First off it’s the animals for me. It just takes that one cute little face. 2nd it’s the location as I love exploring different areas. I’ve done quite a few country settings now I’m concentrating on seaside locations which there very few.
Duration is important too. I prefer a week as apposed to longer sits. I was once stuck for 10 days in a house with no soul in a very boring location nothing around but trees and fields.
Luckily the dog was adorable.
1 Like
We search by rough dates and country first and foremost, then we look for small village or hamlet within walking distance of shops/pub/restaurant if possible. Second choice is up to 15 min drive to shops. We are happy to sit any pets/animals although we try to avoid horses (so far). To date, we’ve happily looked after cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, and sheep. Photos of where we will spend most of our time are definitely the final decision maker. Also, we almost always have a rental car because we like to tour a bit between sits.
2 Likes
Thank you Crazydoglady your comment has really underlined the need for good pre-sit communication and making sure the choice of sit and sitter is right for everyone involved before the arrangement is confirmed.
A successful pet and housesitting experience is about everything being the right fit, for pets, owner and sitter. While an owner’s listing and information attracts a member to apply and will give enough information for a sitter to decide IF it would potentially be a good fit for their experience and preferences on location, type of sit etc., it really is only the first step. If you are invited to discuss the opportunity further this is when the communication begins and the process of dotting the I’s & crossing the T’s, it’s too late after the arrangement has been confirmed.
One of the reasons we advise new sitters to start short and local is to test drive the lifestyle, international sits, even exotic locations are alluring however it could also be your “Crazydoglady” moment and remember it’s too late once you are there.
1 Like
We started house-sitting when we gave up work to travel long haul.
House-sitting is our R&R then.
We have since spent the last few summers in the UK so we can catch up with friends and family, and house-sitting is the perfect thing, some new, some old.
We prefer a sit about 3 weeks in length, gives you and the animals time to get to know each other. We think everywhere has something of interest for that length of time
2 Likes
Usually location and dates. There are very very few animals I don’t like. Unless THeyre vicious and I need to be actively afraid of them lol but I have yet to encounter that. I’ve had one cat that wouldn’t even let me pet her the whole sit and still loved her
2 Likes
We are new to THS but have begun by looking for dates, locations and then for us to start, 4 or fewer animals until we get the hang of this type of travel and pet care opportunity. It’s a fascinating program we are happy to be part of now.
4 Likes
I love to browse and dream. This technique has been the beginning of many of our adventures.
Just now it’s pretty boring, UK only because of the restrictions but I have messaged a couple of advertised sits to say we can’t do their dates but we would be very interested next year. Cheeky, I know but it does sometimes work.
In normal times we usually find one sit of about a month then plan round that. In the winter we crave the sun, in summer rural solitude with the occasional city for a few days. Next year……British Columbia……we hope.
4 Likes
There are lots of things I look for.
The pets, their descriptions and care requirements to ensure we can meet the pets needs.
Photos of the house - every room. After bad experience where the house was absolutely filthy and totally unsuitable to stay in, we look at the photos carefully. Right or wrong it is a red flag for us. If there are no photos of inside the house then we don’t know what to expect therefore would dismiss the sit.
2 Likes
Hi @Savvysitter and Welcome to the Forum! That’s so true, we study everything in the HO advert and you definitely get a gut feeling with the photos they have decided to show along with the info and then it can all be backed up (if all progresses further) with conversations with the House Owners.
Couldn’t have been nice for you turning up to a filthy home. We haven’t experienced that in our 53 Sits with THS.
Are you beginning to plan more Sits now that travel is opening up again at last? Happy Housesitting!
2 Likes
Thank you for replying.
Yes we are sitting regularly and are really enjoying it. It’s become my new Facebook, I look at it every day.
3 Likes
Use of car included is very important to us when choosing the more ‘remote’ sits. When we joined THS in 2018 and sat in USA and Canada it seemed fairly standard for the more remote sits. Now, not so much.
HI @Savvysitter welcome to our community forum thank you for joining, choosing the right sit is so important for everyone involved and the more we do, the more we learn what success looks like, for our pet friends, sits and the relationships we build.
I’m on my first doggy sit since COVID, have a number of new kitty friends but Dexter is our first canine friend for 18 months. It’s wonderful to be back with doggy company, even though we all got soaked to the skin this morning walking on Edinburgh beach.
He’s now laying by my feet with his “body suit” on … looking a bit forlorn in green, I’m sure his mood will change when the towel comes off. Working remotely with pet company makes one have a good work life balance, after all they come first not the lap top.
Enjoy connecting with other members from around the world and we look forward to sharing in your next THS sitting adventure.
Welcome again.
Angela and the Team
9 Likes
Wonderful! I will look out for you and your pics 
, Julie!
Great photo
1 Like