Are you dreaming of a getaway to New York? How about spending a week taking in London? Or valentines in Paris? All these destinations are incredibly expensive, and accommodation will likely put a huge dent in your wallet, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Say goodbye to overpriced hotels and cramped Airbnb rooms, it’s time to stay for free and become a house sitter with this guide from My Baggage.
Okay, so what is house sitting?
House sitting is when you agree to watch someone’s home and pets for them while they go on holiday. You get to stay in their property for free in return for keeping their house safe and looking after their animals. It’s important to remember that you are entirely responsible for their property when housesitting and the furry friends who call it home. This is not just a free Airbnb or an excuse for a party, housesitting is a serious job, that requires respect for the homeowners and their four-legged family members.
There are many benefits to house sitting, not only are you able to stay somewhere for free, but you also get the added benefit of having a home away from home. The company of a loveable dog or affectionate cat can really make your holiday have more meaning. Many house sits are in fantastic locations such as on the beach, in a rural setting or in the best borough of a bustling city. Just remember that you are not carefree and will have to remember to walk the pooch, change the litter tray and provide lots of belly scratches and ear rubs.
How do you find house sitting jobs?
House sitting jobs are advertised by a variety of websites online. Similar to Airbnb, these sites offer a simple alternative to accommodation when travelling, with the added comforts of home. The most popular websites online for housesitting are Nomador, Trusted House Sitters, Mind My House and House Carers. The most popular for stays in Europe is Nomador, which offers the largest variety of house sits there online. Trusted House Sitters offers plenty of opportunities in the UK and Europe and is starting to offer more homes in North America and Canada. Mind My House offers stays in North America and Europe only, whereas House Carers is focused on New Zealand, Australia and North America.
How does it work?
If you have a destination in mind, simply add in the location and the dates you are hoping to travel. This will narrow your search to a variety of homes and pets that will need your care. You can filter the options, so if you want a secluded area, a home in the countryside or a city slicker studio you can opt for this. If you find the ideal home, with the cutest pooch that ticks all the boxes, you will then need to apply to be accepted to house sit.
Applying for a house sit
When you have finally found the perfect house sit then all you need to do is make an application. But with many popular homes and locations being inundated, without glowing reviews, it can be hard to get a place. However, there are a few ways you can make sure that your application gets you noticed.
Perfect your housesitting profile
Your profile needs to ensure you stand out, include an image of you and include information such as your experience with animals and why you love looking after them. This is your time to shine and let your enthusiasm come across. Also, if you can speak any other languages or have any more information that will help you stand out this is the place to include it.
Include an intro message
When you apply for a house remember to include a short introductory message outlining why you want to apply for their property and look after their animals. Refer directly to their ad, mention if you have experience with their dog breed or if you can get stuck into some gardening. If you want to really step it up, you could include an introductory video message, letting them see you and get a feel for your personality.
Be quick
The most desirable locations will receive plenty of applications, so if you have your heart set on somewhere or a certain type of home, you need to get your application in asap. Download the app and make sure to enable your notifications for your preferences, that way you will instantly know and be able to get started on your application as soon as the ad goes live.
How to make the right impression
So, you’ve finally bagged the dream house, now it’s time to go above and beyond and make the right impression. When you have no reviews as a house sitter it can be hard to be accepted. Reviews are important and people are leaving you in charge of their most trusted possessions. Simple things like tidying the kitchen, leaving fresh flowers and a welcome home card all set you apart. Maybe stocking the kitchen with a few last-minute essentials such as milk, butter or bread. Or even including a parting gift for your newfound four-legged-friends.
Are there costs involved?
Yes. Unfortunately, many of the websites require an annual subscription fee. With Nomador you do have the option of a free plan or the paid plan which costs $89 USD. Trusted House Sitters costs $130 USD for their annual unlimited housesitting plan. Mind My House has a low $20 USD fee and house carers offer an annual fee of $50 USD. However, after you have paid this annual fee you will not have to pay for any more accommodation costs and will have the option to enjoy unlimited house-sitting opportunities throughout the year.
When you consider how expensive accommodation can be in cities such as London, New York or Paris, the money you are saving on hotels is substantially more than what you will pay for your annual subscription fee. Also, house sitting gives you the opportunity to stay in a location you might not have been able to afford, such as a loft apartment in Manhattan or a townhouse in Camden. You might even be able to find a Chateaux in France, complete with its own moat!
