Housesitting is an adventure

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
1

I’m a single Canadian woman (senior) and have been housesitting for over 10 years in Canada, the UK, and France. I housesit for 6 months at a time when I head to Europe almost annually. I joined the Community Forum to learn about other people’s experiences housesitting, and it’s been interesting how differently we all approach it. I thought I’d share my approach and what has worked for me. I am in no way judging people for the choices they make or their approaches to housesitting.

Housesitting has worked well for me. I can spend time with animals and get to know new places while staying in them for extended periods of time. At home, I’m a control freak and find it almost impossible to be spontaneous. But housesitting is different. I’m prepared for it to be an adventure. I choose housesits that match certain criteria (over 2 weeks, preferably mature cats, neat house, good location), but I’m also prepared for the unknown and I’ve never left a housesit, even when the houses were dirty and uncomfortable to be in. Both were in great locations, and I had such a good time when out of the house. I’ve sat for a single man who put me up the night before he left, and he’s become a good friend and we plan to spend a day together before he leaves this fall. Another couple came home for a day in the middle of a sit. I’ve now housesat for them on multiple occasions – they’re fabulous hosts. I was uncomfortable to learn that a couple’s son had just moved home and would be sharing the kitchen. But again, it was great. He took me out sightseeing, something I could never have done on my own. I travel light, so what is on hand is what I use (no kettle, use a saucepan). I only once felt like unpaid help, but again, the location was great. I don’t always get welcome guides in advance, and that’s not been a problem. These people are inviting a stranger into their home and trusting me with their beloved pets. I try very hard to return the favour by being a considerate guest – and I’ve reaped the rewards.

2

I love this! :smiling_face:

3

It’s so refreshing to hear of you attitude and approach to this amazing adventure of house sitting. Your thoughts align very much with my own apart from having someone else in the home with me. My personal needs are for solitude/quiet and I would find that very difficult.
Be prepared for a lot of criticism though, this attitude of flexibility seems to be frowned on my many.

4

Thank you. I’m prepared for criticism. I felt it was important to provide an alternate perspective.

5

Believe me, I’ve tried. :person_facepalming: But we shall not be deterred. :grinning_face:

6

@Minou, thanks for sharing your experiences. Inspiring.
Wonderful that you came across, and completed multiple housesits for, “fabulous hosts”. There’s a subset of Pet Parents for whom we’ve completed housesits with whom we keep in touch and, within reason and now non-US location, would happily take international travel to housesit for in the future.
Keep smiling and adventuring!

7

@Minou reading your post, it could almost have been written by me as I feel exactly the same way and my experiences on THS have been identical.

I have been sitting for THS full-time now for almost six years and have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly as well as the ups and downs, but never once left a sit feeling I wished I hadn’t done it. There has always been positives to each and every sit, I don’t always look for perfection and at times that’s what I get, imperfections. But some of the people I have met either on or through THS have remained friends to this day. There are positives to everything in life if we keep our minds and hearts open and there are always negatives if we look hard enough :wink:

Thank you for such a lovely topic, keep on enjoying your travels.

8

Thank you for sharing @Minou - it’s really lovely to hear about your positive experiences!