House Sitting 2010
65The pool
New Year House Sitting
Despite the global financial traumas of 2009, people are still holidaying, and there are still many opportunities for house sitting.
Why would anyone want to do house sitting?
I know it takes a "special type" of person to successfully house sit. I do it for several reasons. It is like having a holiday when you are not on holiday. I usually do my house sits within 100 kms of my home and I'm quite selective about the places I go to, which I will explain later.
First of all - I do it for peace and tranquility. My own home is on a busy street and the traffic noise has increased causing me to find it too annoying. I've rescued a few folk from accidents,a dn the screeching of brakes interrupts my train of thought. Now it happens several times a day. The house will be sold in 2010 and I will find a quieter place to live but meanwhile I house sit.
Others do it as they travel - free accommodation for a day, a week, or more is quite a good option. A couple with no children or pets will find it easy to source good house sits.
Waiting while a house is being built or waiting while some changes in circumstances occur might also work, but one thing is always a challenge - the house owner determines the dates and it is not always convenient.
The more you house sit the more opportunities arrive. While I am registered on a website and get daily information about house sits in my chosen region, most of my house sits come by word of mouth. Friends, or friends of friends.
In the early days of house sitting - and I have been doing it for nearly five years now - I had no written criteria, but now I do.
Things that I consider before accepting a house sit.
- the house is clean and easy to clean
- all the normal domestic facilities are available for me to use
- the owner accepts I will not pay for normal utilities, but will pay for things I use e.g. internet, phone calls, etc. I'm careful to not use excessive power. I seldom use the air conditioner, and I'm frugal with all things. I seldom cook.
- the care of the property is within my capabilities. I'm happy to do minor garden maintenance even mow the lawns, but it should be reasonable. I'm happy to put the rubbish bins out, and bring them in.
- I will collect the mail and pile it up in one place so it is easy for the home owner to find when they return.
- I don't answer the phone. (I use my own cellphone) I don't use their phone - except in the case of emergencies and I've not had one yet.
- I only care for small pets - fish, dogs, cats, - and I will not care for pet rats, snakes, lizards.
- I will keep an eye on larger animals - cows, horses, but someone else must be responsible for them.
- I must have internet access - am happy to pay for it within reason.
- It is a reasonable distance with easy access from my own home. (I've lived on islands with ferry access - but I check this.)
- I check that there is nothing to make my stay uncomfortable. (Visiting exhusbands will have me move out!!!! This has happened!)
- The home owner must write a list of instructions, and give me phone numbers of their vet, electrician, or family member close by with ability to make decisions.)
- if there is a swimming pool, I'm happy to help clean it - but I need to know the contact details of their pool expert. Just in case.
If it is someone I do not know I visit the house and inspect it. I interview them!!!! I won't house sit for anyone I am not comfortable with.
I take my own linen, and I try to use as little as possible of their foodstuffs in the house, their linen or other things. I watch television occasionally but do not bother with DVDs, music etc. I have my own. I seldom watch television anyway.
I keep the house neat and clean - in fact on many occasions the level of cleanliness on the return of the home owners is better than when they left it.
I'm a pet owner, and have been a dog breeder, so I have skills in animal care. I house sit on my own - and seldom have guests. I like being on my own.
Sounds all a bit hairy when it is written down - but I've been doing it for a while and I KNOW what I want, and I try to limit any problems.
It should be a win/win for everyone. That's the plan.
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Yes, it doesn't always work to plan. My friend and I who both house sit - get most of our work locally - by word of mouth - though I have got jobs further away via websites.
I'd like to venture further, and I know the testimonials etc will work for me too. As well, it is a good idea to advertise yourself - on the house sit websites. So if you want to go to a particular area at a particular time, you advertise - let the locals know what you want.
Still - it is fun.
You have it all down pat by now, don't you Tottie.
Regards,
Peter
Ya just gotta love it when someone is passionate about whatever they do and therefore do it with care and professionalism. Thanks for a great look into your life.
Hi Tottie, thanks for writing about rent-free living as a housesitter. I have tried all the housesitting websites and have found www.caretaker.org to be the best for housesitting assignments. I recently started using www.caretaker.org and have found two housesitting opportunities there so far.
John
Eileen Hughes Level 3 Commenter 2 years ago
That is great Tottie, you need to have the rules written down for both sides so each knows what to expect and is expected. Which you seem to have this pretty well covered.
Internet is definitely important. We tried to do this when traveling around australia. But alas by the time we go on the internet and applied to various adverts (we were a reg member) the jobs were usually gone.
The funny thing was when we got back home to the west one that I applied for in queensland sent me an email for me to house sit for her this year. But, it is toooo far to go at the moment for a few weeks. So had to decline. drat it.