Discover out what works for you and create your personal best journey type.
9. Observe up by asking for a evaluate
After each gig (however particularly as you’re first getting began), don’t neglect to ask for a evaluate.
It’s important to construct your portfolio of references, as this makes you a extra reliable and aggressive candidate for the subsequent alternatives that you simply apply for. Give the oldsters you house-sat for a while to settle again in from their journey, and in the event that they haven’t submitted a evaluate after per week, ship alongside a delicate reminder that it’d be tremendously appreciated if they may go away a fast evaluate.
Most owners don’t notice how essential these critiques are to deal with sitters however are very happy to assist if you ask them for one.
10. Replicate, rinse, and repeat
Each gig is a studying expertise, and this goes double if you’re first beginning out. Take inventory of what labored and if there was something that didn’t. This can assist you to refine your method for the longer term so as to fortunately house-sit for so long as you need!
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Home sitting may be an unimaginable method to journey at a diminished price, make new pals (each human and furry), and see the world another way. Whereas it does include some planning and a substantial amount of duty, the rewards may be enormous. With the following tips, you’ve already bought a leg up.
Comfortable house-sitting!
Click on right here to affix TrustedHousesitters right now!
Sam Anthony is a content material researcher and editor at Nomadic Matt. She is co-founder of Various Vacationers, a journey weblog centered on different approaches to journey, and has co-authored two books: The Home Sitting Handbook: Find out how to Reside Your Dream Life By Home Sitting
and The Madrid Vegan Guidebook.
She’s primarily based in Buffalo, New York, and when she’s not touring can often be discovered both mountain climbing or biking.
