Your complete guide to using platforms for house sitting- make your trips longer and slower.

---

When we think about travelling we tend to think in terms of covering as much ground as possible in the time we have off. Whether we get a couple weeks off from work or a few months off school, we tend to pack in as much activity into our free time on our trips. That in itself is one of the joys of travelling. The seeing of new places and full-throttle stimulation of the unknown is what makes it fun. I would argue that there is another joy in travel and that can be found when the speed dials down. in between the sightseeing and lethargy lays a happy medium known as house-sitting.

What is House-Sitting?

The concept of house-sitting may be familiar to those who have watched films like The Holiday. You many imagine yourself as Cameron Diaz in a tiny English bungalow falling in love with a charming Jude Law… if that’s your cup of tea carry on. While romance is not guaranteed a new experience certainly is. The concept is simple. You as a house-sitter care for someone’s pet and home while they are away in exchange for your accommodation in a new location.

The dates are normally subject to what the Home-owners have planned so flexibility is key. But typical requests are normally anywhere from weekend getaways to month long stays. Sometimes you can find city breaks in hot locations like Barcelona or New York, other times you find obscure hideaways in Zimbabwe or Kampot. The beauty of the concept is that it is a fair exchange. A win- win for people looking for pet-care and people looking for a place to stay.

How do you find a House-Sit?

By now you’re probably wondering how do I even find these great opportunities. Well, there are dozens of ways to go about it. There are membership platforms such as Trusted Housesitters, Mind My House and Nomador. There are often opportunities on platforms like Workaway and even Facebook groups focus on location specific “sits”. Lastly there is word-of-mouth.

I started housesitting through word-of-mouth. It was a great way to explore near my area and made me appreciate the slower aspect of settling into a routine in a new space. Novelty was found less in the attractions than in the excitement of grocery shopping in a different spot or going onto new trails.

I have since moved to using the Trusted Housesitters platform. For the past 3 years I have had the chance to care for pets in big cities like Saigon and Singapore to coastal France and small town Spain. Trusted Housesitters is a massive platform that shows potential “sits” from all over the world. Chances are there are even “sits” in your area.

How to get started?

I know, it seems kind of weird to go into someone’s house and pick up their responsibilities for a portion of your holiday. Especially if you’ve never done so before it can come across awkward or daunting. With sites like Trusted Housesitters starting small is your best bet. Build yourself a profile and begin selling yourself. If you’ve ever owned pets- Perfect! If you have had roommates with fish- Fab! The point is to market yourself as competent, pet-orientated and responsible… pretty easy stuff considering most people are.

The best thing for a profile however is visible experience. This is why I recommend starting with word-of-mouth or looking for opportunities in your area either on a site like Trusted Housesitters or through a Facebook group. The first few will be the most nerve-wracking but once over that hump you open up a world of possibility.

Once you have a “sit” or two under your belt, you can start putting in dates that work for you if your flexible with locations. Or vice-versa if your more flexible with dates save location specific results.

Making the most out of House Sitting

So you’ve secured a house-sit, you’re ready to go somewhere new, you’ve got a furry friend and now what? If you are used to your travels being a bit more fast paced there is a bit of a learning curve with house-sitting. This is no longer the time to be out the door at the crack of dawn ready to site see. Now is the time to embrace your inner local, learn some of the language, find your new favorite café, explore your neighborhood as if you’ve just moved into a new city.

Recently I was house-sitting in Lisbon, one dog right in the heart of the tourist district. My first day I walked over 16 km between old chapels and little cafes, from historic monument to museum to celebrated shops. Needless to say I was exhausted the following day and I slept in later than I had wanted to. I had tried to pack in all my “touristing” to one day as if I was making Lisbon just a quick city-break. I had forgotten completely that what I had was an abundance of time. The remainder of the week was spent at a much more reasonable pace, leisurely morning coffees and finding a balance between nesting at the house and exploring the far corners of the city.

House-sitting offers the ability to slow down, and that is a gold-mine if you are on more extended trips. Taking advantage of not being in a hotel, or any other sterile temporary resting places is the joy of exchanging your time for someone’s home. Giving yourself time to prioritize sleep and routine when you are adventuring is truly the best of both worlds, and made easiest through house-sitting.

The Take Away

House-sitting is a fantastic way to slow down a longer trip, save a few pennies on a staycation or give yourself a much needed rest on holiday. The system works because it is mutually beneficial. Plus having a short-term adoptee is entertainment in itself. Being able to live like a local for even a few days is an invaluable experience that not only deepens your understanding of a place but leaves you with lasting memories… often better than any hotel can bring you.

Get started today at Trusted Housesitters