House Sitting
For frugal types, a healthy bank account was once within easy reach; just cutting out unnecessary spending was enough to watch the savings rise. Nowadays, when rent is not always cheaper than a mortgage and new essentials such as cell phones mean less money in your pocket, putting away even a few dollars a week seems an impossible task. But imagine a world where your salary sits in your bank account until you book that world trip or pay a deposit on a property. Welcome to the world of the house sitter.
House sitting is the practice of caring for a person’s house whilst they are absent. It is not always a ‘live-in’ role, but in order to reap the financial benefits, a live-in role is what you’re looking for. The job description may include attending to any house-related tasks such as pet care, bringing in the mail and garden maintenance. House sits may be of short duration, such as when a home owner is away on a weekend trip, or can continue for several years such as where the owner is working overseas but wants pets to remain in the home.
House sitting provides benefits to both the home owner and the house sitter. Engaging the services of a sitter saves a pet owner money; boarding kennels charge upwards of $20 per pet per night. It is also a plus in terms of security. Having the mail brought inside and having lights turned on and off gives the house that ‘lived in’ look, telling would-be thieves that the house is occupied. For the house sitter there are also many advantages, the most obvious being the ability to save money on rent. Houses are often in desirable locations, allowing the sitter to live a comfortable lifestyle at a fraction of the real cost. Utilities are often paid for by the home owner for the period they are away, which increases the sitter’s potential to save money. In cases where pet-care is involved, pet-lovers can take Rex to the park or snuggle on the couch with Moggy without having to make a life-time commitment.
It’s not all fun and games, though. Longer-term house sits are elusive, and for house sitters who don’t have their own place to rely on, back-to-back house sits often require a lot of moving around. While building their reputation as trustworthy sitters, those new to the game can find available sits quite scarce. It takes a certain personality type to feel ok with the idea that they may be homeless if a house sit doesn’t become available in the nick of time. Caring for unfamiliar pets can also present challenges, with spoilt dogs and cats ruling the roost and paying no heed to the stranger living in their house.
If house sitting appeals to you, the easiest way to find available sits is to search the internet for house sitting websites. It is a booming business and it is worth taking the time to investigate different sites before committing to any. Many sites allow you to peruse available sits before joining, which will give a sense of how many home owners are advertising on that particular site; this is important as many sites require a membership fee so you will want to ensure you are getting value for your money. Generally speaking, the sites that charge the most for membership also spend more on advertising their site, resulting in a greater number of available gigs.
When attending a meeting with a home owner, ensure that you are as prepared for the meeting as you would be for a job interview. After all, that is essentially what it is. A good Curriculum Vitae is essential, including several checkable references. A police check, while not always necessary, will demonstrate your honesty and credibility. Personal dress of a high standard goes a long way in house sitting interviews; if you take good care of yourself, chances are you will take good care of pets and household items. Most importantly, try your best to communicate openly and honestly with the home owner, since at the end of the day their decision to choose you over other applicants will be based on whether they find you likeable and responsible…someone they wouldn’t mind leaving in charge of their most treasured possessions.
If you enjoy a change of scenery, meeting new people and experiencing different neighbourhoods, all while watching your bank balance rise, give house sitting a try!
