If you’re in San Diego you will easily fill your sit.
I’m currently on a sit where the host has left very detailed instructions for watering the houseplants. She explained everything to me before I accepted the sit and has also printed out the instructions, which has been really helpful.
One thing that would have made it even easier would be to include a photo of each plant alongside its instructions, rather than just listing the plant names. I was able to work out which plant was which using Google Lens, but having photos would have saved time and removed any uncertainty.
If you have plants that require specific care, I’d definitely recommend including photos or even a short video for your sitters.
We’ve also had a couple of hosts who made short videos demonstrating how to check their automatic irrigation systems to make sure they were working properly, and how to troubleshoot it if it wasn’t. That was incredibly useful and gave us confidence in looking after everything correctly.
We are sitters and homeowners, we don’t have any pets but we do have a garden that requires watering (we open for the National garden scheme). It could take a maximum of two hours a day to water and you would need gardening experience to know what needs watering. Needs to be done before 9.30 or after 18.30 , no actual gardening , we have a gardener and a cleaner so have always attracted great sitters.
I have seen a few House “Only” sits. My current 2 month sit does have pets, but if it didn’t – it definitely would need someone here round the clock to maintain the large house in a neighborhood with lots of “interesting” neighbors.
As a sitter on here for 11 years, it’s rare for a listing to include no pets. My husband and I were offered a sit once with no pets in another country. We declined but due to other reasons - nothing to do with no pets. I don’t think you’ll have any problem finding a suitable sitter(s) as the responsibility of looking after pet(s) isn’t there and the sitters are free to spend their time as they wish and go exploring.
I think I incorrectly responded to you, but thank you for your input!
Great tips–thank you for sharing what you have found helpful!
Good to know, as you clearly have more sophisticated gardening needs that we do! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Yes, to a fellow gardener, two hours a day of hand watering would be considered a very reasonable expectation.
Thanks for your input! Would love to know what makes the neighbors “interesting”! ![]()
Hello - we are home owners that have no pets at this time. When we signed up for Trusted Housesitters in 2017, we had two dogs and a cat. They have since passed away from old age. We decided to take some time to travel before getting pets again. We have listed our home several times with only wild bird feeding and plant watering duties listed. We’ve had quality sitters apply for the listing each time. I say give it a try.
Welcome.
I have looked after people’s homes, gardens and or any number of house plants. Very happy to do so as I love plants and gardening as much as I love animals.
That’s great! Thanks for sharing. We’re going to proceed!
That’s great to know! Thanks for weighing in.
I recently sat for a garden in the national gardening scheme and there were quite complex watering instructions due to daily watering being ‘dangerous’ for some of the plants. The HO sent me multiple short videos about each area and it’s watering requirements. In this case videos were far more useful than words as I could listen on my air buds as I watered until I’d got used to the various routines. Even then I needed to factor in any rain or extremes of temperature. Fortunately I have an Allotment and grow stuff.
We are currently in the second week of a ten-week house-and-plant sit in the UK
Depending on your location. We would definitely be interested ![]()
Ours isn’t that complicated but you do need to have experience, especially in these drought conditions. We are actually just along the coast from you in Seaford if your name implies where you live. I have a patch of NGS gardens including Brighton! Although I am handing Brighton over to someone else later this year. Our final public NGS opening is this Sunday.
Hello there. We are in San Diego, California. If that interests you at all I can point you to our listing once it’s completed in the next couple of days. We just signed up yesterday! Thanks.![]()
Aww, we are sticking to Europe this year. I’m sure you will have no problem finding a great sitter
Thank you and safe travels to you!
