Hi friends, I’ve used this platform over many years for my pets and now I lost my last dog in February. I just posted house sit dates for 7 weeks in Jan/Feb 2027 because I’ll be away for the first time for that long and love the people I find to stay in my home but I’m wondering what my chances are of finding someone for 7 weeks in the winter with no pets to be there.. The home is in Niagara Falls so a fun place to be but any experience you can share will be much appreciated!
I don’t sit for weeks at a time, but if I did I’d be jumping on this opportunity! As much as I adore pets, at times it would be nice to get a break and just take care of a house. I think the bigger issue might be finding someone willing to brave the brutal winter weather. Seeing so many intrepid sitters in this community, however, I think you’ll get plenty of applicants. Best of luck!
I adore pets and I love being around them, but a long pet-free sit for a change would be fantastic and hugely relaxing, and I think there’ll be a lot of other sitters that would agree.
No litter trays to clean, no having to stay up until 10.30pm for a last loo break, no clock-watching to make sure I’m back for a loo-break every 4 hours while I’m having a nice meal.
It would make a lovely change, I love pets and I can’t imagine my life any other way now, but a pet-free sit is great once in a while.
Sounds fabulous for the location but will be freezing at that time of year
Have a go, what have you got to lose? Some people actually enjoy the cold 
I’ve been to Canada twice & both times in winter. Next time I’d like to go in spring/summer/autumn. I can’t do those months anyway
There are many sitters who enjoy long sits @Dee4156 but wintertime could deter them. Being warm would be a major consideration for sitters so would you expect them to contribute to heating at all? Hopefully not, as I’m sure your home would benefit by being kept warm and you would want them to be comfortable. Perhaps you’re escaping the cold for somewhere warmer?? I’d mention what activities they still would be able to do and really “sell” your place at winter.
I know Niagara Falls borders Canada and the US so perhaps you could mention here which country you are in as that, too, may impact your sitter pool. The US has seen a decline in international sitters willing to sit there this year, so you may be affected by that if you live there.
If it is the listing that I believe it to be, it’s Canada. No request for contribution to utilities noted. Really lovely looking home. I have a month-long non-THS sit in January. Otherwise I would definitely consider.
Nice to be able to sleep in and not walk the dog at 7am. Or only have 4 hours to explore when it took you 45 minutes to get to the sights. A couple would be better as they have each other in long sits.
I also checked and if it is the listing I think it is - my questions would be
- use of car
- snow shoveling
I spent 15 years in Minnesota and more in Chicago and western Mass so the cold isn’t an issue. But I shoveled 200 feet of snowy sidewalk and cleared snow from a garage door and would look at past weather reports and whether there is someone else to plow.
The HO references the need to shovel snow from the driveway and porch, city plows the sidewalks. I am familiar with the area, and judging by the picture, I would say the driveway would not be overly huge (maybe wide enough for 1 car, long enough for 2).
There is no mention of the provision of a car but does mention that it is ‘easy public transportation’ at the corner (bus) plus Uber.
I think it’s safe to assume that if the sitter doesn’t bring a car, then they only need to shovel a narrow path on the driveway from the sidewalk to the front door and not the entire driveway. That plus the front steps is not much shoveling. And the only “big” task really as no pets, so it certainly seems fair.