Usually, a sitter is expected to treat the house like they would their family’s. You wouldn’t trash their house, would you? Clean up after yourself after preparing food, do the washing, and just take care of the space.
Of course, you also need to be prepared to respect the wishes of the homeowners when it comes to their pets.
What Are Pet Sitting Duties Like?
My feline companions at this time are Ella, Mico, and Guy. Ella and Mico are elderly cats of 16 and 14 years respectively. They are quite happy to sleep all day out on the deck and wander inside around sunset. They both like to sleep at the foot of my bed and are both adorable and easy to manage cats.
Guy is the newest addition to the family and is your typical teenager. I hardly see him except for when he’s hungry. He doesn’t sleep inside and so I imagine he’s out partying. He likes going to the basement which is also available to them at all times through an electronic chip activated cat flap.
Ella loves to be cuddled and often jumps on my lap. Mico doesn’t mind an occasional pet but he likes his space and freedom. As for Guy, he’s a free spirit and very hard to pin down.
My job is to ensure that their kibble bowl and water are always full and every evening I also feed them a tin of wet cat food. These cats aren’t too bothered about food as I guess its always readily available. I ensure that the litter box is clean but as they live mostly outside, it is hardly ever used.
Every couple of days I like to send the owners a photo or two of their pets and a short message just to assure them that everything is well. If I do have a query I can easily contact them by iMessage or WhatsApp.
What Is Expected Of The Homeowner?
A homeowner should welcome a house sitter like they would welcome a guest. Ideally, they will have prepared the space with fresh towels, fresh linen, and kitchen necessities such as salt and pepper. If the stay is longer than a few weeks, the homeowner may provide you with advice on what you can do to meet people – such as taking the dogs to the dog park. They might be willing to show you around the area, or at least write a quick guide to nice restaurants, where to find the supermarket, and so on.
Can House Sitters Invite Friends And Family?
You should always assume that this is not allowed. Some homeowners might make an exception, but you will need permission first. Others would also like to know whether they can take their own pets along with them. This is something you should always ensure is 100% ok before turning up with another pet in tow.
Is House Sitting Ever Paid?
In general, house sitters typically do not get paid. Both parties are benefiting from the exchange. You are providing care for the pets and security for the home in exchange for free accommodation. That seems a fair deal to me, especially in major cities like San Francisco, where hotel prices are high. Occasionally, there may be a long term house sit where the owners may ask you to pay the utilities but this is still a lot cheaper than rent.
How Much to Charge for House Sitting
Some sites you can charge homeowners for your services – just bear in mind that it might put some people off working with you for this reason, as many sitters will do it for free. It is only reasonable to request a fee if there are lots of extra responsibilities. Some who do charge may get upwards of $50 / day. It is also possible that the homeowner will give you a small ‘tip’ at the end of your stay, which could be $100-$300. Of course, this depends and should not be expected.
What Are The Homes Like?
Many of the homes are beautiful and have something unique about them. This is another great reason to do it – because you probably wouldn’t be able to afford to rent out a place like this if you had to pay for accommodation! You might sit in a penthouse apartment in New York, or a beach retreat somewhere exotic. You might not be getting paid for the gig, but staying somewhere luxurious for free can certainly make up for it.
What Countries Can I House Sit-In?
House sitting jobs are absolutely everywhere. Most jobs are in developed nations because there are more homeowners who can travel for extended periods. Europe, Australia, and North America are popular house sitting destinations.
Do You Have To Stay in The House The Whole Time?
You will be expected to stay overnight in the house you are caring for. The amount of time you’re expected to stay in the house each day will depend. Clear guidelines should be set before the arrangement takes place. Pet care requirements, the community, and homeowner preferences will all play a part. If you’re unsure, you need to be sure to clarify.
Is The House Sitter Expected To Supply Their Own Food?
Most of the time, yes, they are. Many house owners will allow you to help yourself to things like tea with fresh mint leaves and coffee, and some may even tell you to help yourself to anything you want. Just make sure you don’t expect this. It’s normal for house sitters to buy their own food.
Who Is Required To Provide The Household Items?
Pet food will be paid for by the house owner, and things like toilet paper and cleaning products should be fully stocked before the house sit begins. Obviously, you need to be practical in your arrangement. You can expect a homeowner to leave you a pack of toilet paper, but if they are gone for months on end, you will need to buy your own at some point!
Will You Need Your Own Car?
A car isn’t usually essential if you’re staying in a city. Some homeowners may include the use of their car, but this is quite rare.
Who Will Pay The Utility Bills?
The homeowner tends to pay the utility bills during the house sit. However, this doesn’t mean you should try to bump their bills up as much as possible while they are gone. Make sure they don’t have restrictions on how much data you can use and whether you can use the heating/air con or not. If it is a longer house sit, then an arrangement where the house sitter puts money towards the bills might be more common.
Do House Sitters Need To Clean The House?
Yes. Of course, the homeowner is usually most concerned about their pets, and they probably won’t ask you to be their cleaner. It shows bad manners to stay somewhere without cleaning it. You won’t build a portfolio of glowing reviews and testimonials if you’re not at least tidying up after yourself. Do the basic stuff, like dust and vacuum. You can have a bigger clean before the owners return if you wish.
If you have slept in the owner’s bed and they are returning later on in the evening, it might be nice of you to put the sheets in the wash. In some cases, the homeowner might hire a cleaner, but this isn’t always the case.
Are There Any Downsides To House Sitting?
Just like anything else, there are downsides to house sitting. You may encounter issues in certain situations, such as having to take a pet to the vet, or even discovering that they are not very well toilet trained. Some house sitters have arrived at a house sitting job to unwashed sheets and dirty houses. Some have even found moldy food in the fridge – usually, this is the case with younger owners. However, not all are the same. Some owners may even drop out last minute, like the day before the arrangement was due to begin. They may also come home early, although it would be unusual for them not to communicate this with you first. If the pets are noisy and used to sharing a bed with the homeowner, you may have trouble getting to sleep, too.
