Hi. I am a new member only having had one previous sitter who wasn’t a great experience. Although the animals appeared cared for, the house (a self contained annexe not our main house thank goodness) was left very dirty. Anyway my question is do you think I would easily get sitters for two months in winter in Italy? Is it worth listing? It can be very cold here although the house has central heating and triple glazed windows. Obviously the main draw of Italy is the weather and the pool so I don’t know if we will get takers? Are there people who will sit for this long?
Absolutely. For every sit there is a fit.
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Search for discussions here about ‘secondary accommodation’….. decide if you’d like to live in your annex for 2 mths. Also search for my recent post about long sits…. lots of great advice there.
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We’ve sat in the UK and Spain in December, January, and February, to be closer to where 2 sets of our family lives, along with every other month.
Italy is much warmer in winter than a lot of other locations (albeit still cold).
Two months is a fantastic length of time too, we love longer sits.
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I definitely would live there for two months - it’s small but perfectly formed and much cosier in the winter than the main house!
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Two months in a self contained annexe would be a definite no from me.
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Can I ask why? The ‘annexe’ is in fact a one bedroomed house, and much cosier in the winter than the main house.
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Hi @Italiandream,
Silly question… Would you offer your main house instead of the annexe for a long sit in winter in case that a sitter prefer more space instead of a cozy but smaller one?
We would sit in Italy for two months or more if we are happy in the place. May I ask where in Italy? 
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Just a couple of questions @Italiandream. What pets do you have? Where do they sleep? If in the main house, is that where they sleep when sitters are in the annex or do they move into the annex during the sit, thereby a change in their familiar surroundings?
You mention your previous sitter left the annex unclean. Were they also responsible for cleaning parts of the main house if pets occupied this? If so, they had perhaps more cleaning than would normally be the case on a sit.
Two months in Italy over winter will be attractive to a number of sitters, I’m sure. However, I would need to know the answers to my questions if considering your listing.
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Yes a two month Italian sit would potentially be attractive @Italiandream with the added info @temba asks for. Cosy sounds good, lots of pets in a small space less so. Sometimes hosts leave pets living in the main house and offer “staff accomm” to sitters which doesn’t bode well for a balanced partnership hence why it has been mentioned. We’ve done a great Tuscan sit through THS, where are you in Italy? #moreinfoplease
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The dogs can sleep wherever the sitter would prefer - they are very familiar with both as when family stay (which is frequent) they come and go as they please (the dogs). We often use the annexe as well if we want to work quietly or whatever. The previous sitters had no responsibility whatsoever other than caring for the dogs - certainly no cleaning other than I would have liked them to clean the annexe before leaving.
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We would consider it depending on where in Italy you are, plus we would want to stay in the main house. We have a ten week sit due to start soon and prefer longer sits.
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As I often solo sit now for me small is beautiful easier to heat and easier and quicker to clean up too! Long sits are great too as it takes a while to get to know the area shopping etc. it’s more restful if a longer sit normally. 2 months would also be good for language learners.
I think you’d get some applicants.. no harm in trying. Did the dirty sitter leave a clean review for you?
Reviews certainly get taken notice of, especially if there are very few, as in your case.
Italy may be cold but there are colder places people could be coming from and escaping from!
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@Italiandream, as experienced international housesitters then we have completed multiple sits between one and three month duration. Completed sits in many european countries, including italy.
There seem multiple parts to your question
- duration of two months
- winter time of year
- Secondary house location
There are definitely parts of housesitter community that seek multi-month housesits. If you search Forum thrn you will find threads on ways to make a listing attractive for long duration - eg use of vehicle, permission for approved guests, provision of periodic coverage for pets.
There may well be housesitters that are ok with winter conditions. For them, the attraction may be Italy itself rather than weather.
Re secondary property, attractivess depends on various factors. We have seen such listings and dismissed immediately, but there are some lovely secondary places and some reasonable pet responsibilities. During multi-month sit over winter then housesitter likely spend significant time at property.
I note that you did not include link to your THS profile in Forum. So cannot see details or comment on specifics.
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The staff accommodation thing honestly never occurred to me! The tobacco barn (that’s what it was converted from) is such a lovely place that we enjoy spending time in, as do the dogs. In winter the main house (huge rooms, stone walls) is absolutely freezing and impossible to keep warm - hence offering the barn. I can honestly say I never thought it would be an issue - I was more concerned that people wouldn’t want to spend two months in Tuscany in the winter!!!
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I really dont think you would have a problem finding a sitter for that long. If I’m flying from the USA to Italy, I much prefer a longer stay to make the travel, time, cost worth it. The average temps in Tuscany during the winter look like heaven compared to some of the weather we get in northern USA!!!
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Tuscany! You’ll get your hand ripped off in the rush I would have thought!
Quieter times without tourists can be a draw too!
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Me again @Italiandream! Can I ask are all your photos you use in your listing of the converted tobacco barn and not of your actual house, and that it is clearly described, in your listing, including being far warmer than your house to appeal to sitters? Without being able to see your listing and the size of your dogs, it’s hard to know just how cosy it would be with pets and humans in the same space for two months in winter, albeit a milder winter than perhaps in other parts of Italy.
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This is very helpful thankyou. How do I go about putting a link on to my listing?
Very helpful thankyou