House-sitting: my verandah…er, office….in the Caribbean
My travels have evolved significantly since I started traveling full-time in 2007.
Initially, I volunteered in trade for my accommodation as a way of staying somewhere for longer periods of time in addition to having a deeper local experience than I might if I were just passing through.
Over the first few years, I milked goats, painted murals, designed marketing and promotional plans, cooked meals for large groups of people, led eco-treks on llamas, landscaped, sailed, and yes, I even occasionally cleaned toilets. All in trade for free accommodation (and sometimes food).
These were all highly varied and incredibly enriching experiences. But as the years went by and my writing took off, I found that between my volunteer requirements and my online career, I often had difficulty with time management. And if I was actively on the road, travel fatigue would set in quicker and quicker.
This was when I discovered house-sitting as the perfect medium: it’s free accommodation, allows time for writing and relaxing, and gives you a chance to experience a slice of the local lifestyle.
As a full-time traveler, I’ve discovered that long-term house-sitting sets a pace of life that I can maintain over the long run and not get exhausted or fall prey to “motion sickness on the road”. I even get to to enjoy the comforts of home – somebody else’s home, that is!
Landing a House-Sitting Gig
I’m not the only one who thinks house-sitting is a pretty cool way to travel long-term on a budget (or even short term on vacation). I’ve applied for dozens of house-sitting gigs that I never got a foot in the door for. Why? Because homeowners are inundated with applications when they list an availability on one of the many house-sitting membership sites.
So it’s a bit of a trick to get noticed by a homeowner and land the house-sitting gig of your dreams.
I recently chatted with Lisa Logan of TrustedHousesitters.com, who gave me some great pointers for successfully landing a house-sitting gig. Not only that, but they’re giving readers a discount on a TrustedHousesitters membership! Check it out:
10 Tips for Landing the Perfect House-Sitting Gig
House-Sitting Resources
Below are a few e-books about house-sitting, designed to help you shorten the learning curve, land your first gig, and embrace the experience of house-sitting. All three books cover the basics such as how to set up a profile that gets you noticed, questions to ask homeowners, tips for landing gigs, and advice to help you get the most from the experience.
Choose the right one for you; each has a different flavour and style.
The House Sitting Book
This e-book covers the house-sitting lifestyle from many different angles.
Josie Schneider has years of experience house-sitting around the world, and she has compiled her travel and house-sitting experiences into this book.
Not only does it cover many of the concepts and pointers in the article above, but this book also goes deeper (way deeper) to help people with any degree of travel experience to delve into the world of house-sitting and living abroad.
In addition to house-sitting basics, Josie even details her own 3-step method to getting low-cost apartments, if you have your heart set on a destination but no house-sitting gigs avail themselves.
I will say that some of the sections and concepts covered seem a bit antiquated or basic to me; geared more towards technophobes than location-independent savvy travellers. But if you’re new to both house-sitting and the travel game, this book could be the perfect introduction for what you need to know. And Josie peppers everything with personal anecdotes and illustrative experiences that fill out her concepts nicely.
The House Sitting Book: Travel the World and Your Lodging is Free (102 pages, $9.99)*
How to Become a House-Sitter
Fellow Canadian full-time travelers Dalene and Pete Heck of Hecktic Travels have over four years of house-sitting around the world, in locations such as Ireland, Belgium, Turkey, Spain, Honduras, Canada, London, and New York. With house-sitting, they saved over $30,000 in accommodation costs in the first 3 years of their travels alone.
It’s a brilliant read, full of practical tips and advice, and is well laid out with resources, examples, and even a few discounts for house-sitting memberships. Check it out!
How to Become a House-Sitter and See the World (50 pages, $19.99)*
Live Your Dream! House Sitting Around the World
Cheryl MacDonald and Lisa Chavis have also saved over $30,000 in accommodation and food costs.
This book has one of the most comprehensive listings and descriptions of house-sitting sites and services, including many I’ve never heard of before. It also has good checklists – for both the house-sitter and homeowner, tips for animal care (including questions to ask the homeowner about their pets in advance), and good notes and resources for house-sitting as a family, as well as solo.
The large chapter dedicated to homeowners is redundant (and in my opinion, inapplicable, since the book is for wannabe house-sitters), but a good reinforcement of the basics, and for any travelers leaving a an empty house in their wake, this chapter could be helpful. They even do a good job of telling you why you might not want to become a house-sitter; for example if you’re dealing with limited vacation time and the position requires you to be home all the time.
Live Your Dream! House Sitting Around the World (132 pages, $9.99)*
My Travel Style
Given the amount of time I’ve been on the road full-time, my tolerance for fast travel has become little more than a month or two before I get exhausted (and often sick, as I was here and here).
So my own travel style has evolved to hinge on long-term house-sitting gigs around the world. I tend not to choose my destination; rather the house-sitting opportunity dictates my next move.
And every day, I receive notifications of inspirational house-sitting opportunities around the world; I tend to contact a handful of homeowners each week, and I see who takes an interest in my profile.
So where to next? Who knows. That’s half the fun!
*(yes, this is an affiliate link. I’ll get a small commission if you purchase through this link, but there is no cost difference to you).
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I could not agree more regarding the benefits of house sitting. We are set to do one in Fiji for 2.5 months where will be looking after a sweet dog named Paddy! We will also use the time to write the second book and keep up with our blogs! It truly is a vacation away from travel to get caught up on business. Not many people understand that full time travel is actually a full time job. House sitting gives us that much needed break, just as you described!
Cheers, safe travels, and maybe we will see you out there on the house-sitting trail!
Cheryl
@Cheryl – 2.5 months in Fiji, huh? Sounds pretty nice! How did you find the gig?
You pinned it on the head: full-time travel is a full-time job! House-sitting sets a much more manageable pace.
i just work multiple homes and hopefully in the future maintain a focus on just one…a private island is truly the way to go-only complaint -mowing 30 lawns a week by myself plus weed eating is heavy task-but i get paid good money to do what i do plus living accommodations are free,and food cooked every meal. Another well written article!!
This article is a God-sent…must be a sign
) I am currently planning my trip to the US this summer, starting mid-July and I’m looking at house sitting opportunities. I must say that I’m a little panicked because I don’t know what to do in order to land a house sitting gig, but with your article I hope to get things in motion. Thanks again for the great post!
@Debbie – Wow that sounds like a pretty laborious task! But it also sounds like by taking care of multiple homes, you’ve got a house-sitting career going, more so than just a place to stay. Are all the homes you care for in the same general area?
@Joseph – I’m so glad it helps. Enjoy your tip to the US! How long are you going for?
well, I’ll be arriving in July, flying into New York, and from there it’s pretty much an adventure as I don’t have a clear schedule yet. Been sending applications for house sitting gigs, hopefully people will answer
I need the time to unwind and really tackle my book web project. Also I’ve been looking at colleges, I want to go back to school, this time in the US, to get a degree in English and maybe, just maybe, get a job in the book industry (that would be a lifelong dream come true)
@Joseph – Wow; sounds like an awesome plan! And very wise of you to leave the itinerary flexible….you never know what can happen on the road, and leaving yourself open for opportunities is a wonderful freedom to have. Enjoy!
all the homes are on a pvt island thats contains most of the property on the lower part of the island. the island is about3-3.5 miles wide,work work work
Great tips! I’ve been hoping to get some pet or house-sitting gigs.
@Debbie – Wow – a private island? Sounds plush…and labour intensive!
@Ava – Cheers!
I’m just finishing my first 3-week house- and dog-sitting gig for a family friend in New Smyrna Beach, FL. It’s been wonderful and I couldn’t have asked for a more pristine setting on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Since I’ve known the homeowner for almost my entire life, I didn’t have to go online to secure this job. However, now that I know about the resources, I’ll certainly use them! Thank you
To those who would like to house-sit regularly, I’d say to get plenty of endorsements from happy clients. I already have a prospective future job because of the positive recommendation.
@Heather – You touch on two great points: First – get those testimonials! They’re worth their weight in gold. Secondly – word of mouth is a great way to find gigs. I’d say about half the house-sitting gigs I’ve done have been through word of mouth and networking.
Glad you had a good experience! Where’s your prospective future job?
Thanks, Nora!
It’s good to know I’m on the right track.
I might have future house-sitting jobs in New Smyrna Beach and I’m looking for one near Denver for the summer. I’m going to sign up for TrustedHousesitters.com and see what’s out there.
I had never even considered house-sitting as an option for housing while traveling. I’ll have to look into it more!
Hi Nora,
I am doing my first house/ dog sitting job in Newcastle UK. I would never have come to Newcastle just to see it, but have discovered a city of beautiful buildings, long fascinating history and the friendliest people I have ever met!
As I had applied for heaps of jobs with no success, I asked why they chose me. Well it turned out they only had about 5 applications! Not many people wanted to come to Newcastle!!
Apart from the weather it has been great.
So now I am in that quandary of what to do next….. Do you find you have that problem Nora? So many choices of places to go and with no house sitting job coming up I can’t make up my mind! Greece? Israel? The Pilgims walk? I don’t know!
@Jo – Oh boy, you’re preaching to the choir! When the world is your oyster, where do you begin? In fact, I had exactly this problem (in spades) last year while I was still in New Zealand:
http://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/2011/05/the-paralysis-of-choice/
Ultimately, I allow my destinations to choose me – as you allowed Newcastle to choose you – rather than opening up a map and picking a place. And when you let opportunity come knocking, I always find amazing things I had never expected (similar to your experience in Newcastle).
Oh I’m so excited for your great world journey! Keep it up, and keep us posted here!
Hi Nora,
Just read you article on Paralysis of choice. Excellent. Summed up how I’ve been feeling about where to next.
I wanted to stay in UK and do some work to reimburse my bank a/c for a car I happened to buy my son!! But my old bank a/c was closed last year. That creates problems as rules have changed.
On the way to beach I saw a Lloydstsb bank and ….short story…I have a new bank account ….thanks to my grandma being born in Ireland and I now have an Irish/EU passport.
I’ve done Care work here before and it is a live in job where you meet a class of English person you wouldn’t normally meet….wealthy old dowagers in their faded mansions!! Some cranky ….most delightful!
So now have more choices….will keep you posted!
@Jo – It already seems like things are coming together….fabulous! There’s usually one (or two) choices that eventually emerge as being the one that feels the most right. (For me, it’s maintaining the patience – and faith/courage – to wait it out!)
International house sitting is a fabulous way to have a holiday for free and makes so much of fun I love my house sitting job.
@Housesittingservice – Agreed! Where are you house-sitting right now?
Such excellent timing. Currently focusing a lot more energy on getting a housesitting gig or two of my own. Cross your fingers for me. I’d really like to head back to Europe and having a longish (1-3 months?) gig there would be heavenly.
Hey Gigi – There are lots of house-sitting gigs coming available in Europe for the summer; hopefully you’ll find the perfect gig. I’m seeing lots of European listings right now in TrustedHousesitters.com. Good luck in your search!