Housesitting | What is it and how does it work?

Ryan and I have always been on the lookout for different ways of traveling (Read: traveling on a budget). That is one of the many reasons why we love vanlife. Ryan has lived on the road, in one way or another, for the last ten years. Since April ‘22, I have officially joined the party.

Disadvantages of Vanlife

You see, living outside is not all sunshine and rainbows. Especially vanlife can be difficult and stressful at times. From being subjected to the elements - rain, snow, wind, heat, and cold - to simple burnout from the never-ending demand of chores: When you live in your car, everything requires a million steps to do anything.

Never mind technical problems, on the lookout for trash bins, public toilets, showers, and strong Wi-Fi… Vanlife has been a conscious choice and has worked out well, but every now and then, we feel the need to recharge.

Looking for a Place to Recharge - free of charge...

You can, of course, book hotel rooms and Airbnb’s. They provide much-needed breaks from life on the road and offer a place to clean up, rest, and recharge. They are not cheap, however, and stays over time really add up and drain the budget. So that is why Ryan and I started looking for alternatives. We know, and love, the concept of couch-surfing, but as a couple, it sure is nice to have some privacy now and then. Surely, there must be another way?

Turns out that there is another way: Housesitting and pet sitting. It is exactly as the name reveals: Pet owners want to travel and are looking for people to watch their pets and their home. Et voila - both parties are satisfied. While their animals and house are looked after, we get showers, Netflix and chill, laundry, and a real kitchen. Win-win!

What is “housesitting” and what exactly do you do?

Pet Sitting Service — With my two favourite sisters, Maggie & Hazel.

Your biggest responsibility is taking care of the pets. In most cases, we’re talking about regular pets, like cats, dogs, and bunnies. When you have agreed on a housesit, the owners will then inform you of the nitty-gritty: How many times do I walk the dog? How many strokes does the cat want? How many carrots for the bunny?

It is also helpful to gather information about the pets’ medical history, sleeping patterns, and crazy habits. We learned this the hard way when all of a sudden two large dogs crawled up into our bed, leaving no room for us.

Unique Experiences

*You see, we take our job as pet sitters very seriously.*

Every once in a while, you can find pretty unique homes and pets. For example, a housesit in the countryside can take you to a beautiful farm or yurt. There are also many housesits in big cities, which would significantly help lower your travel costs. Sometimes, the pets are quite exotic: You could be keeping an eye on turtles, fish, or parakeets. Or farm animals, such as chickens, donkeys, horses, and goats could be your responsibility. A whole new level of housesitting, but a unique experience, to say the least.

Other Responsibilities

Some owners will also ask you to take care of small, domestic jobs, such as watering the plants, collecting the mail, or putting the trash out. And naturally, you clean and tidy up the house before the owners return.

Relationship with the Owners

After several housesits, our experience has been mostly positive. We still keep in touch with some house owners, and we are always welcome to visit or housesit again. Sometimes, they will show you their appreciation with a bottle of wine or take you out for dinner. Not always, though, as everyone is different. But truth be told, it is nice to feel appreciated for the work you do. After all, you are taking care of their sweethearts, keeping the house clean, the mailbox empty and the plants alive.

Our Experience with Housesitting

This year, we have enjoyed 4 housesits, ranging from a couple of days up to two weeks. Our first housesit was in the desert of Nevada this spring, watching two small Shitzus, Maggie and Hazel. The owners were a retired couple, and they were true rockstars. They welcomed us into their home with drinks in the backyard. They treated us like family and took us out to dinner. We felt at ease immediately. They left their phone numbers and 4 bottles of wine. Maggie and Hazel, too, turned out to be great characters and amazing company. We took the time to explore the area, start our own company, and make future plans. All in the safe comfort of a home, 2 puppers and 4 bottles of wine. Needless to say, our first experience with housesitting was nothing but amazing.

In May, we looked after 2 cats and the sweetest dog in Colorado and in June, we watched over Marnie the cat in the mountains of Arizona. This was a unique and peaceful treehouse, complete with a hot tub, shelves of interesting books, and a wonderful patio. We felt a strong connection with both the owners and the house. Marnie, too, turned out to be the sweetest and fluffiest cat you could possibly imagine. Our stay here was healing and restorative in many ways.

***Our Calgary Housesit***

After 2 months of thru hiking the Canadian Rockies, this was the perfect way to sleep, catch up on work and make future plans.. Plus enjoy some puppy love from these two babies.

Now it’s your turn!

How do I start housesitting?

Housesitting happens everywhere! The service is offered worldwide, so all that rests you is to find the right platform. There is the infamous Caretaker Gazette (very old-school) - and you can always scour social media and newspapers for any applications.

But there are also several platforms where you can sign up as a housesitter and find housesitting jobs all around the world. We use Trusted Housesitters, an app that matches those looking for a house with those who need someone to look after their property and pets. You sign up, look for the location where you are or want to go, and can apply for the housesit you like most. (No, this is not an affiliate or commercial. Just some advice :))

Other well-known platforms are Nomador and Pawshake, of which we have heard good things of, but have no experience with ourselves.

Is housesitting for free?

Usually, it is not. Most platforms charge a yearly fee, and unfortunately, that fee grows more expensive every year. However, it is still a bunch cheaper than paying for rooms or Airbnb’s every night. There are some ways to get a discount, by making your friends become a member for example. When you live on the road full-time, it is (in our opinion) worth the cost.

Can I earn money while housesitting?

In theory, yes! But the platforms mentioned strongly discourage asking for money. They see it as a service platform for both parties. However, we personally think that it should be negotiable. Some housesits are actually a lot of work (think several dogs or multiple animals, a large house and property, …) and that is why getting paid is something you might be able to discuss with some owners.

Are there disadvantages to housesitting?

You have agreed to stay in a house, which means you cannot leave the home and the pets alone for too long. That means that there are no overnighters elsewhere or long excursions. The pets are your responsibility and must be taken care of. This might interrupt some wild plans you had during your stay, so keep that in mind.

We hope this article helped you on the topic of housesitting and pet sitting. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out!