How to House Sit
Many people are uncomfortable with the thought that their homes will sit empty for weeks while they travel. They need a responsible person who is willing, as a favor or for a fee, to look after their homes and notify them if a problem arises. Professional house sitting can become a full-time business or a way to avoid paying rent for months or years at a time. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Drop-by House Sitting
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1
Get a house key and the homeowners' itinerary. You will need to know how to reach them at each place they will be while traveling. Don't accept a cell phone number only, because if their phone is lost, you'll have no way to contact the homeowners.
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2
Ask for a written list of things that need to be done such as watering plants, feeding a cat or being at the house for scheduled visits by maintenance workers. Go over the list with the homeowners to make sure you understand everything.
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3
Give the homeowners your contact information at your own home and tell them they may give it to trusted neighbors. If the neighbors notice anything wrong when you're not at the house, they can call you.
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4
Raise or lower the thermostat, depending on the season, after the homeowners leave, and reset it to a comfortable temperature before they return.
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5
Turn on a light at night to make the house look occupied. On each visit, turn on a different light.
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6
Walk through the rooms of the house every day to make sure that everything is as it was on the day the homeowners left. Walk around the exterior of the house as well.
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7
Be careful not to dirty the house. Don't use the dishes, play the stereo or throw any garbage in their garbage cans. Don't track dirt in from the yard.
Live-in House Sitting
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8
Follow Steps 1 through 3 in Section 1 above.
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9
Make sure you understand how to work all the appliances you will be using, such as the washing machine, dishwasher, stereo or television.
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10
Ask the homeowners to tell you what you limits are. For instance, you may be allowed to play the stereo, but can you listen to the homeowners' CDs? Find out if the homeowners mind if you have visitors at the house and if they don't mind, ask how many people you are limited to invite over.
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11
Keep the home clean at all times. You don't want to be caught with a sink full of dirty dishes, your leftovers in the refrigerator and your bed unmade if the homeowners return sooner than expected.
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1
Tips & Warnings
When you bring in the newspapers, remove the rubber bands or bags and lay them flat on a table. They'll be neat and easy to read when the homeowners return.
Shovel the snow, even if you're not using the driveway or sidewalk. If you leave the snow, it will become icy, making it very difficult to remove later.
Consider offering to house sit for people who have moved out of a house that hasn't yet sold.
Don't take it upon yourself to inform the neighbors that you'll be house sitting. The homeowner may not want the neighbors to know they will be out of town.
Never violate the homeowners' trust by doing things like sleeping in the master bedroom rather than the guest room, drinking their alcohol or hosting a party in the house.
