FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

What is house/pet sitting?

 

Basically it is about a homeowner looking for someone to take care of their home, garden and in most cases their pets, whilst they go away on holiday, to visit family, or for work etc.

 

How does it work?

 

As a homeowner you offer free accommodation in exchange for the house/pet sitter looking after your home, garden and pets, just as they would if they were in their own home.

 

What are the costs involved?

 

It is basically FREE for both homeowner and house/pet sitter, other than the fee for joining the various house/pet sitter sites.  We should mention that on some long assignments you may be asked to pay towards the cost of electricity, gas, etc. This is arranged between you and the homeowner.

 

Obviously if  you are a house/pet sitter you will need to look into costs involved for getting to and from the house/pet sit and if you will need your own transport whilst you are there (some owners do offer the use of a car, particularly if in a rural location, but this is not by any means always the case). 

 

For the homeowner you have the peace and mind of home security, as your house is not empty for the period you are away.  You will save on the cost of kennels for your pets, but much more than this: it means that they are able to remain in their own environment and their own routines are maintained.  They are exercised regularly and not “caged” up.

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Can anyone be a house/pet sitter?

 

Yes!  As mentioned we do this on a full-time basis but they are many house/pet sitters out there who may do this for a holiday, a few weeks or a month or two in a year.   You will need to have a love for and understanding of the animals that you will be required to care for, too.

 

Do I need transport?

 

There is no straight answer to this question.   You will need to be able to travel to and from the house/pet sit, get to the supermarket etc. However, it really does depend on where the house/pet sit is located and what the owner requirements are. In some instances the homeowner may offer you the use of their car, but this is rare and normally for more remote house/pet sits. REMEMBER:  No two house/pet sits are the same!

 

How long is a standard house/pet sit for?

 

There really is no standard house/pet sit.  There are all sorts of opportunities out there.  Some are for a few days, a couple of weeks, a few months, through to a year or more. 

 

What is expected from a house/pet sitter?

 

Each assignment differs, but essentially the basic requirement are to care for the pet(s), keep the home clean, tidy and secure, collect mail, water plants, etc.

 

In addition you may be asked to mow lawns and do general garden maintenance,  look after and maintain the swimming pools/ponds (if applicable), etc. 

 

As a homeowner it is important that you list all your requirements in your initial advertisement and discuss them with your home/pet sitter prior to their arrival, especially if you want them to do additional work.

 

Is it weird to live in someone else’s home?

 

Initially it does seem a little strange to be in someone else’s home, but most homeowners will show you around and open cupboards and drawers just to show you where everything is kept.  It obviously is important to treat their possession with respect and return anything you use to the place you got it from. 

 

How do I find these amazing house/pet sits?

 

Thanks to the internet it is fairly easy to find house/pet sitting sites. You are able to view the housesits available prior to joining most sites.  This will give you a good indication of the range of housesits available prior to you signing up.  All charge a fee (and these do vary from site to site). Our personal favourites are www.trustedhousesitters.com and www.housecarers.com

 

How do I get started as a house/pet sitter?

 

As mentioned there are several house/pet sitting websites (charges normally apply and do vary). Once registered you will need to create your profile.  This is one of the most important parts and will require some time and effort on your part.  When applying for house/pet sits you will need to write an application letter in addition to your profile, which we feel is also a very important document.  Skype or email are often used for contact/interview with the owners. It is really important to build a rapport and know what to ask and how to respond to their questions.   We believe Skype or Facetime are easily the best way to communicate for both parties.

 

Do I need references and police checks?

 

Yes we believe it is really important to get as many references as you can, these can be character references from family, friends, work colleagues, etc.  Landlord/landlady references are useful.  Any previous house/pet sitting references, even if they are from people you know, are great for getting started. 

 

A police check is also beneficial.  Remember the homeowner is placing their precious home and pets in your care, so they need to feel as comfortable as possible that they can rely on you and that you are trustworthy.

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Our advice:

 

The key to house/pet sit without a doubt is ADAPTABILITY!!!!  Every house/pet sit is different.  Every home has its quirks and runs differently.  Animals/pets have different needs.  Gardens range in size and amount of work involved.  It is really important to be able to  adapt easily to different situations,  different houses and a variety of animals, to be able to cope in an emergency and of course, a sense of humour comes in handy too!

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