How to Be a Housesitter
When homeowners are away on vacation or business, they hire house sitters to watch over their homes and provide them with peace of mind. House sitters are entrepreneurs who live in and care for the empty houses of people who are away from home for extended periods of time. If you are comfortable living in the homes of others and are looking for work that offers you freedom and independence, you can be a house sitter without spending a lot of money or receiving any special training.
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Instructions
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Check out license requirements. If your plans are to start a house sitting business, go to your state and local licensing agencies or their websites to determine if a business license, permit or any type of registration is required in order to work as a house sitter. If your intentions are to be an international house sitter, contact the country or local regional government of where you plan to work and see what if any special permits or licenses are needed in addition to your passport.
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Obtain insurance and get bonded. Talk to an insurance broker that is familiar with writing insurance policies for house sitters. An experienced broker should advise you on what is the best coverage for you. Most homeowners also feel more comfortable with a house sitter that is bonded. Although this is not mandatory, it could make the difference when applying for a house sitting job. The same insurance broker who sets up your insurance coverage can also help you with bonding.
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Determine your services and fees. Not all house sitters charge a fee for their services; however, if you choose to charge, take into consideration that as a house sitter you may be expected to perform certain duties such as tending to the yard, house cleaning and caring for pets. Create a list of services that you are willing to provide and set your fees. Research other house sitting providers in your area to get an idea of what the average rates are for comparison.
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Advertise your services to homeowners and realtors. A website will allow you to advertise your house sitting service to anyone regardless of location. Include your pricing, services and other contact information on your website.
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Join a house sitting agency. Register with companies, such as House Sitters America, that connect homeowners with house sitters.(see Resources) Create business cards, flyers and brochures to hand out to homeowners, travel agencies and even realtors who might have an interest in hiring house sitters for vacant properties.
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Tips & Warnings
Build up a list of references to show homeowners. Ask permission from past clients to use their phone numbers in references.
Keep your passport up-to-date if you plan to house sit internationally.
Many house sitters are also pet sitters.
Be open to background checks as some homeowners may feel more secure in performing one.
Some homeowners may request that you pay utilities or a down payment for the time that you are staying in their home.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit house image by Cora Reed from Fotolia.com
