House sitting has become one of the best ways to travel for a long time on a budget in recent years. You can travel for a long time without having to pay for a place to stay in exchange for watching someone else’s house and pets. Dalene and Pete from Hecktic Travels, who are avid house sitters, were invited to share their knowledge with me because I had never done it before.
As I write this, I am sitting in a comfortable leather recliner in front of three large bay windows. There are, in my opinion, tall pines that are healthy and covered in moss, as well as glistening water from a nearby lake. An old, pudgy dim feline — the ruler of this log lodge — warms my feet.
For the next three months, my husband and I will be living here free of charge. We pay no lease or utilities, and we have a vehicle available to us.
We are house-sitting.
We take care of homes and pets all over the world while their owners go on their trips. Not only does it keep our costs to a minimum, but it also allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the neighborhood and have a personal encounter in a new location.
The majority of our travels over the past three years have been devoted to housing sitting, which has allowed us to save well over USD 30,000 on lodging costs and provided us with an incredible array of travel experiences that we might not have had otherwise.
However, this mode of travel isn’t just for us long-term nomads; There are opportunities for travelers of all kinds. House-sitting position range from the end of the week to the years long; our most limited house-sit was nine days and our longest was a half year.
In short, you can find a house-sitting job that works for you no matter how long you travel. To get started, here’s everything you need to know!
The advantages of becoming a house sitter go beyond the cost savings on lodging! The world’s house-sitting community is full of travelers who share your interests as well as adorable pets. Eight dogs, nine cats, four chickens, and sixteen humans (owners) have become lifelong friends of ours. It is by a wide margin our favored technique for going for some reasons:
We can travel slowly It may seem like a great way to see the world to spend just a few days in every city on the tourist trail. However, taking on a house-sitting job will give you a completely different experience and give you time to breathe while you’re on the road. Try unpacking for the first time, customizing your morning cup of coffee, and cuddling up with your pet at the end of the day. While you’re away, it’s like being at home.
More money saved!
By cooking for yourself, you will not only reduce the amount you spend on food and lodging, but you will also save a significant amount of money. Begin your day with breakfast and lunch at home and pocket those reserve funds or go overboard on a major supper! ( Just ensure that your outings coincide with the pet’s schedule.)
Furthermore, if you’re thinking about a move, finding a house-sitting an open door in your ideal area will assist you with truly discovering what residing there may be like.
How to Become a House Sitter If you have never housesat before, your connections are the best place to start. Ask friends, colleagues, and family about opportunities. Someone in your network will probably soon be away from home. House sit for them so they can get used to it. You will have a better chance of persuading a stranger around the world that you are deserving of their trust if you have at least one positive reference for house sitting.
Make an exceptional house-sitting profile
This is your face to mortgage holders, and assuming it is elegantly composed and modern, you might have mortgage holders reaching you straightforwardly instead of posting their home sitting position. Some examples include:
Experience: as a housesitter or as a former homeowner (do you know how to use the most fundamental household appliances?
Pets: Show that you adore everything slimy, scaly, or furry, if applicable. The vast majority of house-sitting services include some form of pet care.
Exceptional abilities: Do you communicate in unknown dialects? Are you handy with tools or do you have a green thumb? Include a description of those in your profile.
Enthusiasm: A great deal of enthusiasm for this brand-new “career” is needed.
Create an outstanding profile for house sitting. This is your face to homeowners, and if it is well-written and up-to-date, homeowners may choose to contact you directly rather than post a job listing for you. Some examples include:
Experience: As a house-sitter or as a past mortgage holder (do you be aware as you would prefer around essential house machines?)
Have references Your references are the most important thing that homeowners will look at. A house-sitting arrangement between strangers necessitates a high level of trust, and it is essential to have reputable individuals lined up to vouch for you.
Assuming you have no past house-sitting experience, think about asking the accompanying for references: previous landowners, old neighbors or managers, or anybody who can authenticate your personality, unwavering quality, and reliability.
