A house sitter lives or stays in a property temporarily while the owner is away in exchange for assuming various responsibilities. They may care for the home for short or extended periods and often care for pets.
How to Become a House Sitter
It is not necessary to have higher education to become a house sitter. However, it’s helpful to have some knowledge of household care. Somebody should undoubtedly have some basic handyman skills, for example how to turn off a main water line to a home in case of a plumbing issue or check fuses in a fuse box. Homeowners with pets would feel more comfortable if a house sitter also knew CPR for animals. Veterinarians say that pets who remain in their environments do much better than boarding them so a home sitter who can also pet sit may be very appealing for home owners.
Another way to find employment is to advertise, like creating a housesitting website or joining a housesitting organization. If advertising your services online, you’ll want a good profile. The profile should include references from any other employers and include reviews. Adding proof of your character with a criminal background check is very helpful. A military background is a plus when looking for a property to watch over temporarily. Retired people often house sit and enjoy the opportunity to travel to new locations. If you do want to also pet sit while house sitting, be sure to emphasize that you care for animals in your profile and your experience.
House sitters should be physically able to do the job, especially when the job includes exercising animals, mowing grass, or taking care of a swimming pool. Communication, adapting to new environments, and being dependable is essential. Homeowners are looking for honest, reliable people to care for their homes and be in communication when called for peace of mind. First impressions count when meeting with a potential employer, so a friendly, well-spoken person will go a long way. This is a job, so house sitters should not have friends over unless approved by the home owner and should be staying at the house as promised for the duration of the contracted stay.
What does a House Sitter Do?
A house sitter has multiple responsibilities while caring for a home which primarily depends on how long the owner is away. Long-term house sitters typically have more duties than short-term people. Longer-term sitters are entrusted with watering plants or gardens, collecting mail, performing light maintenance when needed, and other responsibilities. Short-term sitters turn on and off lights to give the appearance of the property being lived-in, water house plants, and watch over the home’s safety.
Long-term and short-term house sitters often need to care for the owner’s pets, ranging from dogs and cats to outdoor animals, like horses or farm animals. However, the most common animals the sitter cares for are dogs and cats, fish, or caged birds. A house sitter that lives on the property keeps the house tidy, such as doing the dishes, vacuuming, dusting, and other chores. A sitter that stays in the home should change the bedding and keep showers and bathrooms clean. If the owner owns pets, the sitter will clean up their messes, change water bowls, feed them, brush them, and exercise them.
Safety is one of many concerns for absent homeowners, therefore checking the security systems are working correctly and giving a lived-in appearance is essential. Part of a home looking occupied would be turning on and off lights, moving cars in and out of driveways or garages, opening and closing blinds, collecting mail, and accepting deliveries. Mowing the lawn is another chore that long-term house sitters typically do and helps the home look lived-in. A house sitter walking a pet would detract from criminal activity too.
