Whether you’re looking to make extra money and just need somewhere to stay for a while, working as a house-sitter can be beneficial in many different ways. Taking a house-sitting job allows you to live rent-free in the homeowners’ property, with the only caveat being that you have to take care of any business the owner needs taking care of, such as watering the plants, taking care of any pets and overseeing any maintenance work that needs doing. Here’s a few tips to help you land and enjoy a good house-sitting job...
1. Create a solid house-sitting CV that summarizes your experience and adequately shows off your skills. Your profile needs to be as comprehensive as possible- people are trusting you to stay in their homes after all- so the more information they can get on you the better. Make sure to include anything that paints you in a positive light- previous work experience, character references, a good photo and a few candid words about yourself; anything that helps paint a good impression of you.
2. Join a house-sitting website or two, and try and pick ones that focus on matching homeowners with clients, such as Global Guardians. These sites typically require a small membership fee to join, although the costs are usually a drop in the ocean compared to what you’ll save on accommodation further down the line. Most sites have worldwide opportunities; some focus on specific cities or regions whilst others specialize in offering various work placements as well as just house-sitting. Find the site that’s right for you, and make sure to check it regularly.
3. Once you’ve joined a house-sitting site or two make sure to stay abreast of any new notifications, and if a listing you like the look of pops up make sure you get in contact as soon as you can. Some homeowners can receive hundreds of applications for a listing, and you’ll greatly increase your chances of being noticed if your application is in the first bunch to be read. When messaging homeowners try and keep your message short and sweet- include just enough colour to make a positive first impression and make sure that your email links directly to your profile, where you can really go all out and start selling yourself.
4. Even though you want to keep your correspondence direct and straight to the point, it’s still important to let the homeowner know what you bring to the table and why they should hire you. Read over the listing carefully and make note of any special circumstances or specific requests you may be required to do, and then address these concerns head-on with the homeowner. Remember, don’t just talk about why you want to stay in their home, instead think about why the homeowner should want to hire you over all the other applicants. After all, no two house-sitting gigs are the same, so it’s essential that there’s an open dialogue between the sitter and the owner so that there’s no nasty surprises for either side down the line. This can easily be achieved via email or Skype before you go- just make sure you have all your bases covered before you depart.
5. If you’re still a bit unsure of what’s expected of you, consider entering into a written agreement with the client. This can be useful as it lays out everything that’s expected of you in black and white, so that there’s no risk of underperforming or miscommunication between you both. It also lets the homeowner consider everything they want from you- security, pet care, garden maintenance and so on, ad lets everybody involved in the arrangement know where they stand. You should also make sure you know what your financial responsibilities are- Are you being paid for the job? Are you expected to pay for bills and utilities? Are you allowed to use their car, and if so, do they expect the tank to be filled up? Nothing sours a relationship faster than a disagreement over money, so make sure such issues are dealt with as early as possible.
6. Lastly, no matter what happens make sure you’re flexible with your expectations, living standards and location, as this will greatly increase the chances of you enjoying yourself during your new gig. House-sitting is by nature a transient profession, so enjoy the experience while it lasts, and don’t waste the opportunity to savour experiencing a different side of life and a new culture- After all, that’s what travel is all about!
1. Create a solid house-sitting CV that summarizes your experience and adequately shows off your skills. Your profile needs to be as comprehensive as possible- people are trusting you to stay in their homes after all- so the more information they can get on you the better. Make sure to include anything that paints you in a positive light- previous work experience, character references, a good photo and a few candid words about yourself; anything that helps paint a good impression of you.
2. Join a house-sitting website or two, and try and pick ones that focus on matching homeowners with clients, such as Global Guardians. These sites typically require a small membership fee to join, although the costs are usually a drop in the ocean compared to what you’ll save on accommodation further down the line. Most sites have worldwide opportunities; some focus on specific cities or regions whilst others specialize in offering various work placements as well as just house-sitting. Find the site that’s right for you, and make sure to check it regularly.
3. Once you’ve joined a house-sitting site or two make sure to stay abreast of any new notifications, and if a listing you like the look of pops up make sure you get in contact as soon as you can. Some homeowners can receive hundreds of applications for a listing, and you’ll greatly increase your chances of being noticed if your application is in the first bunch to be read. When messaging homeowners try and keep your message short and sweet- include just enough colour to make a positive first impression and make sure that your email links directly to your profile, where you can really go all out and start selling yourself.
4. Even though you want to keep your correspondence direct and straight to the point, it’s still important to let the homeowner know what you bring to the table and why they should hire you. Read over the listing carefully and make note of any special circumstances or specific requests you may be required to do, and then address these concerns head-on with the homeowner. Remember, don’t just talk about why you want to stay in their home, instead think about why the homeowner should want to hire you over all the other applicants. After all, no two house-sitting gigs are the same, so it’s essential that there’s an open dialogue between the sitter and the owner so that there’s no nasty surprises for either side down the line. This can easily be achieved via email or Skype before you go- just make sure you have all your bases covered before you depart.
5. If you’re still a bit unsure of what’s expected of you, consider entering into a written agreement with the client. This can be useful as it lays out everything that’s expected of you in black and white, so that there’s no risk of underperforming or miscommunication between you both. It also lets the homeowner consider everything they want from you- security, pet care, garden maintenance and so on, ad lets everybody involved in the arrangement know where they stand. You should also make sure you know what your financial responsibilities are- Are you being paid for the job? Are you expected to pay for bills and utilities? Are you allowed to use their car, and if so, do they expect the tank to be filled up? Nothing sours a relationship faster than a disagreement over money, so make sure such issues are dealt with as early as possible.
6. Lastly, no matter what happens make sure you’re flexible with your expectations, living standards and location, as this will greatly increase the chances of you enjoying yourself during your new gig. House-sitting is by nature a transient profession, so enjoy the experience while it lasts, and don’t waste the opportunity to savour experiencing a different side of life and a new culture- After all, that’s what travel is all about!