House sitting is a practice wherein homeowners enlist the help of people to stay and care for their vacant homes for a short period. While people who own houses that remain vacant for long stretches across the year can always rent their property, this is not practical for individuals who only vacate their houses for a short period. House sitting has emerged as a useful option for such people, offering various benefits and certain drawbacks.

Process of becoming a house sitter

The steps for getting the job of a house sitter are fairly straightforward-

Signing up with house sitting websites

Like most things these days, house sitting jobs can also be found online. One has to scan through various house sitting websites to locate homes that need short-term caretakers/occupiers. One can apply for a house sitter job on one of these websites and then wait for a response from homeowners. Generally, people looking for someone to occupy their property for a short while when they are away for work or vacationing enlist on such websites to connect with potential applicants.

Creating a house sitting profile

After signing up with a website, job seekers must create their profiles and fill in all relevant information. Homeowners look to establish a level of comfort and trust in their house sitters, so they expect potential candidates to be totally honest and transparent about their background and professional history. On the contrary, homeowners would not want to deal with people who do not fill in their details or hide any information. This is mainly due to concerns regarding legal issues that may arise in the future. Applicants must add their photos, residential address, and (in some cases) educational and work qualifications for homeowners to read and evaluate before they finalize their preferred candidates. This process is similar to creating a full-fledged profile on various job-search platforms.

Writing an introductory message

An introductory message acts as a bio for applicants where they can introduce themselves and briefly describe their personal and professional lives. One does not need to divulge one’s private and personal details, but giving a pleasant and interesting account of oneself goes a long way to making one’s profile more pleasing to homeowners who go through hundreds of such profiles. By creating a confident and friendly first impression through an introductory message, applicants increase their chances of landing a relaxing and comfortable house sitting gig that pays well and helps them earn relatively quickly.

Applying as fast as possible

Like other jobs, house sitting gigs are in demand across the country. Many candidates are looking for opportunities on such platforms. As mentioned earlier, the situation is similar to job-hunting in the real world. Therefore, acting fast and making as many applications as possible will help candidates secure a job without waiting too long.

Having references

The best chance of landing a house sitting gig often goes to people who are referred to homeowners by the latter’s acquaintances. For example, a rich person looking for someone to occupy their home (and willing to pay them well) will be inclined to select an applicant if their name has been suggested by their family members, close friends, or trusted work colleagues.

Giving interviews

Almost always, house sitting jobs also involve an interview. Homeowners need to know their house sitters well, so they interview them and, once satisfied, temporarily hand over the keys to the applicants.

Pros and cons of becoming house sitters

There are both advantages and disadvantages of landing house sitting gigs for applicants. A few advantages and some disadvantages are listed below.

Pros

House sitting jobs offer various perks to individuals, some of which are listed below.

Homely comfort while being employed

Being in the comfort of one’s home while getting paid for professional duty is a dream not many people realize. In that sense, house sitters get to have their cake and eat it, too. House sitting jobs come with their fair share of responsibilities, but people who do the job enjoy perks like homely meals and cozy sleeping accommodations.

Free home utilities and liberty to cook foods of one’s choice

As house sitters are mostly on their own, they can cook whatever they want and eat whenever they feel like it. This flexible lifestyle and comfort are things that most people could only dream of.

Free travel and accommodation

House sitters often do not have to spend money while they occupy someone’s house. Most house sitting arrangements cover stay and travel expenses. However, it is important to note that the specifics may vary depending on the arrangement between the homeowner and the sitter.

Cons

Here are some drawbacks associated with house sitting jobs.

Loneliness and boredom

Living alone in a large but vacant house can cause loneliness and, sometimes, a feeling of detachment from the outside world after a point of time. But if the house sitter is okay with feeling bored sometimes, then this job will suit them just fine.

Not enough freedom and flexibility

In most cases, house sitters are expected to remain in the property until the homeowners return. This might feel confining to some individuals and may start to bother them after a while.