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House sitting opportunities from around the world - Workaway

Here at Workaway you will find 609 hosts and organisations for house sitting work from around the world. Low cost travel without having to pay expensive agency fees.

  Spain

  Croatia

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House sitting opportunities worldwide

• Europe   (416)
• Asia   (16)
• Africa   (5)
• Oceania   (35)
• South America   (19)
• Central America   (13)
• North America   (102)
• Middle East   (2)

Last minute house sitting opportunities

Here you will find 23 last minute opportunities for house sitting work from Hosts that have indicated that they require help immediately.

  Denmark

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Feedback from Workaway members

There are 3479 reviews for 390 Workaway hosts for House sitting help from Workaway members. 390 Hosts for House sitting were rated at least 4.9/5!

Hey there! Just wanted to drop a line about our incredible time with Charlie on our Workaway adventure. My bestie Natalia and I rocked up to Charlie'...

read more...

by Aleksandra , 29 Apr 2024

We spend 2 months in this place with Diego (dog) and Luna (cat). Communication with Chiara was easy. Surroundings are amazing, a lot of mountains and ...

by Hanna & Aliaksei , 28 Apr 2024

I have made my first workaway experience in the farm of Pam and Kevin and it was really nice. They were very welcoming and careful with me. They want ...

by Caroline , 28 Apr 2024

My stay with Helene and Dino in Siracusa, Sicily was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms into the...

by Benjamin , 28 Apr 2024

My experience staying with Marian was great! She welcomed me very nicely into her cozy house with a beautiful garden. Regarding the work, she really ...

by Jula Marie , 26 Apr 2024

Registering as a Host

Registering as a host with workaway.info is completely free of charge.

Workaway.info has been set up to promote and encourage exchange and learning. Hosts on Workaway should be interested in cultural exchange and sharing experiences. They should be able to provide a welcoming friendly environment for visitors as well as offering accommodation and food.

Workaway benefits

House sitting with Workaway

Can you see yourself soaking up the sun on a sun bed by your own pool in an island villa? Or walking a dog through the early morning mist along a deserted beach? Popping down from your flat to pick up some bagels in a trendy neighbourhood? Setting up your computer catch up with work by a window with a great view? These might seem like images from someone else’s life, but they could be yours for a while if you volunteer to do some house sitting while you’re travelling!

So what is house sitting exactly?

House sitting is what a volunteer does when someone asks them to live in their home while they are away on holiday or travelling. The house sitter can stay in the property for free , in exchange for taking on a combination of responsibilities. Usually the main reason an owner wants a house sitter to look after their house for free is to look after their pets and to keep the house secure and occupied. However the house sitter may be asked to do other jobs too, like simple maintenance (including looking after the pool and watering the garden), and generally making sure that everything runs smoothly, just as if the owner was at home. All of the facilities in the house, such as cooking utensils, washing machine, TV and Wi-Fi, are available for the house sitter to use free of charge.

Sounds like a great arrangement, doesn’t it? It’s certainly a fantastic way to volunteer and travel the world, saving you heaps of money on accommodation. But let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of house sitting, before looking at some tips on how to find house sitting opportunities on Workaway.

What are the advantages of house sitting?

• Free accommodation – paying no rent is obviously a huge advantage when travelling, and will save you lots money, meaning you can travel for longer.
• Home comforts – sometimes even travelling can get a bit much, and it’s nice to set up home for a while. You can enjoy all the things you dream of when you’re fed up with hostels: doing your laundry, having regular access to Wi-Fi to catch up with your emails, cooking your favourite meals in your own kitchen, and having private space to hang out in that isn’t just a bed.
• Getting a glimpse of other people’s lives – house sitters can enjoy all the details of someone else’s home, the art and décor, the different books and music on the shelves, the garden and pool...
• Connecting to the locals – setting up your life in one place for a while means you can be a regular at local shops and bars, talk to people, and find out much more about the region than you would otherwise. Plus you get to meet the neighbours. Don’t forget to ask your host for introductions and recommendations to make the most of your stay.
• The company of animals – most travellers don’t have pets, or if they do, they’ve had to leave them at home. As a house sitter you can enjoy the cold wet nose of a loyal dog or the warm purrs of a friendly cat, all without the permanent responsibility.
• Routine – this can be great for a while amid the unstructured chaos of travelling: walking dogs, feeding cats and watering the plants can provide a gentle routine that allows you to recover your energy, catch up on work and travel plans, or on sleeping, reading or writing, work on special projects, or even binge watch all the television series you’ve been missing.
• Making a dream come true – maybe you always wanted to experience life in a new city but it just seemed too expensive. Imagine having the time to visit every art museum in New York, to walk both ‘rives’ of the Seine in Paris, or to get to know the trendiest neighbourhoods of Madrid. House sitting lets you hang out in one place that little bit longer so you can get to know it better.
• Having some time to yourself – volunteering with Workaway usually involves an exchange of 4 or 5 hours of work a day in exchange for food and accommodation (find out more here ). Although you might be asked to do a bit of watering or patio sweeping on a house sit, you will be free of major household tasks, leaving you with so much more free time to explore the area.
• Escaping tourist areas – like other volunteering opportunities with Workaway, house sitting enables you to discover places you would otherwise never know existed. It’s a great way to go off the beaten track, explore, have new experiences and enjoy the places other people have fallen in love with.

Once you start checking out housesitting opportunities on Workaway, you’ll soon find out that it usually isn’t the house that you have to think about – your responsibility is really for the pets. Of course Workaway hosts want someone who will care for their home, but mostly they want your loving care and undivided attention to go to their beloved pets, or possibly their precious plants. It’s important to know this before embarking on your adventure and to think about the implications of this responsibility. And there may be other aspects of house sitting that don’t suit you.

What are the disadvantages of house sitting?

• You have a responsibility to the pets – this will restrict your lifestyle. Forget overnight trips, you’ve got to be home in the morning to feed the dogs and take them for their walkies.
• Things may be a little quiet – you are likely to be visiting off-season, since that is when home owners will be choosing to travel. Think about the weather and seasonal closures and make sure you are ready to enjoy the delights of a cold and deserted beach resort.
• Things will go wrong – you might need to fix a broken shower, look after a sick animal, sort out a power failure, get to distant shops without a car to stock up on heavy tins of dog or cat food… It’s all your responsibility and there may not be anyone to help you.
• It’s not completely free – you might have some expenses, depending on your agreement with your host: groceries perhaps, bus fares and meals out for sure. Remember to discuss these things in advance – you’ll be saving your host a lot of money, because cat and dog kennels are expensive, so utilities should be paid for by the homeowner. But what about your food? And what happens if their pet needs a trip to the vet? Settle this in advance.
• The big unknown – you won’t know what the owner’s house or neighbours are like until you get there… Check out photos, look at maps, have a Skype or phone call and ask lots of questions before you commit yourself!
• You’ll need to be flexible and competent – no matter how good the instructions are there will be things you have to figure out for yourself. Try to have a few days overlap with your host to get to know the house before you are left to your own devices. And if you’ve never lived alone, this is probably not the time to start trying it out.
• Difficult pets – even if you love animals there are some that may try your patience!
• Isolation – house sitting is very different to staying in a hostel, where you’re surrounded by other travellers all the time. It’s also different to other volunteering opportunities where your host and even other volunteers will be around at mealtimes and in the evenings. If you’re travelling alone and want to socialise and make friends, house sitting may not be the perfect volunteering opportunity for you. However if you and your partner want to settle down to some intimacy for a week or two, it might be just the thing!

So you’ve heard stories of people house sitting in amazing properties rent-free. And after reading the pros and cons of house sitting, you're interested in trying it for yourself. Here are some tips for finding house sitting opportunities on Workaway and some FAQ about house sitting.

How to find a house sitting opportunity on Workaway – the next steps

Workaway is the world’s leading community for volunteering and cultural exchange. Lone travellers will find plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with the locals, but Workaway also offers many opportunities for couples, friends and families. Workaway has more than 50,000 opportunities and many of them are looking for house sitters – this is the perfect way to make travelling affordable anywhere in the world, or to allow you to travel for longer. Whether you want to visit coastal paradises, inland cities or farms, or get right off the beaten track and immerse yourself in wild nature and local life, the perfect host is waiting to hear from you. It doesn’t matter whether you are exploring during your summer holidays, or seeking a gap year adventure, the volunteering opportunities are almost unlimited and will guarantee you have the time of your life.

Like other volunteering opportunities, Workaway house sitters save money on accommodation, while traveling on vacation, or when living nomadically. House sitters can experience living like locals in different countries and cultures around the world, for anything from a few days to several months, or sometimes even longer. Although there is not a separate list of hosts looking for house sitters, there are plenty of house sitting opportunities available all over the world that can be found on the Workaway site. When using the Workaway search tool, just enter “house sitting” in the text box on the host search page and start choosing from hundreds of hosts currently looking for house sitters all over the world. Some of these are one-offs but others are more regular, since ex-pats often return to their mother countries regularly to visit family members.

Who can become a Workaway house sitter?

If you’re very young, or look like a violent criminal, you’re probably going to find it hard to get a place! But if you’re responsible, trustworthy and a genuine animal lover, you stand a good chance of becoming a house sitter.

Competition can be steep, as many volunteers like the idea of some independent time and more and more people are learning about the money-saving benefits of house sitting. So when you write to your host looking for a house sitting opportunity, make sure you give enough information to inspire confidence. It will help if you can offer a testimonial or reference, and don’t forget to ask Workaway hosts that you’ve already stayed with to give you a review.

Remember, although all volunteering opportunities are based on trust and part of the sharing economy , house sitting involves even more trust than usual, because you will be left in charge of the owner’s beloved home and animals.

How long do Workaway house sits last?

House sits can last from a couple of weeks to a few months. Usually they cover people’s holidays, so one to two weeks is common.

Do Workaway house sitters supply their own food and household items?

This will depend on your agreement. Some hosts will provide your food, but others will expect you to do your own shopping. Make sure you discuss this. Pet food should obviously be paid for by the house owner, and the owner should also make sure items like toilet paper, cleaning sprays, clean cloths and dishwasher tablets are fully stocked up before the house sit begins.

Do Workaway house sitters need their own car?

It isn’t essential to have your own car, but you might find it difficult to live without one in a remote location. Ask your host about public transport and shops before committing yourself to a house sit.

Does the volunteer house sitter need to clean the house?

Again this will depend on the agreement you make with your host. The house owner’s main concern is usually the welfare of their pets, but it would be very strange behaviour to stay in someone’s house and leave it dirty. If you haven’t agreed to do more, then a basic clean up is advisable before the owners return. If you’ve been sleeping in the owner’s bed, it’s also nice to wash the sheets and make the bed for them, especially if they’ll be getting back at night. Both the house owner and sitter should leave the home clean for each other out of basic courtesy. And remember, if you get good reviews, you will find it easier to get other house sitting opportunities!

What jobs will you have to do as a volunteer house sitter?

House sitting duties vary hugely from job to job; you could have an easy-maintenance cat that just needs dry food and water topping up (quite rare though), or a whole zoo of animals that require medication, multiple walks and even special meals, along with a list of household jobs.

Volunteer house sitting and healthcare

If you are planning to visit any country as a volunteer and not as a tourist, you must have the correct visa. To find out about the latest requirements, you need to contact the Embassy in your home country before travelling. And please don’t forget to take out appropriate insurance to make sure you qualify for healthcare!

House sitting can be a fantastic way to travel and to get to know a new place at a low cost. For house owners, it’s a brilliant way to keep their pets happy while they’re away. If you’re ready to expect the unexpected, enjoy someone else’s home and kitchen and love someone else’s animals, then house sitting could be perfect for you. Why wait any longer? Join Workaway and get planning your trip! And once you’re there, making yourself at home, remember to get out and visit the area as much as possible – you’re still a traveller after all!

Become a part of the community as a host

Looking for some extra help and a cultural exchange? Workaway has many people looking to share their skills and experience in return for a place to stay.

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If you are a host and are able to take in refugees please add the information in your account and you will be added to our last minute host list .

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

How to Become a House Sitter and Never Pay for Accommodation

In recent years, house sitting has become one of the best ways to travel long-term on a budget. In exchange for watching someone’s house (and pets) you get a free place to stay, allowing you to travel long-term without paying for accommodation. I’ve never done it so I invited Dalene and Pete from Hecktic Travels to share their tips and advice on the topic as they are avid house sitters.

As I write this, I’m sitting in a comfortable leather recliner in front of three large bay windows. In my view are tall pines covered in healthy green moss, as well as shimmering water from a nearby lake. An old, chubby gray cat — the king of this log cabin — warms my feet.

This is my home for three months, and my husband and I are living here for free. We pay no rent or utilities, and we have a vehicle at our disposal.

We are house sitting.

We travel around the world taking care of pets and homes while their owners are off on their own travels. Not only does it keep our costs extremely low but it also gives us an intimate experience in a new locale and complete immersion in the neighborhood.

The majority of our last three years traveling have been spent house sitting, saving us well over $30,000 USD in accommodation costs and affording us an incredible set of travel experiences we might never have enjoyed otherwise.

But this way of travel isn’t just for long-term nomads like us; opportunities are available for all types of travelers. House sitting jobs range from weekends to years in length; our shortest house-sit was nine days and our longest was six months.

In short, no matter how long you are traveling for, you can find a house sitting gig that works for you. Here’s everything you need to know to get started!

Table of Contents

Why Become a House Sitter

How to become a house sitter, how to be a good house sitter.

Instant local connections Meeting and befriending locals give you immediate insight into a place and help you feel connected and grounded, no matter how long you’ve been on the road. Through house sitting, we’ve (so far) made lifelong friends with eight dogs, nine cats, four chickens, and sixteen humans (homeowners).

We can travel at a slow pace Spending only a few days in every city on the prescribed tourist trail may seem like a great way to see the world, but taking on a house sitting job will give you an entirely different experience and allow you to catch your breath while on the road. Try actually unpacking for once, making your own coffee in the morning just the way you like it, and cuddling up with pets at the end of the day. It’s like being at home, while away.

More savings! Not only will you save big bucks by slashing your accommodation expenses but you will also cut your travel food budget by cooking for yourself. Start your day with breakfast and lunch at home and pocket those savings or splurge on a big dinner! (Just make sure to schedule your outings around the pet’s schedule.)

Plus, if you’re considering a move, finding a house sitting opportunity in your desired location will help you really get a feel for what it might be like to live there.  

Homeowners are looking for responsible people to help reduce their own costs (pet kennels are expensive!) and to keep their house safe and in order while they are gone.

Most house sitting websites now have different tiers of membership, from basic (access to apply for house sitting opportunities) to premium (includes higher level perks and benefits like early alerts, priority support, and cancellation policies). If you just want to take a look, most house sitting websites have a free option with limited access (i.e. you can look at listings but not apply).

How old do you have to be to pet sit? Most house sitting websites have an age requirement to sign up. On most websites, you can sign up if you’re 18 and older, though for TrustedHousesitters, you have to be at least 21.

Here are the best house sitting websites:

• TrustedHousesitters.com (annual memberships from $129-259 USD) – This is the biggest house sitting website worldwide. You’ll find the most opportunities in the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia, though there are plenty of sits elsewhere too. They are also the only website to offer house sitting insurance (available on standard and premium plans).
• Nomador.com (annual memberships from $99-199 USD) – Nomador is mainly focused on Europe (especially France), and is growing worldwide. Its unique “trust profiles” help lay a foundation of trust between homeowners and house-sitters. In addition, it has an exciting “Stopovers” feature, which is similar to Couchsurfing.
• MindMyHouse.com ($29 USD annual fee) – Low fee to join, a good number of house-sits (primarily in North America and Europe), and a well laid-out website.
• Housecarers.com ($50 USD annual fee) – Plenty of good house-sits, with a focus on Australia, New Zealand, and North America, but a poor website structure makes it difficult to navigate.

When reviewing available house sitting jobs on the above websites, choose jobs carefully according to your own desires in terms of location, timing, and other needs. The key to finding one is flexibility in your plans: rather than searching for a house-sit in north London for the first week of August, widening your search to all of London and for a week during any time of the month will increase your chances greatly.

2. Create a killer house sitting profile This is your face to homeowners, and if it is well written and up-to-date, you may have homeowners contacting you directly rather than posting their house sitting job. Things to include:

• Photos (with pets): Show your love for and ease around animals by showing some photos of you with them!
• Experience: As a house-sitter or as a previous homeowner (do you know your way around basic house appliances?)
• Pets: Exude your love for all things furry, or scaly, or slimy, if applicable. The large majority of house-sits include pet care of some kind.
• Special skills: Do you speak foreign languages? Do you have a green thumb, or are you handy with tools? Be sure to outline those in your profile.
• Enthusiasm: Lots and lots of enthusiasm for this newfound “career” goes a long way.
• Personality: Don’t be afraid to show your personality! Give people something to connect to. Share a bit about any hobbies or passions you have. (Just a line or two will do, you don’t want to dominate your profile with this either.)

3. Write an introductory message When applying for a specific house sitting job, each website lets you include a message that will accompany your profile when it’s sent to the prospective homeowner. The key to a good introduction is brevity while highlighting important information — and of course, lots of enthusiasm.

Pay close attention to the listing and draft your email according to the job’s specific details.

For example, if the homeowners have a dog, make a comment on how cute he is and that Schnauzers are your favorite creatures on four legs. If they have a large yard that may need your attention, mention your agility and strength and highlight how you can easily get the work done!

Sharing relevant specifics is key — so pay attention!

Sign up for email alerts in your desired areas or follow along on social media to be one of the first to know what’s available.

5. Have references The most important thing that homeowners will look at is your references. A house sitting arrangement between strangers requires a high level of trust, and having quality people lined up to vouch for you is important. If you have no previous house sitting experience, consider asking the following for references: former landlords, old neighbors or bosses, or anyone who can attest to your character, reliability, and trustworthiness.

One good reference leads to another job and another good reference. And once these start to stack up, potential homeowners will be highly inclined to work with you, and subsequent house sitting jobs will be much easier to get. While all of the house sitting websites house references online, you should also compile them yourself and have them ready to distribute.

6. Expect an interview If the homeowner doesn’t ask for one, I insist that you do. In the beginning, it’s easy to get overly excited about the prospect of living somewhere exotic for virtually free and forget about the finer details of the job. So use Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, or WhatsApp to have a (virtual) face-to-face and get a feel for each other.

Be sure to ask a lot of questions; leave nothing left unknown: Can you have guests? Can you leave the property overnight to explore a nearby area? Is there a vehicle available for your use? How is the Wi-Fi connection?

You don’t want to be blindsided with rules or surprises when you arrive. And trust your gut: we have said no to house sitting jobs before because the vibe wasn’t right with the homeowners.

For a deep dive into getting started, check out this video with Trusted Housesitters. It covers a lot of ground!

We’ve chased dogs through muddy fields (and disposed of a half-eaten rat courtesy of said dogs).

We have spent an evening trolling through dark alleys in Harlem, looking for an escaped fat cat.

We dealt with a dead chicken by “sending it down the river” on the advice of a neighbor in Ireland .

We’ve cleaned up after torrential rain hammered our temporary Caribbean house.

Most times you’ll be able to kick back and soak up your good fortune, but there will be moments when you will have to work for it. The key to getting a repeated number of house-sits is to do an excellent job each time and stack up virtuous references. Here’s how:

For starters, make sure you show up! When a commitment is made, it is up to you to keep it. Homeowners make important travel plans based on having someone to care for their house and pets — they are counting on you!

Treat the house with the utmost respect from the start. Return it to the homeowners in as good — or better — shape as when you arrived.

Stick to the homeowners’ guidelines. Do they want a daily photo of their pets, or do they only want to be contacted in case of emergency? Of course you should always follow all instructions for pets, but don’t forget about other guidelines like how to deal with mail, proper disposal of garbage, and general caretaking of the home and property. It’s very important to have everything outlined here to avoid misunderstandings.

Be prepared to deal with adverse situations. Bad things can (and probably will) go wrong at some point (like chasing dogs through muddy fields and disposing of a dead chicken). Be sure to have emergency contact info on hand, and be honest with the homeowners about anything that comes up.

Important Tip: If you have an international house sitting opportunity, consider what you will tell customs officials at the border. Some may give you a hard time, considering the house-sit “work” that a local could do. Tell them you are visiting friends, and consider even preparing a story on how you previously met each other, just in case they call to check! (I know of people who have been turned away at the border for this exact reason.)

We may have had our share of difficult moments, but the incredible experiences we’ve gained by house sitting have far outweighed them.

In exchange for chasing dogs and disposing of rats, we discovered firsthand how the Turks are the most generous and hospitable people in the world.

While cleaning up after a nasty storm in Honduras, we became close friends with a local lady and later were named the godparents of her child.

In Ireland, we freely explored the halls of the tenth-century manor we were charged with and even took our own twirl in the manor’s ballroom.

We’re always a little surprised that more people don’t know about, or take advantage of, the opportunities presented by house sitting. Becoming a house sitter is not just about the money-saving aspect, but the ability to live like a local in a new corner of the world. Whether you’re going away for nine days or nine months, this can be a great way to do something different during your trip.

House sitting has become our favorite way to travel — and we bet it could be yours too.

Dalene Heck and her husband Pete are behind the blog Hecktic Travels , which chronicles their journey since selling all their belongings in 2009. They’ve recently written an ebook on house sitting (all proceeds go to charity!) that contains even more juicy goodness, including examples of successful profiles and application letters, a three-page checklist of everything to look for in a new house sitting job, and discount codes for their favorite house sitting websites.

If you’re looking for other ways to travel ultra-cheap, check out these articles:

• The Ultimate Guide to Traveling with No Money
• How to Work and Travel the World for Free
• How to Use the Sharing Economy to Travel on a Budget
• How to Find Cheap Accommodation Around the World
• Points and Miles 101

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.  

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Explore house sitting jobs for affordable travel

Discover the world of house sitting jobs and learn how to find them, essential skills for success, tips for a great experience, and answers to common questions.

Worldpackers Worldpackers

Dec 07, 2023

House sitting jobs are becoming increasingly popular among travelers and backpackers seeking an affordable and unique way to explore new destinations. By taking on the responsibility of looking after someone's home , you can enjoy free accommodation while experiencing life as a local in different places around the world.

In this blog post, we will delve into the world of house sitting jobs and provide valuable insights for those interested in pursuing this nomadic lifestyle.

We'll discuss how to find house-sitting opportunities through various websites and platforms, as well as the essential skills and qualities that homeowners look for in potential house sitters. Additionally, we will share some tips for ensuring a successful house sitting experience that benefits both you and the homeowner.

So read on to learn more about this exciting alternative to traditional travel accommodations!

What are house sitting jobs?

House sitting jobs are a win-win for both travelers and homeowners. Travelers get to stay in someone else's home for free while taking care of the property and -eventually- pets , and homeowners get peace of mind knowing their house is safe and well-maintained during their absence.

The duration can vary greatly: some may only need help for several weeks while others might offer long term house sitting stays. 

The rise of house sitting can be attributed to the increasing popularity of a nomadic lifestyle and the desire to cut down on personal expenses. Backpackers, digital nomads and budget-conscious globetrotters can take advantage of house sitting to explore new places without spending a fortune .

Some of the main benefits of house sitting jobs, are:

• Cost-saving: House sitting jobs provide free accommodation, saving travelers money on lodging.
• Cultural immersion: Staying in a local residence allows for a more authentic cultural experience.
• Pet-sitting perks: Many house sits come with pet-sitting responsibilities, which is a bonus for animal lovers.

Finding reliable house sitters can be challenging for homeowners. However, platforms like Worldpackers offer a secure way to connect with trustworthy individuals who can handle potential emergencies during their absence.

How to find a house sitting job

If you're looking to travel the world without spending too much, house sitting is a great option. Consider house sitting. Save on lodging expenses by house sitting and take advantage of a great way to travel the world without spending too much . Here are some tips to help you find the perfect house sitting job:

Explore house sitting platforms

Start your search by checking out popular house sitting websites like Worldpackers , TrustedHousesitters , Nomador , and MindMyHouse .

Research the various platforms thoroughly before committing to any one, as each has its own unique characteristics and criteria.

Worldpackers is an online platform that connects travelers with hosts who need help in various areas, including house sitting jobs. With Worldpackers' extensive database of verified hosts, it's easier than ever to find house-sitting jobs that match your desired location and preferences.

In addition to house sitting gigs, Worldpackers also offers volunteer work exchanges in hostels , NGOs , eco-projects , and non-profit schools and much more, providing countless ways for travelers to make a positive impact on the world while exploring new destinations.

Read this article to know more about Worldpackers:  Traveling with Worldpackers: your top questions answered .

Create an attractive profile

Your profile is your chance to shine. Make sure to highlight any relevant skills and experience, including pet care and property management.

Don't forget to include high-quality photos of yourself interacting with animals or maintaining homes.

Tips for creating an appealing profile:

• Write a compelling bio that showcases your personality and passion for travel.
• List relevant skills like gardening or DIY projects.
• Add references from past employers or hosts.
• Include links to social media profiles (optional).

Search for opportunities & apply strategically

Use the search filters on house sitting websites to find opportunities that match your desired location, duration, and specific requirements. When applying for a position, tailor your application to highlight relevant skills and experiences that match the homeowner's needs.

Tips for writing a compelling application:

1. Personalize each message by addressing the homeowner directly.

2. Mention any shared interests or hobbies.

3. Explain why you're interested in their particular opportunity.

4. Offer references or testimonials from previous hosts.

By following these tips and utilizing house sitting platforms, you can find exciting house sitting jobs around the world . Just remember to communicate effectively with homeowners and maintain a responsible attitude throughout your stay. 

Examples of house sitting jobs

These are some house sitting opportunities at Worldpackers that you could apply right now:

• Pet & House Sitter in Cusco, Peru : explore this magical city, which is the gateaway for Machu Picchu ! 
• House and Pet Sitter in Seattle : take care of three lovely dogs and a beautiful house while enjoying the city.
• Dog & House Sitting in Dania Beach, Florida : live near the sea without spending on accomodation by taking care of this family of five dogs.
• House, gardening and pet sitting on a rural farm near Lisbon : would like to spend some time in Portugal near the capital city but sorrounded by nature? This is a perfect opportunity for you!

Essential skills and qualities for house sitters

As a house sitter, you'll be trusted with someone's home, possessions, and possibly their pets. It's crucial to have the right skills and qualities to ensure a successful experience for both you and the homeowner. Here are some key traits that make an excellent house sitter:

Reliability and responsibility

The most important quality of a good house sitter is being reliable and responsible . Homeowners must have confidence in your capacity to treat their possessions as if they were yours.

This includes following any specific instructions they provide, keeping the house clean, and maintaining security measures such as locking doors or setting alarms when necessary.

Pet care skills

If the house-sitting job involves pet sitting, having experience in caring for animals is crucial. You should know how to feed them according to their dietary needs, administer medication if required, and walk dogs regularly or play with cats - whatever each pet requires.

Additionally, understanding animal behavior can help prevent accidents or injuries while ensuring pets feel comfortable during your stay.

Dog walking: Familiarize yourself with local dog parks or trails where you can safely exercise dogs.

Cat care: Learn about cat-specific behaviors like grooming habits so you can maintain their well-being during your stay.

Birds & small mammals: Know how often these animals need attention (feeding times) along with proper handling techniques when needed.

Effective communication with homeowners

Maintaining open lines of communication is vital when house sitting. Be proactive in asking questions about the homeowner's expectations and preferences, as well as any specific instructions for maintaining their property or caring for pets.

Creating a regular report on the state of affairs while house-sitting is essential for providing assurance to homeowners that all is going as planned.

Once you've determined the necessary skills and qualities for a successful house sitter, it's time to start looking for your ideal job.

Tips for a successful house sitting experience

Embarking on a house sitting job can be exciting and rewarding. To ensure the best possible time while taking care of someone else's home, follow these guidelines:

Discuss responsibilities, expectations, and logistics with homeowners before arrival

Prior to arriving at your house sit, communicate openly with the homeowners about their expectations. This includes discussing pet-sitting duties or specific tasks they would like you to complete.

Additionally, inquire about any rules or preferences they may have regarding guests, smoking, or other personal habits. By establishing clear communication from the start , both parties will feel more comfortable throughout the arrangement.

Adapt to the house's routine and care for the property

To embrace this unique travel opportunity and maintain a nomadic lifestyle , adapt quickly to the household's routine. Familiarize yourself with how things work around there - from appliance usage to garbage disposal schedules.

Remember: when caring for someone else's property, treat everything as if it were your own by keeping spaces clean and tidy at all times.

• Maintain cleanliness inside and outside of living areas.
• Ensure plants are watered according to the schedule provided by the homeowner(s).
• If applicable, walk pets regularly and feed them properly according to their dietary needs/preferences.

Communicate any issues promptly

If you encounter any problems or issues during your house sitting job, communicate with the homeowners as soon as possible. By promptly addressing any issues that arise, you can ensure a positive experience for both parties and maintain the trust of the homeowner.

Remember always to be respectful of the homeowner's privacy by not snooping around personal belongings - after all, they have entrusted their home into your hands.

By following the guidelines above and staying flexible throughout your stay, you can enjoy a successful and fulfilling house sitting adventure while exploring new destinations and saving on accommodation costs .

Network with other house sitters

Networking is an essential part of any job search, and house sitting jobs are no exception. Connect with other house sitters on social media or forums such as Reddit to get tips, advice, and potential referrals for new gigs.

Check out these resources to connect with other house sitters:

• Reddit - House Sitting Community
• Facebook - International House Sitting Community

FAQ about house sitting jobs

If you're a nomad looking to save on accommodation costs, house sitting jobs are the perfect solution. Here are some frequently asked questions about finding and applying for house sitting jobs.

Where to find house sitting jobs?

Platforms like Worldpackers , TrustedHousesitters , Nomador , and MindMyHouse connect homeowners with house sitters. For a one-stop-shop that offers house sits, volunteering, and work exchange programs, check out Worldpackers.

Worldpackers is a community-driven platform that connects travelers with hosts offering free accommodation in exchange for help around their property. You can easily search for available house sitting positions based on your desired location or personal preferences.

How to apply for a house-sitting job?

Worldpackers is an excellent resource for house sitting jobs. Applying through the platform is fairly easy: 

1. Create an account: Join the Worldpackers Community for free.

2. Edit your profile: Add relevant information about yourself, such as skills and experiences related to pet care or home maintenance.

3. Search for available positions: Browse through the list of available house sitting jobs on Worldpackers, filtering by location or other preferences. Save your favorite house sitting jobs until you are ready to get verified .

4. Apply for a position: Send a compelling application explaining why you would be the perfect fit for this particular job. Highlight any relevant skills and experiences as well as your passion for exploring the local area and immersing yourself in different cultures.

Is house sitting free?

While there are many websites that connect homeowners with potential house sitters, most require a membership fee to access their services. However, this fee is usually a yearly suscription ranging from $20-$100 depending on the website.

This cost is greatly covered once you start house sitting. In some destinations, just a couple of nights of accommodation in a hotel could cost you more than what you have to pay for a membership at one of these sites.

Finding great house sitting jobs requires a bit of effort but can be incredibly rewarding in terms of cost savings and unique travel experiences.

By signing up with reputable websites like the one we've seen in this article, creating an impressive profile that showcases your skills and personality, and networking within the community, you'll have ton of opportunities.

If you're ready to start exploring the world through safe house sits while making a positive impact on others' lives along the way, sign up at Worldpackers today!

Join the community!

Create a free Worldpackers account to discover volunteer experiences perfect for you and get access to exclusive travel discounts!

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More about this topic

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How do worldpackers trips work.

As a member, you can contact as many hosts and travel safely as many times as you want.

Choose your plan to travel with Worldpackers as many times as you like.

Complete your profile, watch the video lessons in the Academy, and earn certificates to stand out to hosts.

Apply to as many positions as you like, and get in contact with our verified hosts.

If a host thinks you’re a good fit for their position, they’ll pre-approve you.

Get your documents and tickets ready for your volunteer trip.

Confirm your trip to enjoy all of the safety of Worldpackers.

Have a transformative experience and make a positive impact on the world.

If anything doesn’t go as planned with a host, count on the WP Safeguard and our highly responsive support team!

After volunteering, you and your host exchange reviews.

With positive reviews, you’ll stand out to hosts and get even more benefits.

This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. For more info please read my Disclaimer .

Best House Sitting Websites 2024: How to Find Long-Term House Sitting Jobs?

by Denise Mai | Last updated Jan 4, 2024

One of the questions people ask me the most about being a digital nomad is how we constantly find new places to live. I have already talked about my general strategy to find long-term accommodation around the globe in an earlier blog post. Today I want to go more into detail on house-sitting websites and how you can find long-term house-sitting jobs.

In my opinion, house sitting is massively underrated because it’s such a fantastic way to find free accommodation while traveling. Learn what international house sitting is, how you can find long-term house sitting jobs, and what the best house sitting websites are.

Table of Contents

Best House Sitting Websites

What are house sitting services.

When a person has to leave the apartment or house for a while, for example, because of a vacation, he or she often needs someone to take care of the property. These caretakers are called house sitters.

A house sit can have any length – from just a weekend to weeks or months in a row . It can be a stylish city apartment or a cozy country house.

Usually, house sitters get to live in the house for free and are allowed to use all or most amenities the place has to offer. In return, the house sitter has to fulfill certain duties which can include:

• Taking care of pets, e.g. walking the dogs, feeding them, or washing them
• Watering plants
• Performing smaller maintenance work, e.g. lawns, or controlling pool filter systems
• Readdressing the mail
• Keeping trespassers off the property

It is always up to you and the homeowner on what you agree on. In some houses, you don’t have to do anything but be present. Other places require a bit more effort.

The places I have sat so far required me to take care of cats and dogs, accept mail, and water the plants. So very simple tasks that you can easily do next to your remote job.

You can find house-sitting opportunities in the city, at the beach, in the mountains, or in the countryside – literally anywhere.

What’s in there for the Homeowner?

Just in case you are still wondering why people would let strangers into their houses and live there. For free!

Well, basically for the above-mentioned benefits that you will get. If they are away for a few days, weeks, or even months, they need someone to take care of their property and pets . Family and friends might live somewhere else or they have jobs and can’t stay in the house every day.

A perfect solution is to let someone in who can live and work from everywhere. Someone who likes to see new places, meet new people, enjoy a free stay, and like take care of houses and pets.

In addition, if they keep the house empty, potential housebreakers might notice that there is no light on and no one is at home. So having someone live in the place, reduces the risk of housebreaking a lot.

Homeowners need someone to take care of their places and pets while they are away.

What are the Benefits of International House Sitting?

I’m a huge fan of international house sitting and I think it’s a great way for digital nomads and long-term travelers to find accommodation. Here are some of the advantages:

• It’s free! Especially, when you are just starting out as a digital nomad and are on a tight budget, this is the perfect way for you to save a lot of money. A friend of mine managed to house-sit for 9 months within one year. Just imagine how much money she saved!
• You get a fully equipped house. Don’t underestimate that! I have stayed in so many places where I had to buy stuff like duvets and pillows or cutlery and pots for only a short stay, like 5 weeks – super annoying! You even get to enjoy things that you normally wouldn’t find in a holiday flat, let alone in a hotel, for instance, a blender or a washing machine.
• You have internet. The most important thing for a digital nomad. In many long-term rentals, you will have to organize your own internet access. Of course, you can always buy a mobile hotspot or a global hotspot . However, this will soon get expensive and it might not be fast enough for your needs. And for broadband in your new place: Many providers offer 12-month plans only and they need up to a couple of weeks to install it. Often they are just not flexible enough for the life of a digital nomad.
• You live like a local. You move to a new country for many reasons. One of them is sure that you want to get to know the local culture. To live like a local is a perfect starting point to do so. What do their houses look like? What’s important to them? What are their daily routines? These are all insights that you won’t be able to get in a usual rental apartment.
• Experience new areas . You won’t stay in the typical touristy areas but get to see completely new city districts and places you normally wouldn’t go to. Be off the beaten track and experience authentic local life.
• Take care of pets. Yes, that is a huge benefit for me. I grew up with pets and have always been surrounded by them. Being a digital nomad makes it hard to have little fluffy friends with you and I really miss that. So I thoroughly enjoy every minute I get to spend with them. Plus, pets keep you active, healthy, and happy. Reason enough to spend more time with them.
• You meet new people . For one, you meet the homeowners and will probably get an extensive introduction to their homes. You will also most likely get to meet curious neighbors who want to get to know the person from abroad. And if you want to, I’m sure many homeowners are happy to connect you with friends, just in case you need help with something. A great way to make friends while traveling.

If you love pets, you will love house-sitting jobs!

What are the Challenges of International House Sitting?

As with everything, house-sitting abroad can have its challenges, too. Here are the potential downsides:

• Competition can be tough . House sitting abroad is a constantly growing concept. Unfortunately, there are often way more house sitters than there are house owners. Especially in popular cities, it can be harder to score your desired house sit opportunity.
• You have responsibilities. Something that you can’t argue with. When you house-sit a place you have to do whatever your duties are. You can’t simply go on a weekend trip and leave the dog behind. The homeowners trust you to take good care of their house and pets. Whether you always feel like it or not.

When doing house sitting jobs you have responsibilities, too – it’s not just free accommodation!

What Are the Best House Sitting Websites?

Luckily, there are quite a few apps out there today, that connect homeowners with potential house sitters. I have tested some in the past 10 years and liked the house-sitting websites TrustedHousesitters and HouseCarers by far the most.

1. TrustedHousesitters

TrustedHousesitters launched in 2010 and has since grown into the potentially biggest community of house sitters and homeowners. They offer house sits all over the world and let you filter your search results for countries, dates, and pet types you like to take care of.

As with every house-sitting website, there is an annual membership fee. As a member, you are able to get in touch with all listed potential homeowners. For TrustedHousesitters this is USD 129. That might sound like a lot of money for membership but trust me, it’s worth it!

Just imagine what you would spend when you had to rent a place somewhere. Depending on the city maybe 400-1.200 USD a month? So if you only do a few house-sitting days a year, this money was well invested and saved you so much in rental expenses!

2. HouseCarers

HouseCarers is one of the oldest players on the market. They started connecting homeowners and house sitters in 2000 and have now an extensive worldwide house-sitting directory. You can filter for countries, regions, and the period you want to stay. At the moment, there are not too many house-sitting jobs listed but that could change once people get to travel more again.

Nomador is another great house-sitting website that combines travel and pets. There are currently more than 23,000 houses to sit which gives you plenty of options to choose from. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for house-sits in Europe, America, or the rest of the world. With so many offers, you can surely find the right place for you.

4. MindMyHouse

MindMyHouse is definitely one of the cheapest house-sitting websites out there. You only pay USD 20 per year and can apply to any open house sitting job. At the time of updating this article, there are only 93 open house-sits on the website. Not too many but you may still be able to find something that could work for you.

5. HouseSit Match

HouseSit Match offers not only fantastic sitting jobs around the world but also sees itself as a social network for housesitters. What’s special here is that you can’t only find houses to sit but could also go for pet-sitting options if this is what you prefer. This is brilliant for animal lovers such as me who already have accommodation but love to take care of pets.

The only downside: There is only a hand full of active house-sitting jobs on this website at the moment.

How to Find Long-Term House-Sitting Jobs?

As mentioned before, house-sitting abroad is getting more and more popular. To find and get accepted to great places you should follow these steps:

• First, you need to start by building a great profile . List all your experiences with pets or house-sitting. Let people know why you are qualified to take care of their homes and mention your characteristics. Make sure to make it as personal as possible. Potential homeowners want to get a feeling for what kind of person you are. They need to like you.
• Include the right photos. You don’t need to be in a suit and tie. But photos of you in a bikini at a busy pool party might look like you are only interested in fun and can’t handle the responsibilities and duties. Happy photos with pets are always great to show that you like animals and they like you, too. If possible, upload a video of you. That helps a lot in gaining trust!
• Add a police check. Although it is often not required, many homeowners might feel better about having that credibility. In many countries, you only need to go to your next police station and ask for it or you can even do it online. In the UK it costs about 10 GBP. So it’s not that much of an investment.
• Another great piece of advice regarding your profile comes from fellow digital nomad Kristie , who is a frequent house sitter for TrustedHousecarers:

“This isn’t like a resume where you just list your skills and attributes. If people are going to ask you in to their home to stay there without them and trust you with their pets then they need to trust and like you. Let them know about your personality, your interests, your background. Think of this site more like a dating site rather than a job search site , let potential sitters get to know you a bit.”

• Build up references. This is hard in the beginning. It’s easier for homeowners to trust sitters who already have great reviews. It is a good idea to apply for house-sitting opportunities that are normally not of interest to you, either because they are only a couple of days or because they are in a city you are not interested in. Your chances of scoring this sit might be bigger and the good reference you get (hopefully) will help you a lot in getting better positions later on.
• Be quick and write a personal application. As soon as you see a new opening that you like, apply for it! Don’t send out standard emails, though. Make sure you include details about the position, for example, the pet’s name (“My family had a German Sheppard, too, when I was little so I’m very familiar with this breed. I can’t wait to meet your Henry.”).
• Be communicative. Don’t sit around and wait forever to respond to messages. Also, be willing and prepared for video calls with Skype or such so homeowners can get to know you even better.
• Be patient. Especially in the beginning, when you don’t have any references to show or apply for popular locations, it is can take longer to get a place. Don’t be discouraged. This is normal and it will soon get faster after you’ve been to a few places.

If you want to house-sit abroad, you should use international house-sitting agencies.

Best International House-Sitting Tips

• Make sure you have a visa that lasts your entire house-sitting stay. It would be a nightmare if you score a position for 3 months and after 4 weeks you realize that you can’t extend your visa and have to leave the country. This would be very irresponsible so make sure your visa is sorted.
• Check out the location and logistics . Some house sitting options are right in a city center, others are not. If that house is in the middle of nowhere and there is no public transport available, no car or bike you can use, you have found out how to get there and you have to be ok with being stuck at the place for the entire time.
• Before you agree on a house sit, clarify every potential payment. Who pays for utilities? What about maintenance costs? Pet food? In my experience, the homeowner takes care of these expenses (unless you keep the shower and heater running 24/7, of course). But make sure to talk about it early enough.
• When you move in, one of the most important things to find out is emergency numbers. If the pet gets sick you need to know who you can contact. Or if the toilet breaks. Who is the plumber you should call? Get these numbers!
• It is a great idea to stay in contact with the house owners , during your stay, too. Send them photos of their happy dogs playing in the park or their blooming orchids. Knowing that everything is alright and you have the situation under control gives them a good feeling, which will increase your chances of a great review.
• Something that you don’t have to do but I think it’s a very nice idea : When the house owners return, place a bunch of flowers on the kitchen table and buy some basic food (bread, fruit, maybe have a tasty dish prepared). This is a small way of saying “Thank you for letting me stay in your wonderful house and welcome back home!”. And again, it increases your chances of a nice review.

Make sure you thank your homeowner for letting you rent their place for free.

Find International House Sitting Jobs Today

As you can see, house-sitting abroad is a brilliant option for digital nomads and long-term travelers. You get to live like a local in a fully equipped house and don’t even have to pay a single dollar for it! The duties you have are usually very small and sometimes more pleasure than work.

There are two websites to find house-sitting opportunities, which I can highly recommend from my personal experience: TrustesHousesitters and HouseCarers. Both house-sitting websites have been around for many years and have an extensive directory of open house-sitting jobs around the world.

Click here to create an account with TrustedHousesitters today!

Click here if you want to find places with HouseCarers!

Make sure your online profile is informative and charismatic. If you send out individual and unique applications and rock online communication with your potential homeowner, you will surely have your first place to sit in no time.

A truly fantastic way of traveling on a budget and getting to know the local culture, all while working in your online job as usual.

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Founder of Digital Nomad Soul

Hi everyone, thanks for stopping by! My name is Denise and I have been working online for more than 10 years. In the past, I worked as a remote employee and freelancer & managed to build a six-figure online business. I know that many others would love to work from home or work while traveling, too. That’s why I want to share my experience and help you on your way to your remote career!

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It is! She was very lucky and grateful for it.

Wow! I am impressed how your friend managed to house-sit for 9 long months. That is tremendous amount of money saved.

Get ahead as a Housesitter Achieve your goals and discover unlimited opportunities by registering to become a housesitter with HomeCarers.com. Consider the options it could open for you. The money you save would compound into a tremendous down payment towards your own home. Eliminating your rent expense helps you meet your financial objectives like starting a business, saving for tuition, or helping with family obligations. Short term accommodations are attractive if you`re renovating your home, recently transferred and new to the area, or wish to become familiar with an area before deciding to move there permanently. Retirees can economically travel and explore the world.

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How to Become a House Sitter (& Find Long-Term Jobs)

Once you’ve learned how to become a house sitter and landed your first long-term job, it might all seem too good to be true. You may just feel like you’ve stumbled upon a secret travel cheat code or struck the cash-strapped traveler lottery. Feelings like these are bound to bubble up from time to time.

After all, relaxing in cozy homes and living completely rent-free isn’t a reality many of us budget-conscious travelers thought possible. Traveling the world frequently and lounging around in top-notch properties is a lifestyle reserved for the rich and famous, right?

Not so fast.

Over the years, my partner and I have enjoyed long-term house sitting jobs both near and far, even when we’ve been dang near broke.

Our duties are simple: take care of pets, water plants, collect mail, and keep homes occupied while the owners are out of town. The hosts get to travel knowing that their home is in good hands, and we I get to live rent-free and see the world on the cheap. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

And our modest experience is mild compared to some of the more ambitious sitters out there. Some clever digital nomads and retirees have embraced house sitting as their full-time lifestyle. They bounce around the world during the summer, winter, and every season in between as they watch over homes, pets, and plants. And they travel for next to nothing along the way.

So, whether you want to house sit occasionally like us or dive in headfirst and become a long-term professional sitter, you’re in the right place. This step-by-step guide is full of all the tips, resources, and websites you’ll need to become a bonafide sitter and land your first job right away.

Let’s dive in.

How to Become a Long-Term House Sitter in 2023

• Fit the Mold of a House Sitter
• Sign up for a House Sitting Website
• Update Your Resume & Get References
• Create a Member Profile
• Search for Jobs
• Apply for Vacancies
• Be Proactive with Your Leads
• Prepare for (and Ace) Your Interview
• Sort Out Travel Logistics
• Communicate with Homeowners
• Nail Your Assignments & Collect Reviews
• Best House Sitting Websites of 2023
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Final Thoughts

How to Become a House Sitter in 2023: 11-Step Guide

If you’d like to know how to become a house sitter and land long-term sitting jobs ASAP, you’ve come to the right place. We have pursued countless jobs over the years and, though we don’t land every gig we apply for, we’re more or less experts when it comes to the process.

As a result, I’ve put together a guide that I think will give you the best chance at success possible.

Now, let’s get started.

1. Fit the Mold of a Long-Term House Sitting Professional

If your goal is to become an in-demand house and pet sitter, you must first play the part.

The transient and unpredictable nature of home sitting doesn’t suit everyone, so make sure you’re cut out for the lifestyle before you start firing off applications for jobs.

You may be a good house and pet sitter if you:

• have experience caring for dogs and cats
• can embrace the ups and downs of travel
• have a flexible schedule
• work remotely, are financially independent, or have a job near your sit
• can afford the occasional hotel or Airbnb
• are comfortable in someone else’s home
• don’t have a criminal history
• are a good communicator

If the above characteristics describe you, keep reading. You might just have what it takes to cut the mustard as a house sitting professional.

2. Sign Up for a House Sitting Website

It ain’t the 90s anymore, so don’t go thinking you’ll find long-term house sitting jobs in the back page ads of the local newspaper. No, you’ll need to stare into the glow of your favorite device religiously if you want to find a proper gig.

We use a service called TrustedHousesitters , which has worked out very well for us.

Their website and app are both fantastic, they offer loads of jobs in over 110 countries, and everyone on the site is vetted and verified. Not to mention, it’s the most widely-used house and pet sitting website in the world.

You can browse through TrustedHousesitter’s job opportunities for free, but ultimately you’ll need to become a paid member to apply for sits. Memberships start at $129 but should pay for themselves after a night or two of free accommodation at your first gig.

💥 TrustedHousesitters is offering The Packable Life readers 20% off new memberships! Click the button below for your discount. 💥

3. Polish Your Resume & Drum Up Past References

Things start to get real after you’ve signed up for a house sitting website.

It’s now time to get laser-focused in your search for home and pet sitting jobs, as there’s always plenty of competition for the more extended gigs. Some of these listings will have dozens of applicants, so you’d better learn how to set yourself apart with a stellar application if you want to land the best sitting jobs.

Here are the first two things you can do to start getting a leg up on the competition:

Put together a rock-solid resume . Many potential hosts will want to see your past work experience and long-term sitting gigs before they let you live in their home and take care of their beloved pets.

Reach out to friends, family, landlords, and past sitters for references . Potential house sitting hosts are far more likely to let you live in their homes if others gush about how incredible you are.

4. Create a Rock-Solid House Sitting Profile

Your profile is really important.

It’s your first impression to all of the hosts that are going to consider letting you live in their home. Think of your profile as posting your resume for dozens of potential employers to nitpick before they ever have a chance to speak to you.

Hosts will read your profile carefully, and they’re going to judge you instantly. Invest time into making a professional profile or risk missing out on great opportunities.

Here’s what you should focus on:

• A profile picture that captures your personality
• Lots of pictures of you (and pets!) so owners can visualize you with their animals
• A well-edited introduction to yourself, broken down into easy-to-read paragraphs

5. Search for Jobs in Your Desired Locales

Once your profile is impeccable and your references have started to trickle in, it’s time to start going after incredible live-in house sitting opportunities.

Whether you’re interested in visiting Hawaii, California, NYC, Italy, Australia, Japan, or any other desirable destination, use TrustedHousesitter’s search feature to start browsing through jobs. When an intriguing listing presents itself, click the heart icon to save it to your favorites list.

6. Apply for Vacancies Where You’re a Good Fit

Finding incredible live-in house sitting opportunities is exciting; I get it! But it’s imperative not to rush when applying for jobs. Always put plenty of time and effort into your application before you send it through, as you’ll often be competing with other highly-motivated folks for the job.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when putting together an application:

Reference the Listing : Reference their owner’s listing several times throughout your application. Mention their pets by name. Tell them that you love the restaurants, parks, and cafes around their neighborhood.

Be Yourself : Mention a few unique things about yourself that you may not have covered in your profile. Did you recently have a meaningful house watching experience? Are you obsessed with playing cribbage? Are you a certified scuba diver? Great! Thoughtful details like these might just be a valuable conversation starter between you and your host.

Be Honest : Let hosts know if you’ve also applied to other listings. They’ll appreciate your honesty and shouldn’t get too irked if you end up withdrawing your application for another opportunity. They might also be more motivated to hire you if they’re afraid another host will scoop you up before they can.

Edit Your Application : Look over your application and edit it before clicking send. This is important! Hosts want to see that you’re taking their posting seriously and might view applications with typos and grammatical errors as lazy or rushed.

7. Stay Proactive & Confident With Your Leads

When hosts are intrigued by your application, they’ll open up a conversation to see if you’re a solid lead. They have fast-approaching travel plans, so reply to their messages quickly and professionally. It’s a good look.

If you haven’t heard back from a host for a day or two after you’ve sent your application, shoot them a thoughtful follow-up message. Reiterate why you’re an excellent fit for their listing and how motivated you are to set up an interview. Let the hosts know you mean business.

8. Prepare for (and Ace) Your House Sitting Interview

If you’ve nailed the first seven steps of this article, I have some good news: you’re going to get interviewed for many of those tasty long-term sitting jobs you’ve been dreaming about.

Here’s how to prepare for (and ace) your interview:

Do Your Research : Read the listing several times and jot down helpful notes about the gig beforehand. Hosts are sensitive about their beloved home and precious pets, so memorize the vital information. You wouldn’t dare call their sweet Moose the wrong name, would you?

Ask Lots of Questions : Make a list of questions about the listing and sprinkle them into your conversation with the host. Asking well-informed questions lets the interviewer know that you did your research and care about the finer details of the opportunity.

Sell Yourself : Be open, honest, and give the host a chance to know you during the interview. Offer up fun details about your life and let your personality shine through. Tell the host about your strengths, passions, past travel experiences, and future goals.

Eliminate Any Doubts : What’s your plan if a pet gets sick? Are you prepared to navigate the home security system every time you come and go? How often will you check the mail? What if a pipe bursts?

9. Sort Out the Logistics of Your Sit

Let’s say your interview went well, and you landed the gig. Well done! Now, get to work sorting out the logistics of your sit.

Arrange transportation to your gig, and clear your schedule for the dates you’ve committed to. If you’re traveling for an international sit, get your visas sorted out as soon as possible. Hosts are relying on you to show up prepared and on time so that they can embark on their trip worry-free.

10. Reassure Homeowners & Keep Them Posted

Once you’ve arrived at your house sitting gig and the hosts are out the door, it’s your job to hold down the fort. Barring any crazy circumstances, keeping on top of your duties shouldn’t be too hard. Do your job, do it well, and keep the hosts in the loop when they’re away.

11. Crush Your Assignments & Collect Great Reviews

If you’ve nailed steps 1-10, you’re likely going to ace your house watching assignment. It’s not too tough to live in a stranger’s home, follow their instructions, and keep their beloved pets happy and healthy. Easy, right?

Once you’ve completed your successful sit, tell the hosts how grateful you were for the opportunity and encourage them to reach out to you next time they need help. Answer any questions they have and always leave on good terms.

The 7 Best House Sitting Websites of 2023

As I mentioned earlier, my favorite platform for finding jobs is TrustedHousesitters .

If TrustedHousesitters isn’t quite your style, don’t worry, as there are plenty of other great websites to find your dream job. Here are the seven best house sitting websites of 2023.

TrustedHousesitters

TrustedHousesitters is the best website to consistently find gigs, whether short or long-term, internationally or locally. They boast a 4.7 rating with over 14,000 reviews on TrustPilot.com. They’re as legit as it gets when finding sitting jobs.

As I write this, TrustedHousesitters has thousands of active job postings listed in over 110 countries. Travelers consistently land incredible long-term sitting jobs via TrustedHousesitters, and it’s viewed as the go-to website in the industry.

In terms of job volume, user interface, and features, it simply doesn’t get better than TrustedHousesitters.

House Sitters America

If you’re trying to find a sitting job in the US and aren’t having luck on TrustedHousesitters, give House Sitters America a look. They’re a US-specific site that costs only $49 a year to become a member but offers fewer opportunities than TrustedHousesitters.

Though I’m bummed they don’t list international jobs, I love that House Sitters America offers PAID sitting jobs. Though most gigs you’ll find are free, it’s not rare to find paid jobs for $20+ a day. If you happen to land a long-term job, those daily earnings could add up quickly.

HouseSitMatch

If you’re looking for a sitting opportunity in the UK, Ireland, France, or Spain, you might just find it on HouseSitMatch. The site gets plenty of glowing testimonials from users on TrustPilot and is a solid option if you’re looking to bounce around Europe watching people’s homes and caring for their pets.

While the HouseSitMatch website isn’t the easiest to navigate, it has loads of character and a very active blog. Not to mention, there are plenty of fresh listings and opportunities for rewarding extended sits on the site. Membership costs £69 for a standard account or £89 for a premium account .

Nomador offers a decent amount of international house and pet sitting jobs and is one of the more popular options around. At $99 a year, membership costs less than TrustedHousesitters, though you’re not going to find nearly as many opportunities.

Nomador also offers the ‘Nomador Stopover’ feature, which connects users with homeowners willing to host travelers for a night (or more). This feature is similar to Couchsurfing , which is a great way to travel around the world cheaply if you’re comfortable crashing at a stranger’s home (while they’re still around).

MindMyHouse

MindMyHouse is another solid option for finding international gigs, though listings aren’t as abundant as TrustedHousesitters or Nomador. That said, interesting sits do still exist on MindMyHouse, and there’s not usually a ton of competition to land a job.

At $20 a year, MindMyHouse is a very affordable platform, however, I only see 211 total listings worldwide at the time of writing this article. That said, it never hurts to browse their site and see what’s out there. You might just find the dream sit you’ve been looking for.

HouseCarers

Established in 2000, HouseCarers is the oldest worldwide home sitting website on the internet and has connected thousands of travelers with incredible opportunities over the years. Check out their fun archive of blog posts to get a feel for the type of sitters their platform attracts.

HouseCarers doesn’t have a ton of listings — only 68 total at the time of writing — but should offer less competition than sites like TrustedHousesitters or Nomador. If you’re striking out on other websites, HouseCarers is certainly worth a look.

Workaway isn’t a house watching specific platform but does offer opportunities to work in exchange for lodging, food, and (sometimes) a paid allowance. Workawayers can help with tasks like building homes, helping out on farms, nannying, and more.

I know a friend who strung together a few incredible Workaway opportunities in Europe and was able to bounce around the continent on the cheap for an entire summer. Though I’ve never tried it myself, I wish I’d tried out Workaway in my younger years when I was broke.

FAQs About House Sitting

House sitting, whether near or far, short or long-term, is a unique way of traveling that not everyone is familiar with. Hopefully, this section clears up any questions you might have as you entertain the possibility of becoming a top-notch sitter. Feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions about my personal experience.

How Long Do House Sitting Jobs Usually Last?

While shorter house sitting jobs can last only a day or two, some long-term opportunities can last up to several months. In my experience, most gigs last between a few days and a couple of weeks.

The longer the duration of the listing, the more desirable it will be to others. Expect the competition to ramp up as the length of the potential sit increases, especially if the gig is in a high-demand area.

What does a House Sitter Do? What are Their Typical Responsibilities?

Sitters are expected to maintain the property while the host is out of town and will almost always have a pet or two (or more!) to take care of, as well.

Here are a few of the typical tasks hosts will ask of house sitters:

• Feed, exercise, administer medication to, and spend time with pets
• Collect mail and receive deliveries
• Water plants and perform basic yard maintenance
• Spend significant time at the property to decrease the risk of break-ins
• Communicate with and relay important information to the homeowner

Most House Sitting Jobs I’m Finding Aren’t Paid. Why Not?

Watching someone’s home is a mutually beneficial exchange. Hosts offer up their homes to sitters in exchange for pet caretaking, house maintenance, and peace of mind while they’re out of town. Everyone wins.

‘Payment’ comes in the form of free accommodation, food, and future opportunities, and money usually isn’t involved. Paid jobs do exist, though, but are quite competitive and usually reserved for ‘professional’ house sitters or retirees who have years of experience and can take on specialized duties.

Can I Make a Living as a Professional House Sitter?

While it’s pretty easy to travel on the cheap as full-time as a house sitter, earning a full-time salary as a professional a different story. As I just mentioned, well-paying opportunities exist, but they’re usually very competitive and almost always include many responsibilities.

That said, if you set your mind to it, you could carve out a career for yourself as a professional house sitter. Start with free sits, collect excellent references, build a top-notch resume, and start searching for those dream long-term (or even full-time!) luxury jobs that pay a generous salary.

What are Some of the Drawbacks of House Sitting?

While extended home sitting is generally a rewarding line of work, there are a few potential downsides to consider before you get involved.

House sitting isn’t exactly lucrative , so you’ll need another source of income if you plan on staying in other people’s houses regularly. I earn income from my blog while working remotely, allowing me to home sit wherever I want, whenever I want.

You’ll be bound to the home to keep things running smoothly until the owners return . You’re more or less ‘stuck’ at the property once the owners leave town, which could be an issue if an unexpected event in your life demands your attention.

You’ll never feel 100% at home at someone else’s property . Sleeping in somebody else’s bed and taking care of their household isn’t always comfortable. Frequent travelers are probably used to this lifestyle, but it’s still something to keep in mind.

Hosts can get a little weird on occasion. Though I’ve experienced nothing but friendly and grateful hosts, I’ve heard stories of impossible-to-please homeowners who’ve made life very difficult for their sitters from afar. Hosts like this are rare, but they do exist.

Ready to Become a House Sitter & Find Long-Term Jobs?

Hopefully, you understand exactly what it takes to become a house sitter that locks down long-term jobs , takes care of incredible properties, and travels the world affordably. If you can pull this lifestyle off, you’ll certainly feel as though you’ve unlocked a powerful travel cheat code.

All it takes is one successful sit to realize that frequent travel to new destinations isn’t only reserved for the rich and the privileged. We budget travelers can also kick our heels up and live a life of luxury (even if we have to watch a stranger’s dog and mow their lawn a few times along the way).

As wild as it may seem, people are willing to open up their doors, hand their keys to a stranger, and welcome them in their homes for weeks, sometimes months , at a time. Myself, and countless other successful house sitters are living proof.

Learning how to become a house sitter and landing long-term jobs is quite simple. Read this guide, follow the steps carefully, and you’ll be rewarded with opportunities to travel longer and more affordably than you may have ever imagined.

Last Updated on March 19, 2024

Noel Krasomil

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International House Sitting: How To House and Pet Sit Worldwide

Welcome to JetSetting Fools, here you will find our best travel tips for destinations worldwide. Some of the links on this site are Affiliate Links and if you use them to make a purchase, we may earn a commission. For more information, read our Disclosure Policy .

International House Sitting changed the way we travel – in an extremely positive and substantial way! By becoming international house sitters, we eliminate the expense of accommodations while experiencing some of the world’s best destinations!

We became pet and home sitters in 2015 – and we have heaps of advice on house sitting international. We have taken care of houses – and pets! – in more than 20 destinations around the world…from Sydney to  Singapore and Phuket to Paris .

That said, being home sitters comes with a huge responsibility. It is certainly not for everyone…but it might be for you! Before we get ahead of ourselves and jump to our steps for how to become house sitters internationally, let’s talk for a minute about what it means to be pet & house sitters.

What is International House Sitting?

Housesitting is when a person (or couple or even a family) stays in someone else’s home when the owner is away. Housesitters are tasked with general care of the home (like cleaning, bringing in the mail and watering the plants) – and, more often than not, the housesitter looks after the owner’s pets, too.

In most cases, house and pet sitting abroad works as a trade. Sitters offer free housesitting services in exchange for staying in the home rent-free. There are however, paid house sitting jobs, but for the purpose of this article – we are talking about exchanges.

Housesitting Internationally just means that people are caring for other people’s houses and pets outside of their home country. Anyone can become an international house sitter – from vacationers to digital nomads to retirees to long-term travelers.

Based on our positive experiences, we are revealing top tips for how to house sit abroad…but first, let’s chat about the Pros and Cons of international pet sitting jobs.

Benefits of International Pet Sitting and House Sitting

There are many benefits to house sitting overseas. We are highlighting a few of the top reasons why house watching and pet sitting in other countries is advantageous. 

Free Place to Stay for Traveling Pet Sitter Jobs

The cost of accommodations – especially in big cities – can account for a big part of any travel budget. Therefore, one of the benefits of becoming international house sitters is that you get to travel the world – and live in someone’s house for free! 

For example, if you agree to an assignment for pet sitting in Europe for a week – let’s say in Amsterdam – then rather than shelling out $200 a night for a hotel (which for 7 nights is a hefty $1400), you stay with the pets in the owner’s home for zero cost. 

Free accommodations is the most obvious benefit of taking on international and Europe house sitting jobs. That said, it is just one of the many advantages of house sitting abroad.

Meeting People While Being House Watchers

One of the things we like best about international housesitting is that we get to meet people from around the world. In fact, many of the homeowners we have housesat for have become our friends. We have stayed in touch long after the house sits are complete – and we now have an extended network of friends that spans the globe.

Furthermore, home owners often provide sitters with insider tips – like their favorite café or a local event – that travelers would not otherwise seek out. Some owners take extra steps to introduce sitters to next door neighbors and their close friends or family, helping traveling sitters establish local connections that are priceless. 

For us, the personal connections and local recommendations are some of the best things about travel pet sitting. 

Live Local on Long Term House Sitting Jobs

Another reason to take international house sitter jobs is to experience a foreign place as a local. Living in a home – and taking care of a pet – can give travelers a sense of stability and community. While this might not be a benefit for vacationers pet sitting overseas, it is fantastic for digital nomads and long term travelers. 

When you take jobs house sitting, the houses are often located outside the touristic city center (sometimes even in quaint villages and remote locations) where travelers can truly immerse themselves in the local culture.

Rather than tackling the top sights with a checklist in hand, international pet sitters can get to know somewhere by walking a dog through different districts or meeting the neighbors for a coffee at a corner café.

Responsibilities as International House Sitters

While there are numerous benefits to house and pet sitting international, there are also many responsibilities that come with a pet sitting house exchange. Owners typically welcome housesitters into their home for a couple of reasons: To look after pets and to care for the house – both of which are significant obligations for the housesitter.

Caring for Pets during House Sitter Jobs

While many travelers are excited at the prospect of obtaining free accommodations, international dog sitting and cat watching is a big responsibility. 

House pet sitters are expected to step in and take care of the animals just as the owner would. This means adhering to the pets’ normal exercise routines, feeding schedules and pet interaction that the owner outlines.

For example, some pets can only be left alone for a limited number of hours or need to be walked multiple times a day. Pet care is a priority – and it can have an effect on sightseeing and exploration.

Additionally, sitters need to be willing (and prepared) to get care for the pet if they get injured or sick. This means having a plan – and flexibility – if you need to make a trip to the vet.

Keeping Up with the Home on House Sit Jobs

While most homeowners only expect basic home care, the responsibility of management and maintenance will fall on the sitter during their stay. If something breaks or goes awry during the housesit – like a plumbing issue – the sitter will need to be able to communicate the issues and be on hand to help resolve them.

And, unlike staying in hotels or an Airbnb apartment while on vacation, sitters need to thoroughly clean the house (or spaces used) for the owner’s return.

How We Became International Pet Sitters

When we initially started traveling full time in 2014, house and pet sitting was not part of our plan. I have never been a pet owner and it had been years since Kris had pets. However, we heard of other digital nomads who were house sitting in Europe – and we were fascinated by their stories. We finally came around to the idea of – and now we can’t imagine our travels without housesitting.

To be honest however, after we decided to try international house sitting, it took a while to get our first housesit. The house sitting website we use is a platform that connects homeowners and sitters – but they don’t actually make the assignments. It is up to us to get in touch with homeowners who were searching for housesitters – and make a good impression so that they would choose us over other applicants. International house sitting jobs have become very competitive in recent years.

London Housesitting

After applying for numerous international house sitting opportunities, we landed our first house sit in London . We had spent time in London before, so our visit was 100-percent about Woody – the adorable dog that was in our care. We had two weeks in the London housesit – and our focused attention paid off, because the owners gave us a glowing review (which is oh-so-important  for future jobs house sitting!).

Housesitting in Australia

We accepted our second housesit in Melbourne, Australia shortly after our London gig ended ( thanks to that rave review !). The 7-week stint with a spirited Jack Russell named Tess was perfect for us – as we were able to spend time both working and exploring Melbourne – plus we got to really know the neighborhood and the neighbors (some of who we are still in contact with!).

Another House Sit in Europe

After our successful long-term housesit with Tess, we were on the hunt for more long house sit jobs. We eventually took on an even longer two-and-a-half-month housesit in the Nijmegen, Netherlands with a wonderful dog, Berus. It was our first time house sitting in Europe over the holidays – and we absolutely loved it!

Read more about Housesitting for the Holidays !

Travel as an International House Sitter

After our third time housesitting abroad – and our third shining review – we found it was much easier to get subsequent housesitting jobs.

We have been housesitters on five continents in more than a dozen countries. In fact, we have been fortunate to be housesitters in some of the world’s most famous cities – like Singapore , Dublin , New York City , Amsterdam , Lisbon and Tokyo . And, while we still use a housesitting website to find new opportunities, we have been invited back to housesit by previous homeowners, as well.

How To House Sit Around The World

If we have piqued your curiosity on how to become a house sitter and see the world, use our following tips to find house sitting jobs worldwide!

Step 1: Decide Which House Sitting Websites To Use

If you have decided that you want to sit houses, the first step to becoming an international house and pet sitter is to join a house sitting network. The house sitter website we use is Trusted Housesitters . It is the house sitting site that offers the biggest inventory of international housesits, plus it is incredibly easy to use.

The house sitting service is membership-based; you pay an annual fee and can use the site as much as you want to find jobs for housesitting. Compared to other international house sitting sites (that are not as robust), the fee is a bit high (but is still less than the nightly cost of a hotel room in London – so we think it is well worth it!). 

BONUS: Save 25% of the membership fee when you use this link ! 

Like most house sitting sites, Trusted Housesitting is simply a platform to connect homeowners and sitters. The homeowners post a pet sitting opportunity – including dates, location, pets and other responsibilities – and housesitters choose which housesits to apply for based on their timeframe and interests.

The Trusted Housesitters platform is designed as an exchange of services; the housesitter jobs are not paid employment. 

Other International House Sitting Websites for Traveling Pet Sitting Jobs

While Trusted Housesitters is the only site we use to find housesitting jobs, it is not the only international house sitting website. When choosing between the different house sitting platforms, it is important to consider where you would like to housesit – as some platforms are more popular in certain countries or regions. We like to search for opportunities worldwide, so Trusted Housesitters works best for our needs.

That said, we are featuring a few of the other highly rated house sitter websites. 

Nomador Housesitting for House Sitting Jobs Europe and Global

While Nomador is a worldwide house sitting website, the site seems to have a more specific focus for housesitting in France and Europe. 

House Carers to Pet Sit Abroad Worldwide

At one time we found that House Carers had more of a focus on New Zealand and Australia house sits – but they now have a global presence with opportunities for house sitting Europe, USA and…everywhere! 

Rover for House Sitting Travel in US, Canada and Europe

Rover is different in that it is a petsitting website that offers paid jobs for house sitters from the local community (mostly in the US and Canada, but now in the UK and Europe, too).

Step 2: Create Your Profile

A solid profile is essential to getting house sitting jobs internationally. Like a resume, we thoroughly completed sections of the form detailing who we are, why we want to housesit and what experience we have.

Because we were new to the platform (and, therefore, did not have any reviews), we asked for recommendations from everyone we could think of – friends, old roommates, bosses, landlords – to vouch for our competence and bolster our profile. Basically, we needed people to attest to the fact that we are responsible individuals who owners could entrust with the care of their pets and home. On Trusted Housesitters, there is now even the option to link your Airbnb or LinkedIn profiles.

In addition to the 10 external references, we also opted to obtain a criminal background check (at an extra fee) – just to give the homeowners peace of mind that we are upstanding citizens.

Step 3: Search For Housesits

Once your profile is complete, start searching for international house sits!

Actually, with Trusted Housesitters , you can search for housesits before signing up – but you will not be able to contact the owners until you become a member.

On Trusted Housesitters, any homeowner in the system looking for a house sitter can post a housesitting opportunity, but you can use filters to help narrow down your search. You can enter a location (city, country or continent) where you want to housesit – or use the map feature.

Other filters housesitters can use to pare down the results are Dates, Length of Housesit, as well as Pet and Home Types.

Click on any of the housesitting opportunities to expand the listing and find out more about the housesit. Owners can provide as much (or as little) information as they want, but generally, they will provide an introduction, location and home information, the responsibilities and a list of pets.

Previous sitter feedback will also be visible, which can be helpful in determining what that housesitting experience might be like. 

Step 4: Apply For Housesits

If you find a housesit that you want to apply for, the application process is fairly easy. Simply click the Apply Now button and send a personalized note to the homeowner.

Housesits in popular cities – like New York City , London and Paris – can get dozens of applications within the first hour after posting. Therefore, it is important to set yourself apart from other applicants in your letter (especially if you don’t have any reviews!). We curate and often update our application and profile – and also add in a few key details to personalize each submission.

For the most sought after housesits, being timely is also critical – so we recommend checking the Trusted Housesitters website frequently.

Step 5: Be Patient…and Keep Applying

Getting your first housesit is typically the most difficult – at least it was for us! Once we had our first housesit and a positive review, the next ones came easier. We have more than 20 5-star reviews now, which helps significantly when applying for new housesits. If you get passed by on your first few applications, keep searching…and applying.

Pro Tip : A great way to get a first review is by housesitting in your own city or region. Because Trusted Housesitters is international, there may be nearby short-term housesits in your own neighborhood. Housesitting closer to home for your first housesit is not only be beneficial to gaining a first review, but it can help ease you into the role of housesitter so you will be ready to go international!

More Home Sitting Considerations

In addition to our outlined steps for getting a job housesitting and the pros and cons of being a house sitter that we outlined above, there are a few more considerations that should be contemplated before accepting house sitting jobs overseas.

House Sitting: No Pets or Pets

Many people seek out opportunities for house sitting without pets, which is possible – we have done it! In our case, the homeowner was weary of leaving the house unattended over Christmas (as pipes had broken during their previous winter trip) and they wanted their house ‘lived in’ so it wasn’t a target for thieves.

That said, it has been our experience that very few homeowners are looking for home sitting services if there are no pets involved…but it never hurts to look! (On the Trusted Housesitters website, there is a filter for No Pets to help sitters seek out those specific opportunities.)

The Cost of Free House Sitting

While sitters can get free accommodations when pet sitting worldwide, the other costs of travel should be considered. If, let’s say, you live in the United States and want a Sydney, Australia housesitting gig, you would need to factor in the cost of the flight, local transportation and, perhaps, lodging costs (if you need to arrive a day early, which we highly recommend). The cost of visas is also something to keep in mind.

In some rare cases, homeowners may request that sitters pay for certain utilities. This, of course, should be discussed and agreed to in advance – but it is another cost to be considered.

Length of Stay for House Sitting Jobs Abroad

House sitting holidays range from a single night to several months. Both long and short stays have pros and cons. While two nights of luxury housesitting in a central London flat with one cat is appealing, the cost of getting there from abroad may not be worth the effort.

On the other hand, agreeing to a long term housesit of a couple months can impede other travel plans that might pop up during the sit. Before applying for long term housesits abroad, make sure to do some prior research and check entry requirements, too!

Read more about why we love Long Term Housesitting !

Sightseeing Limitations While House Minding & Pet Sitting

We have already touched on this under Responsibilities, but we feel it needs to be emphasized. When you offer house sitting services in exchange for a free place to stay while traveling, the house and pets take precedence over sightseeing adventures. That is not to say that you won’t be able to enjoy and discover the destination where you are housesitting, only that your house and pet responsibilities need to be top of mind. 

We think of housesitting as a job…and a pretty cool one, at that! In our experience, settling into a new home and being a pet sitter is extremely rewarding – and it might be for you, too!

Housesitting is not our only resource for accommodations…we use Airbnb, too! Read our Top Tips for Airbnb Guests here !

Start planning your next International Trip ! Search for the lowest airfares , the best accommodations and fun things to do …then start packing !   Want more travel planning tips? Head over to our Travel Planning page for more information and tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides page !

Pin it! See all of our travel pins on our JetSetting Fools Pinterest Board .

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11 Best Places to Find House Sitting Jobs (Locally or Abroad)

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While house sitting can be an enjoyable way to make money, it’s not always easy. As a house sitter, you’ll be responsible for a variety of tasks. Learn what it takes to make money watching houses while the homeowner is away.

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Imagine this: Mrs. Smith goes to Florida for a few months every winter so she can escape the cold weather in Michigan.

She hires you to stay at her house and take care of it while she’s away. You do things like water the plants, feed the cat, and forward the mail.

You’re happy because you get to stay in her beautiful house for free, and she’s happy because her house is being cared for. If you become a house sitter, this scenario is likely to happen.

House sitting jobs can give you the chance to explore a new area, meet new people, and earn money while living rent-free.

They can also be a great option if you’d like to write a book, start a business, or pursue another dream but need some income while you’re doing so.

How Much Can You Earn House Sitting?

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired in 1991 when they were 38 years old and house sit in the U.S., Mexico, and Guatemala. House sitting cuts their housing costs by 45% and allows them to enjoy life on $30,000 a year.

Your circumstances may look different, though. For instance, you may house sit in exchange for food, rent, and a car. Or you may charge anywhere between $25 and $45 per day for your services. It just depends on your agreement with the homeowner as well as where you’ll be house sitting.

The location of the house, the amount of time you’ll be needed, and the types of tasks you’ll be required to perform also determine how much you can earn as a house sitter.

You’ll make more money if you have to mow the lawn and walk the dog every day at a house in Los Angeles for two months than if your sole responsibility is to forward mail at a house in Indiana for a week.

What Does a House Sitter Do?

While house sitting can be an enjoyable way to make money, it’s not always easy. As a house sitter, you’ll be responsible for a variety of tasks such as:

• Answering the phone and doorbell
• Filing and forwarding mail
• Paying bills
• Feeding pets
• Watering plants
• Maintaining the lawn and garden
• Caring for the swimming pool
• Mopping, vacuuming, sweeping, and dusting
• Contacting service providers to fix issues like a leaky toilet or broken heater

You may also be required to perform other tasks as they arise, depending on your agreement with the homeowner.

Where to Find Paid House Sitting Jobs

There are a variety of online resources you can use to help you find house sitting jobs near and far.

1. Care.com

Care.com can connect you to house sitting jobs in your local area. You can create a profile, search for jobs, and apply to them for free. If you want to be featured in search results and reach out to potential house sitting clients, you’ll need to pay for a premium membership.

If a potential client asks you to complete a background check, you won’t be charged for it. All you’ll have to do is complete the application form sent to you.

With Rover , you can find clients who are looking for someone to watch their pets and their homes at the same time. After you complete and pass a background check, you can create a profile and promote your house sitting service.

Then you’ll be able to browse requests and accept any that interest you.

3. House Sitters America

For an annual membership fee of $30, House Sitters America makes it easy to find house sitting jobs in the U.S. You can post a photo, preferred locations, and available dates and use filters like house type, locale, and features to find the ideal house sitting gigs.

Once you’ve landed an opportunity, you’ll sign a sitting agreement and be ready to work.

4. Petsitter.com

If you’d like to house sit and pet sit, Petsitter.com is another option. You can post a profile for free to find people in your area who are interested in your services.

If you like the site and want to continue using it after the free trial period, you can upgrade to a paid subscription plan. With the paid subscription plan, you’ll be able to send an unlimited number of messages to potential clients.

5. Luxury House Sitting

Luxury House Sitting strives to be the “largest community of responsible house sitters in the world.” As long as you pay a yearly membership fee of $25, you can create a profile and upload references.

After your profile is approved, you’ll be ready to apply for assignments and message homeowners.

6. House Sit Match

Once you pay for a membership, House Sit Match will allow you to create a profile with a video of yourself and search for house sitting jobs in different countries.

If you find any that suit your needs, you can contact the homeowners directly through the site and use its legally approved contracts.

7. Caretaker Gazette

The Caretaker Gazette is a print and online newsletter that’s been around since 1983 and is full of house sitting jobs and advice for house sitters. For $29.95, you’ll receive an online subscription and access to a bi-monthly newsletter.

How to Find International House Sitting Jobs

House sitting opportunities aren’t limited to the U.S. There are plenty of international house sitting jobs available.

At no charge, you can use Nomador to find house sitting gigs abroad. You’ll need to fill out your profile and upload photos and proof of ID.

If you’d like, you can add references to make your profile stand out. Once your profile is all set, you’ll be an official “Nomador” and be able to respond to house sitting ads.

9. MindMyHouse

MindMyHouse is a global house sitting matching service that connects house sitters to homeowners. For a fee, you can apply to house sitting assignments in different countries. You’ll be able to contact homeowners through the site directly and use sample forms to finalize the deals.

10. House Carers

Since October 2000, House Carers has been matching house sitters to homeowners. You can create a profile and begin with a free membership to see how you like it.

If you decide it’s right for you, you can upgrade to the full paid membership. The site allows you to subscribe to emails with house sitting opportunities that meet your particular preferences.

11. TrustedHousesitters

With an annual sitter plan on TrustedHousesitters , you can discover house and pet sitting opportunities in various countries. The site offers tons of resources including a 24/7 vet advice line, an insurance backed guarantee, and a membership services team that’s available around the clock.

House Sitting FAQs

If you’re new to house sitting, you likely have a number of questions.

How much should I charge for house sitting?

It depends. Are you looking for a free place to stay while you’re traveling in the U.S. or internationally? If so, you may house sit in exchange for free accommodations and forgo charging a daily fee.

On the other hand, if you’d like to house sit locally and visit the house daily rather than stay there, you may want to charge a daily fee.

While the location of the house and your responsibilities will play a vital role in your daily fee, most house sitters charge anywhere between $25 and $45 per day. If you’re in a location with a high cost of living and have more difficult duties like mowing the lawn and walking the dog, you may be able to charge up to $80 per day.

Is house sitting safe?

House sitting is safe as long as you take the right precautions. Rather than accepting a house sitting gig after a few email messages, be sure to have a phone or video call with the homeowner.

This can give you an idea of whether or not you feel comfortable with them and alert you to any red flags. You should also research their home before accepting the gig to make sure it’s in a safe area.

Do I have to pay my own travel expenses?

While you’ll have to pay to get to the house you’ll be taking care of, you may get a free place to stay in exchange for your services. If you want to travel to multiple locations, try to find house sitting jobs that are near one another.

It doesn’t make sense to house sit in California one week and then Italy the next. If you land a house sitting gig in San Diego, for example, try to find another one nearby, like in Los Angeles. That way you can save on travel costs while still getting the chance to explore two different places.

Can I find popular destinations like Hawaii or Paris to house sit?

Yes! You can find house sitting jobs in popular destinations like Hawaii and Paris. Just keep in mind that if you apply to them, there will be more competition.

You’ll have to put in more effort to get these types of jobs than you would for a less popular place like rural Pennsylvania. To ensure that you’re picked, present yourself professionally and show the homeowners why you’re the best candidate.

Can house sitting help me avoid paying rent?

If you’re interested in house sitting to avoid paying rent on your own house or apartment, you probably won’t find that it’s possible year-round. While you may be able to live rent-free for a few weeks or months, you will need your own place for when you’re in-between gigs.

However, if you’re house sitting for an extended period of time for one client, you might be able to do it in exchange for free or reduced rent. The arrangement depends on what you work out with the homeowner.

For instance, if you’re performing groundskeeper and pet sitting responsibilities on top of your house sitting duties, you might be able to get free rent. You should note that even if you do get free rent, the homeowner may ask you to pay for utilities.

How can I stand out as a house sitter?

Avid house sitter Akaisha Kaderlli has a number of tips that can help you stand out as a house sitter. “If you love to clean or care for certain pets, make sure your profile emphasizes these points,” she says.

She also recommends creating a video ad and website to showcase your personality as well as your house sitting experience and abilities. References can help, too.

Do I need a background check to work as a house sitter?

Although a background check isn’t always necessary, it is recommended. It’s another way to help you stand out and gain trust with potential clients. You’ll find that some house sitting websites and homeowners do require you to pass a background check.

What do I bring or pack as a house sitter?

Kaderlli suggests packing clothing suited to the weather conditions of your house sitting location, your phone and laptop, toiletries, and anything else you need to stay entertained during the job.

You will probably be able to use the homeowner’s car to drive to the grocery store or anywhere else to purchase what you need during your stay.

House Sitting Can Allow You to Travel and Make Money

House sitting can give you the unique opportunity to travel and enjoy a variety of destinations while keeping your expenses low. You’ll get to immerse yourself with new people and cultures because you’ll be spending a few weeks or months in these destinations, rather than a few days. It’s also an ideal gig if you work remotely.

Related: 24 Best Work-from-Home Jobs That Pay Well

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How to become a House Sitter – The Complete Guide to House Sitting

If you’re new to house sitting and you’d like to learn more about it and find an awesome house sitting job, then this is the guide you’re looking for!  You’ll find all the info you need to know about house sitting, how it works, what to look out for, and a list of the best house sitting websites. 

Post originally published in May 2020, updated in March 2021

The first time I heard about house sitting was about 8 years ago.

I was volunteering on a llama farm in exchange for food and accommodation when an elderly Australian woman joined me for a couple of weeks to help me take care of the property.

The woman was in her early 60’s, living from her pension and already traveling the world for years solely by house sitting. She’d been in Canada, the USA, several European countries, and was now doing a few house-sitting jobs in New Zealand.

I loved how she slowly traveled the world and saved tons of money by going from one house-sitting job to another. It made me think about doing the same but it wasn’t until 4 years ago before I did my first real house sitting job.

Reading Tip: What is the best cheap backpacker travel insurance?

Niko and I were hitchhiking across Europe and we were in need of a small break from the road. We wanted to find an affordable place to stay where we could catch up on our blog and vlog and find ways of making money online .

The idea of house sitting popped back into my mind and I started searching the internet for house sitting jobs in Turkey.

We found a beautiful house in Islamlar, a mountain village near the Aegean Sea. The homeowner was searching for a couple to look after her house and her pets for 4 weeks while she went on vacation.

We contacted her, told her more about ourselves and after giving her some references, she saw us as a suitable pair to put her home and her animals into our caring hands. It was such a fun experience that we continued doing more house sits.

I really like house sitting as it is such a budget-friendly and sustainable way of traveling. You save a lot of money on rent and accommodation and it gives you the opportunity to connect on a deeper level with your surroundings, the local community, and the local way of living.

That’s why I decided to share my house sitting experiences with you and write a complete guide about house sitting, what you need to know and do to become a good house sitter and how to find the best house sitting jobs.

Reading Tip: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Free Accommodation while Traveling the World

Disclaimer: This posts might contain affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for helping to support this website!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 1. What do you do as a House Sitter

The word “house sitting” probably makes you think of “babysitting”.

In some way, you can compare it with babysitting but instead of looking after a kid when its parents are away, you have to look after a house or property while its owner(s) are away.

Very often, this house or property comes with pets like cats, dogs, ducks, rabbits – or even a crazy turkey like we had in Turkey – that need caring as well.

Some of the feathery pets we had to take care of while housesitting

Just like with babysitting, you carry responsibilities. The owner(s) trust you with their home, plants, and pets in their absence and expect that you treat their property as your own.

House sitting isn’t like renting a room, a flat, or a house on Airbnb . You can’t see the house as a (free) holiday home to do whatever you please.

While I’ve always respectfully treated any room or flat I rented on Airbnb as it were my own, I’ve heard stories of guests who never clean up behind themselves and leave the place in a mess. You seriously can NOT behave like this while minding someone’s home!

You have responsibilities as a house sitter. The homeowners expect you to mind their pets and keep their house safe and clean while they’re gone and usually have specific instructions and small duties for you.

These responsibilities and duties include:

• basic housecleaning liking vacuuming, sweeping, dusting and mopping on a regular basis
• maintenance tasks like gardening or keeping the pool clean (yes, some houses come with a pool!!)
• watering the plants
• reparations or contacting the appropriate service providers if something breaks
• caring for the pets, including feeding them, cleaning up after them, walking them (mainly dogs but we had cats that liked going for walks as well), taking them to the veterinarian if they get ill
• staying in touch with the owners on a regular basis to keep them updated on how things are going

In short, you have to treat this home and look after it as it was your own – unless you’re very messy in your own home (no offense), then you should definitely work on those cleaning skills…

You also can’t just abandon the house to go on a road trip for a few days or a week, especially when there are pets involved. If there aren’t any animals to take care of, you could always ask the homeowner’s permission. Clear communication with the owners of the property is key!

This doesn’t mean that you’re not allowed to go on day trips to explore the area.

We often went on trips to nearby towns and villages, go on hikes or spend a whole day at the beach. We just always made sure we returned the same evening to feed the pets.

We also made sure we returned every day to feed these hungry boys!

Reading tip: How to travel and volunteer abroad for free

2. Reasons why you should House Sit

One of the biggest advantages of house sitting is that you save a lot of money. Accommodation is one of the biggest expenses while traveling and house sitting takes that cost away as you get to stay for free in a private home.

If you’re lucky, the house also comes with a stunning garden, a fantastic view and… a pool!

We once had a house sit in Turkey where the house was located right next to the Aegean sea. The house was part of a small resort and we even had a sauna, a gym, and three pools at our disposal! We felt like we were staying in a 5-star hotel and all of that for free!!

House sitting with a pool. Not bad eh?

House sitting jobs usually last between one week and several months. As you’re staying in one place for a while, you get more time to meet the local people and build new friendships than if you’re just passing by.

It really gives you the opportunity to travel slowly and connect more deeply with the environment, the people, the culture, and the local way of living.

Making friends on the local market in Turkey

You can do a short-term house sit if you don’t have many vacation days or a big budget to spend on traveling but you’re craving to explore new horizons. You only have to cover your food and transport expenses.

House sitting is also an ideal way if you want to travel the world long-term and/or if you’re a digital nomad .

You can go from one house sitting job to another (if you plan them well in advance), work in the peace and comfort of having your private space (just make sure the owners have internet or wifi) and explore different regions of the world during your free time.

House sitting is an ideal way of traveling the world as a digital nomad

I also love house sitting as I get to spend time with animals. One of the things I miss the most about my nomadic lifestyle is having a pet. I’m a huge animal lover but it’s hard to travel long-term with a cat or a dog, let alone other types of pets…

Most house sitting jobs require pet sitting so I’m always happy to spend time with and take care of the furry and feathery animals that come with the house.

I love taking care of pets!! And they usually love me too!

Although, always… I only had once a fall-out with one of the pets. During one house-sitting job in Turkey, my boyfriend and I had to look after Lurkey. Lurkey was a huge turkey (yes, that’s right, Lurkey the turkey in Turkey) and he was pretty vicious…

Meet Lurkey the Turkey …

He liked my boyfriend but I couldn’t go near him as he would attack me with some kind of ninja move… I’m seriously not making this up! You can meet my nemesis in the vlog we made about this house sit .

Reading Tip: How to make money while traveling – the best and most realistic travel jobs

3. How do I become a House Sitter?

Homeowners place an ad on a house sitting website (see the list of best house sitting websites below) with details about where they live, how long they need a house sitter for, and what they expect from him or her.

Some homeowners prefer 2 house sitters in case something would go wrong.

As an aspiring house sitter, you can review all the available house sitting jobs and choose one according to your desired location and timing.

Once you’ve found a house-sitting opportunity that appeals to you, you’ll first have to sign up to the website and create a profile. All house-sitting websites have a membership fee, varying from $20 to $120 per year, that you have to pay before you can sign up.

Remember that homeowners base their first impressions on your profile so here are some things you should definitely include:

• Previous experience as a house-sitter (or something related to house-sitting)
• Experience with pets
• Special skills: are you a handy person, do you have gardening skills,…
• Why you enjoy being (or becoming) a house sitter

Once you’ve created an appealing house-sitter profile, you can contact the homeowners directly and tell them why you’d like to look after their home and pets.

Write your message according to the specific details of the house sitting job. If the homeowner f.eg. has a dog, let them know how good you are with dogs. If they have a garden, tell them that you have good gardening skills. Don’t lie or exaggerate but don’t undersell yourself either.

If the homeowners like your message, they will contact you and very likely invite you to a video interview. During this interview, you’ll see each other face-to-face, which is a great opportunity to see if you’re a good match and have mutual positive vibes.

The homeowners will also ask for references. After all, they’re inviting a stranger into their home and they need to know if they can trust you.

If you don’t have previous house sitting experience, ask for a reference from former landlords, neighbors, bosses, or anyone who can vouch for you. The more quality references you have, the higher your chances you get a house sitting job.

This would obviously be a good photo for your house sitting profile…

Reading Tip: The Ultimate List of Countries with Digital Nomad Visas

4. How to prepare for a House Sitting Job

You really have to take your house-sitting job seriously. People are trusting you with their homes, possessions, and pets.

Here are some important tips on how to prepare and be a good house sitter:

• Ask for guidelines in advance and stick to them

Ask the homeowners to create some sort of a manual with all the important info that you need to know about their house, garden, and pets. Ask them to send it to you in advance so you can prepare yourself well and ask for clarification if needed.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It shows the owners that you’re very serious about the job.

• Determine the rules concerning going on multi-day trips and receiving guests. 

If you want to go on a few multi-day trips to explore the region, ask the homeowners if it would be okay for you to leave the property for a couple of days. This is definitely important when you have to take care of pets.

Ask permission if you want to invite friends or family (you might consider this if you have a long-term house sit). It’s normal that the homeowners want to know who’s staying on their property.

If they refuse, try to see it from their point of view. Never ever go behind their back as this would really break their trust in you!!

Day trip to Patara Beach during a house sitting job

• Arrive at least one day early

It’s better that you arrive a day early so you get to meet the homeowners in person and they can show you around the property and neighborhood.

It also gives them the opportunity to show you the little things like how the gas stove works, where that oddly placed light switch is, where to find the pet’s food, etc.

• Keep in touch

Make it a habit to update the homeowners at least once a week on how things are going. They’ll appreciate this a lot!

• Treat the house with the utmost respect

Keep the house tidy while you’re there. I make it a habit to give the house a thorough cleaning before the owners return. It’s nice for them to come home to a sparkling clean house.

If you break something, fix or replace it. If you can’t, offer to pay for it.

Restock the fridge and cupboards with the items that were there when you arrived and foresee at least one meal for the owners for when they return.

• Prepare for the unexpected

Nothing goes as planned and you got to be prepared to deal with adverse situations. Things can go wrong so make sure you have all the emergency contact info in one place.

It can be stressful when something in the house breaks or when one of the pets get ill, especially when it isn’t your fault!

The most stressful moment I ever experienced as a house sitter was when I was looking after 4 dogs in a Turkish mountain village. During one of my daily walks, one of the dogs got loose and started chasing a motorbike. My worst nightmare came true when the dog got hit by a car…

Most Turkish people aren’t very fond of dogs. While the dog was yelping, nobody came to my aid. I also didn’t have a mobile connection so I carefully picked up the dog (he was a big boy so very heavy to carry) and walked the 2 kilometers back home with this dog in my arms and the 3 other ones following me.

When I arrived home – exhausted from carrying him and covered in his blood (!!), I called out to my boyfriend for help. He came rushing out, helped me carrying the dog inside and we immediately called the vet.

Luckily the dog didn’t have serious injuries and he recovered very quickly. Still, I felt so bad about this incident and when I called the homeowner to tell her what happened, I was afraid she was going to be mad at me.

I felt so relieved when she told me not to worry. She knew this dog was young (and a bit stupid) and she was happy with the way I responded to the whole incident.

Pablo after the accident. I felt so relieved that he recovered well!

So yeah, these things can happen when you’re house sitting, and having good communication with the homeowners is very important !

Reading Tip: 16 Things to Prepare for a Long-Term Trip

5. Is House Sitting Safe?

When it comes to physical safety, then yes, house sitting is safe. After all, you’re alone (or with your friend or partner) in the house and there shouldn’t be any immediate threats that could harm your physical well-being.

However, there are a few things you have to be aware of.

House sitting is an exchange of trust.

The homeowners have to have trust that you won’t rob or burn down their house, and kill their pets so to speak…

Think about it. They have never met you, you’ve contacted them online and they’re letting you into their home with all their possessions and precious pets while they’re away on vacation.

They have to have faith that you’re a reliable and honest person and that they’ll find their home and pets back in the same state they’ve left them. That requires a high level of trust!

One of the homeowners we house sat for. She trusted us fully with her home and pets.

But… you also have to have trust in the reliability and integrity of the homeowners.

You made an agreement with them to look after their home and they should provide you with all the amenities they promised unless otherwise stated.

Let me give you a few examples.

If the homeowners stated that they have running water, an uninterrupted power supply, heating, decent sanitation, proper cooking and bathroom facilities, and decent wi-fi, then they have to provide you with this.

You don’t want to be “stuck” in a month-long house sit, only to find out after the first day that there isn’t any hot water, that you’re not able to cook or that there’s no internet – which can be a huge issue if you work online!!

It never happened to me but I’ve read stories about house sitters finding themselves in the middle of renovation and building works. The homeowners “failed” to tell them that they planned some renovations during their absence.

Not only did the house sitters have to supervise the workers, but they also had to deal with the building noises and the inconveniences of the renovations, like an unusable kitchen or a non-functioning bathroom. And I’m not even mentioning the dust and mess that often comes with these types of renovations…

Something else that I’ve also heard is homeowners claiming reparation money from their house sitters for something that was already broken before the house sitting job started or expecting you to pay for the services of the house cleaner or gardener during their absence.

These situations are luckily very uncommon but of course, you don’t want to be the person to whom it happens.

Looking for good insurance while housesitting? I recommend Nomad Insurance by SafetyWing!

I bet you’d prefer a carefree house sit!

How can you prevent your house sit from becoming a nightmare?

Again, clear communication is very important!

Ask the homeowners in advance about their facilities, if there are any bills that need to be paid during their absence and if there’s something you need to be aware of (does the internet and heating work properly, are they planning any renovations,…).

Arriving a day early at the house sitting job and asking for a tour around the property will also give you a lot of clarity.

When the homeowners show you how everything in the house works, you both might notice something that isn’t working properly (leaking shower, a lightbulb, etc.).

I never did this but you could also ask for a signed statement in which the homeowners mention everything that doesn’t function properly or is broken upon the start of your house sitting job.

I never had any trust issues with the homeowners as they were always very honest and upfront to me if something didn’t work well.

Even when I had to take unexpectedly a pet (like the dog from the accident I mentioned in the section above) to the vet, the owners always refunded the medical bill.

Don’t let these examples hold you back from becoming a house sitter though! I just mentioned these situations so you’re aware of what can go wrong (and how to prevent them as much as possible).

So yes, I dare to say that house sitting is safe. It’s a wonderful concept that offers many great opportunities for both homeowners and sitters and it’s a highly valued service all over the world.

The only danger while house sitting and pet sitting is that you might get attached to the pets…

6. Is House Sitting Free?

House sitting is an exchange of services. Homeowners let you stay in their home for free in exchange for looking after their property (and pets).

The only costs you have during your stay are food, personal expenses, and – depending on the agreement – utilities.

Most homeowners cover the utilities but it can happen that they’ll ask you to contribute or cover the utility costs like heating, electricity, and internet if it’s a long-term house sit (f.eg. more than 4 weeks).

Each house sit is unique so you should ask and negotiate with the homeowners if and what utilities you have to cover. It’s again very important to be clear and open about this to avoid any confusion or unexpected expenses.

You might wonder if you can get paid for house sitting. As house sitting is an exchange service where you get free accommodation as a sitter, you won’t get paid.

However, there might be occasions when a homeowner offers some money, usually if there are a lot of pets to care for or a lot of jobs to do– other than the usual maintenance jobs like cleaning the house or gardening.

This isn’t very common though and the vast majority of house sitters are happy to receive free accommodation and believe this is a fair and positive exchange for their services.

Going on a picnic with homeowners for whom we house sat. We’re still good friends!

7. The 5 Best International House Sitting Websites

1. house carers.

House Carers is my favorite house sitting website to find house sitting jobs worldwide.

I find their website easy and straightforward to use. Click on “Browse houses to sit” in the menu and enter the location you’d like to go to. You can also filter by region and the period you’re available to house sit.

Their annual membership price is $50 , which I think is very fair.

2. Mind My House

Mind My House is another global house sitting service that I like and often check.

This website doesn’t have as many listings as the other sites I mention but the majority of the house sit offers look very appealing.

Their annual membership is only $20 .

Nomador is a fast-growing housesitting community.

They have a nice international listing and you don’t need to pay for a full-year membership if you’re only looking for a couple of house sits. They even have a “stopover” community that helps you find hosts if you’re in between house sits.

The Nomador website is very easy to use and they have a wide variety of filters to help you with finding your perfect house sitting job.

Nomador allows you to apply for 3 house sittings offers free of charge . You can also get a quarterly membership for $35 or an annual membership for $89 .

4. Trusted Housesitters

Trusted Housesitters is known to be the “market leader” of the house sitting websites.

The majority of their house sitting listings are mostly in North America, Europe and Canada.

I’ve heard really good reviews about this website but I think that the annual membership is a bit pricey… They charge $129 per year .

5. HouseSit Match

Housesit Match focuses mainly on the UK and Australia but is getting more and more listings in other European countries.

I don’t find it so straightforward to browse for house sitting jobs on this website but they have good reviews.

The annual membership to join HouseSit Match is £69 (about $85) .

I hope this guide was useful and that my tips and suggestions will help you with finding fantastic house sitting jobs!

Have you ever done a house sitting job before? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!

You might also like to read following articles about long-term traveling:

The Ultimate List of 23 Countries with Digital Nomad Visas (for remote workers)

What is the best Affordable Travel Insurance for Backpackers? The 3 Best Backpacker Travel Insurance Companies Compared

Travel and volunteer abroad for free with these 4 work exchange programs

The Complete Guide to Teach English Online with 37 Online Teaching schools and Platforms

4 Realistic and Best Ways to Find Free Accommodation for Travellers

How to Make Money While Traveling the World including the 12 Best Travel Jobs

8 thoughts on “how to become a house sitter – the complete guide to house sitting”.

Thank you for the information. This will be my family’s first time searching for a housesitting opportunity. We are a family of 4 with 2 young children. We live in the US. We are searching for 2-3 weeks stay in Costa Rica this coming summer. When you connect with a homeowner and feel that the match is a good fit do you sign any type of contract agreement? I have never done this before so I do not know what to expect nor all that I should be asking for to ensure the experience is positive for us all and we are safe. Currently I just posted a request for a housesitting opportunity on a related Facebook group for Costa Rica. What are your thoughts on this vs. those sites you mentioned? Thank you for any advice and recommendations you can provide.

Hey Kelly, I would recommend using the official house sitting sites to make sure you’re with trustworthy people. Unless you sign a mutual agreement if you find a housesit via the Facebook group?

Hi, My wife and I are looking to do some house sitting. I am a contractor and my wife is a doctor in biology working for an environment company. We would like to do house sitting and offer a renovation service to the owner. My wife can do telework and a can do any kind of renovation in a house(bathroom, kitchen and more). I have a renovation business for over 20 years in Canada. I am 60 and she is 53 and would like to know if that kind of service is on demand on house sitting site.

Hi Guy, you could mention this while applying for a house-sitting job. I’m sure there are people interested in your services!

I enjoyed your “Journal of Nomads” very much. I have just started looking and first choice is Madrid and would prefer long term in Spain. I am presently a property manager in Los Angeles and have cared for estates in Italy. Thanks for all your good advice. Cecilia Herrera

Hi Cecilia, I’m happy to hear you’ve enjoyed reading my blog 🙂 Spain would be a great place for house-sitting. There are usually quite a lot of house-sitting jobs there! Wishing you all the best! Cynthia

Thanks so much for the advice and tips Cynthia. I actually never considered house sitting whilst travelling so I appreciate the article. The Turkey Turkey incident in one for the books!

Hi Kaylini, thank you for reading the article and I’m glad you found it useful! And yes, Lurkey the Turkish turkey definitely deserves a place in my future memoir 😀

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How to Become a House Sitter and Get Free Accommodations

T o create a unique and special life, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do. Joining a house sitting website has an upfront cost of $169. That fee prevents 99% of people who want to house sit from ever actually doing it.

You came to this article to learn how to become a house sitter, but you’ll learn so much more.

By the end of this article you’ll understand how to find house sitting gigs that fit your needs and how to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

Becoming a house sitter opens up a cost effective way to travel all around the world without paying for accommodations. The yearly fee for access to house sitting gigs pays for itself after securing just one night as opposed to paying for a hotel.

Try living the life of a house sitter and sleeping around the world for free .

• Setting Up Your Profile
• Marketing Yourself as Sitter
• Right Locations
• Experience and Reputation
• Prepare for First Sitting Job
• Handling Challenges
• Turning sitting into a Lifestyle
• Advanced Tips

Understanding House Sitting

House sitting involves staying in someone else’s home while they are away, ensuring that the house remains secure and well-maintained. You provide peace of mind to homeowners, knowing that their property and, often, their pets are taken care of. It’s a great opportunity for you to experience living in different locations without the cost of accommodation.

While the basic idea of house sitting is straightforward, the kind of work you do can vary widely. Tasks may include feeding pets, watering plants, and general upkeep. This ensures the home remains in the same condition as when the owner left it.

Learning how to become a house sitter can open doors to unique experiences and financial security. Remember, reliability and trustworthiness are your most valuable traits in this role. Keep these in mind and you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful house sitter.

Explore how house sitting can provide you with cost-free accommodations in the following articles.

• Unlock 7 Travel Hacks For Luxurious Trips on a Budget
• 30 Budgeting Tips for the Modern Nomad

Setting Up Your Profile on Trusted House Sitters

As you become a house sitter, you’ll create an engaging profile on Trusted House Sitters . Your profile acts much like a house sitter resume, reflecting your personality and professionalism. An attractive heading can make all the difference. It’s the first thing a homeowner sees, so make it memorable and concise, clearly highlighting your trustworthiness and expertise.

Crafting Your Bio

Write a compelling bio with attention to detail. Include your experience, what makes you a reliable house sitter, and why you’re passionate about caring for homes and pets. Stay authentic. Homeowners appreciate sincerity and are more likely to trust someone who presents themselves genuinely.

Photographs Matter

Add several high-quality photos to your profile. Images should show you in a friendly and responsible light, perhaps interacting with animals or in home settings. These visual elements allow homeowners to envision you as their ideal sitter.

Annual Membership Fee

Before you can connect with homeowners, Trusted House Sitters requires you to sign up for a membership with an annual fee. This fee varies for different membership plans, so choose one that suits your commitment level. Remember, the fee is an investment in building a network of trustworthy homeowners and securing sitting opportunities.

When you’ve put the effort into your profile and addressed the necessary details, you’re most of the way to becoming a professional house sitter in the trusted community. Ensure your profile speaks to your unique qualities, and soon you’ll be on your way to your first house sit.

Marketing Yourself as a Trustworthy Sitter

When you’re looking into how to become a house sitter, it’s essential to paint a picture of reliability. Begin by gathering good reviews and positive reviews from your past experiences. These can build a foundation of trust with potential clients.

Showcase Your Experience

• Start with a clear, friendly profile.
• Highlight past house sitting jobs or similar high trust positions and include references.
• Display any special skills you have, like pet care knowledge or gardening expertise.
• Explain why you are willing and able to live out of random homes, such as having a remote job.

Leverage Your Social Media

• Use your social media channels to demonstrate your lifestyle and reliability.
• Share stories or posts that reflect your responsibility and attention to detail.
• Engage with your local market, offering tips or sharing experiences that resonate with homeowners.

Highlighting Special Skills

• If you have skills like pet training or home maintenance, make them bold and prominent.
• List these skills using bullet points for easy readability.
• These unique abilities can set you apart in a crowded market and provide added value to your services.

Always update your profiles and social media with recent jobs, continually confirming your reputation as a trustworthy sitter. By showcasing your skills and reliability, you enrich your brand, assuring homeowners that their property is in safe hands. Remember, your goal is to be the sitter that homeowners are excited to contact. That’s the key to success in this role.

Choosing the Right Locations

When you’re learning how to become a house sitter, selecting the right location is essential. Local area preferences can significantly influence your house-sitting opportunities . Whether you seek an urban environment or a rural retreat, consider how the location aligns with your lifestyle and house-sitting goals.

Best place options can vary depending on personal interests and travel aspirations. For urban excitement, consider major cities in North America, like New York or San Francisco. If you’re yearning for adventure, look for opportunities in New Zealand, known for its breathtaking landscapes and welcoming communities.

To maximize your chances, stay flexible with your location choices. Use these criteria to guide your search:

• Proximity to amenities: Consider the convenience of nearby shops, public transport, and healthcare services.
• Cultural fit: Think about how the local culture and community vibe resonate with you.
• Safety: Research the area’s safety record, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the region.

Remember, the more open you are to different locations, the more house-sitting jobs you’ll find. Keep your options broad to enjoy a variety of experiences and adventures as a house sitter.

Gaining Experience and Building Reputation

Starting your journey on how to become a house sitter can be both exciting and daunting. If you’re at the beginning, having no previous experience can seem like a barrier. But don’t worry, gaining that initial experience is easier than it seems.

First off, let’s talk about getting your first house-sitting job. A good way to start is by offering to house sit for family or friends. This allows you to build a reputation and gather references in a comfortable environment.

Building a good reputation is crucial in the house-sitting community. Make sure to go above and beyond in your duties. Be respectful of the home, and take care of any pets as if they were your own. Here’s a quick checklist to ensure you’re on the right track:

• Be Dependable: Always show up on time and handle responsibilities as agreed.
• Keep it Clean: Maintain the cleanliness and order of the home.
• Stay Communicative: Offer regular updates to the homeowners to ensure peace of mind.

By following these steps, not only will you learn the ropes, but you’ll also start to build a trustworthy reputation. Remember, every successful house sit increases your credibility, which is essential for securing more jobs in the future.

Preparing for Your First House Sitting Job

Starting your journey on how to become a house sitter? Excellent! Your preparation will set the stage for success. Here’s how to make a remarkable first impression:

Build a Solid Profile

First things first, you’ll need a stellar profile. Highlight your reliability and any past experience with home care or pet sitting.

• References: Collect testimonials from friends or family for whom you’ve house-pet-sat.
• Photos: Include friendly, professional photos of yourself to build trust with potential homeowners.
• Skills: Don’t forget to include if you speak local languages or know how to fix a leaky faucet.

Connect with Homeowners

Communication is vital. Once you’ve grabbed a house-sitting opportunity:

• Interview: Arrange a phone call or video chat with the homeowner to discuss their needs.
• Expectations: Clarify what tasks they expect from you during your stay.
• Boundaries: Homeowners can have outrageous requests which you are not obligated to agree to.

Key Focus: Owners want communicating with a house sitter to be EASY! Don’t write them novels or overcomplicate things. Concise communication will win you the gig every time.

Free accommodation comes with responsibility. Ensure you’re fully prepared:

• Emergency Info: Ask for emergency contact info and any important home operation instructions.
• Local Research: Familiarize yourself with the local area and services.
• Get There: Find cheap flights or utilize travel hacking to transport yourself to the destination.
• Get Around: Figure out if a rental car is necessary or if on demand solutions like scooters or e-bike’s will be sufficient for your transit needs.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to securing your first house-sitting job!

Handling Challenges Like a Pro

When you’re learning how to become a house sitter, expecting the unexpected is key. You may face adverse situations such as an alarm going off or a plumbing issue. Stay calm, and use your problem-solving skills to address the issue swiftly.

Be Prepared for Anything

Always have the emergency contact information of local services and the homeowners handy. This way, you can quickly get the help you need without escalating the situation. Make a checklist of emergency numbers for quick reference in an unexpected situation.

A Great Tip for Potential House Sitters

Proactiveness is your best asset. Routine checks around the house can help prevent problems before they occur. For instance, regularly inspect for leaks or security breaches to avoid water damage or unwanted entry.

By handling challenges with professionalism and preparedness, you can prove your reliability and enhance your house-sitting reputation. Remember, a great tip is to always communicate effectively with the homeowner about any issues that arise, providing them with peace of mind while they’re away.

Turning House Sitting Into a Lifestyle

Adopting a house-sitting lifestyle can be the gateway to an adventurous and nomadic way of living. While digital nomads use this approach to mesh work with travel, you, too, can harness its potential for long-term exploration. By learning how to become a house sitter, you turn your passion for travel into a practical living arrangement.

Long-term house sits offer a trade-off where homeowners receive property care, and you experience different cultures and communities. This arrangement often helps curtail your travel costs significantly, as accommodation expenses are minimized. Your globe-trotting dreams become more attainable as your residence becomes wherever your house-sitting commitments take you.

To make the most of this lifestyle, prioritize flexibility in your schedule and be open to unexpected opportunities. It’s advisable to maintain a robust online presence on various house-sitting platforms, showcasing your reliability and adaptability. Staying connected is crucial. This way, when homeowners reach out, you’re ready to embrace your next adventure.

Advanced Tips for Becoming a Sought-After House Sitter

Establish trust with a police background check.

Before applying for your first house sitting job , it’s wise to obtain a police background check. Your clean record reassures homeowners that their property is in safe hands. This certificate acts as a powerful endorsement of your reliability and trustworthiness.

Be Proactive About Membership and Skills

Maintain active memberships with reputable platforms such as Trusted Housesitters , which requires nominal membership fees. These platforms not only connect you to potential jobs but also serve as a testament to your dedication. Continuously improve your skill set to stand out, including gardening, pet care, and basic home maintenance.

Utilize Your Network and Build Reputation

Once you know how to become a house sitter, leverage your personal network for recommendations. Every completed housesitting job should leave the owner impressed and inclined to refer you to others. Positive reviews and a strong network gradually build your reputation, making you a top choice for homeowners.

Making the Most of Your House Sitting Adventures

When embracing how to become a house sitter, your adventures can take you to beautiful houses around the world. Your travel plans will play a crucial role, so it’s wise to remain flexible. This flexibility might reward you with stays in luxury houses that are a traveler’s dream.

Integrate Into Local Life

• Get to know local customs: Take the time to learn about the traditions and etiquette of your current location. This shows respect and often leads to deeper connections with community members.
• Explore like a local: Venture beyond the tourist paths. Visit local markets, attend community events, and engage with neighbors to fully experience the area’s culture.

Pro Tip: Neighbors talk, so be professional both at the house and in the community. That town gossip can make or break your housesitting review.

Go the Extra Mile

• Keep the home pristine: Treat the house with the same care as if it were your own. Going above and beyond in your caretaking can secure excellent references for future sits.
• Be proactive in communication: Regular updates can reassure homeowners that their property is in good hands. Quick, transparent responses build trust and open the door for repeat opportunities.

Luxurious Stays and Responsibilities

• Embrace luxury house responsibilities: High-end properties may come with specific upkeep tasks. Show that you can handle these with attention to detail, reinforcing your reputation as a trustworthy house sitter.
• Savor the surroundings: Don’t forget to take a moment to appreciate the unique features and amenities of each home. Enjoy the experience while you fulfill your house sitting duties.

Leveraging House Sitting for Long-Term Travel and Lifestyle Goals

Have you ever dreamed of waking up to a different view outside your window every few months? Or living in a way that every day feels like a new adventure without breaking the bank? Here’s the thing: house sitting can turn these dreams into reality. It’s not just about finding a free place to stay, it’s about weaving travel into the fabric of your life.

Long-Term Travel Made Accessible

Imagine exploring the world, one house sit at a time. House sitting offers a unique opportunity to travel long-term without worrying about the biggest expense: accommodation. By planning your travel itinerary around house-sitting jobs, you can significantly cut down on your living expenses. This means more budget for local experiences and less financial stress. Whether it’s spending spring in Paris or autumn in the Caribbean, house sitting can make these experiences accessible and affordable.

A Strategy for Continuous Adventure

But how do you make it work? First, flexibility is key. Being open to where house-sitting opportunities take you can lead to unexpected adventures. Use trusted house-sitting websites to find opportunities that align with your travel plans. Don’t shy away from long-term house sits, as they allow you to deeply explore a new area. And remember, good reviews are gold. Build a reputation as a reliable house sitter, and soon you’ll find homeowners reaching out to you.

Your Adventure Awaits

So, why not make house sitting a part of your long-term travel strategy? Beyond the free accommodation, it’s the experiences, the connections with pets and people, and the sense of community that truly enrich your travels. Whether you’re seeking a life filled with adventure, looking to meet new furry friends, or just want to see the world from the comfort of someone else’s home, house sitting opens the door to endless possibilities.

Dare to dream big and travel far. With house sitting , the world is literally your home. Ready to start your journey?

Your House Sitting Adventure Begins Now

Embarking on your journey to become a house sitter allows you the unique opportunity to explore new places while performing various tasks that homeowners need. With the tips and steps outlined, you’re now equipped to create an appealing profile and apply to jobs that match your skills and preferences.

Remember, your success hinges on reliability and trustworthiness. Craft your communications with homeowners to reflect your dedication and attention to detail. Ensure your profile stands out by showcasing your understanding of the responsibilities involved.

Following this complete guide will place you on the path to securing house-sitting positions . Stay committed, continue to learn, and enjoy the adventures that come with caring for a new place and potentially, new furry friends. Happy house sitting!

FAQ: How to Become a House Sitter

What qualifications do i need to become a house sitter.

No specific qualifications are needed, but homeowners look for trustworthiness, reliability, and sometimes experience with pet care or home maintenance. A police background check can also boost your profile.

How much does house sitting pay?

Most house-sitting positions are unpaid, offering free accommodation in exchange for your services. However, some long-term or more demanding gigs might offer payment.

Can house sitting become a full-time job?

Yes, for many digital nomads and travel enthusiasts, house sitting is a way to travel the world affordably. With experience and positive reviews, you can continuously find house-sitting gigs.

How do I find house sitting jobs?

Sign up for reputable house-sitting websites, like Trusted House Sitters, and create a compelling profile. Networking and leveraging social media can also help find opportunities.

What are the most important responsibilities of a house sitter?

Key responsibilities typically include ensuring the house is secure, taking care of pets, maintaining cleanliness, and performing general upkeep tasks like watering plants.

Is house sitting safe?

Yes, house sitting is generally safe, especially when using reputable platforms that offer reviews and verifications. Always communicate clearly with homeowners and trust your instincts.

Can I choose where I want to house sit?

Absolutely! You have the freedom to apply for house-sitting jobs in locations that interest you. Being open to various locations can increase your chances of finding gigs.

The post How to Become a House Sitter and Get Free Accommodations appeared first on Nomad Veronica .

Using House Sitting Jobs to Fund Travel

Are you looking for a more rewarding way to travel? House-sitting jobs are an awesome cultural exchange and a great way to fund your travels!

If you’re a digital nomad, an aspiring full-time traveler, or just a budget-wise adventurer, this one is for you! While this concept is far from new, house-sitting travel is easier now than ever before. Using house-sitting jobs to fund travel is an excellent way to explore the world’s most expensive destinations and do it on the cheap! Today, we’re going to take a deep dive into the world of house sitting, explain how it works, expose the best platforms, and give you some tips on how to work the system. Let’s Roam!

Explore with Let’s Roam

Since you will be doing a bit of work on this vacation, you’re going to need some well-planned and easy-to-accomplish adventures in your pocket if you want to sightsee. That’s where we come in! Utilize our scavenger hunt app to enjoy fun-filled urban art walks , ghost tours , sightseeing hunts , and bar crawls !

What exactly is house-sitting?

House-sitting is essentially a work exchange program where a homeowner and a sitter exchange their services to help one another out. Usually, the homeowner will provide free accommodation to the sitter. The sitter may have access to the whole house or to part of the house while the owner is on vacation. This often includes food as well.

In exchange, the house sitter will agree to manage the home, which often includes pet care, while the homeowner is away. The details of each arrangement vary and should always be agreed upon before accepting a house-sitting contract.

What are the perks of house-sitting?

Homeowner benefits.

The homeowner gets to leave for vacation with peace of mind knowing that their home and their furry family members are in good hands. Most of the house-sitting websites require sitters to be vetted with background checks and thorough questionnaires. By the time the sitter shows up, the pet owner can be relatively sure their most precious possessions will be cared for in their absence. It also allows pets to stay at home in their comfort zone and not be put under the stress of a boarding facility.

House Sitter Benefits

Benefits for travelers are pretty obvious, too. Not only do you get free accommodation in some of the most expensive destinations on Earth (many house-sitting jobs are in Western Europe and the USA), but you also get to stay in far nicer accommodations than you would on a budget-friendly vacation. Plus, you get furry cuddles—a true perk for animal lovers!

Travelers who utilize house-sitting love the idea of having a real home to stay in. It allows for an elevated level of comfort, and you get an element of cultural exchange as you get to see how locals live, what they eat, where they shop, and how they interact with neighbors. It’s a completely immersive travel experience. Plus, you meet all kinds of new local friends when you have a cute, furry friend at your side in the park.

Mutual Benefits

House-sitting comes with beautiful cultural and relational benefits. As a full-time traveler, I can seriously say that my husband and I have created true friends from our house-sitting experiences. Living in someone else’s home, exchanging traditional meals from your homeland, sharing your travel stories, and taking care of each other’s needs creates a unique bond between homeowners and pet sitters. Making new friends is definitely a win-win!

What are the downfalls of house-sitting?

While it’s an absolutely incredible exchange for some, house-sitting is not for everyone! First of all, you have to be a social person. You’re going to be waltzing into someone else’s home and essentially asking them to leave all their stuff in your care. You need to know how to make a good impression.

Plus, you have to be the kind of personality who doesn’t care to share a communal experience. While the homeowner is going to be gone for most of your trip, you’re still sitting in their chair, sleeping in their bed, and eating from their pantry. It takes a certain personality to be cool with that… on both ends.

House sitting does not work well for those who are on a tight time schedule and want to see a lot of attractions. While every homeowner is different, most won’t want you to leave the house, and especially the pets, unattended for more than a few hours. You will not be out doing city tours for 8-10 hours a day. It works best for those who have a relaxed schedule as you’ll have minimal time for sightseeing.

Also, you’re going to have to be responsible for daily tasks like feeding, bathing, and walking a pet. You may need to give medications, have chores, or need to make appointments for the animal. In summation, you will have responsibilities other than travel and sightseeing, and that might impair your ability to explore.

Who does it work for?

House-sitting opportunities work best for digital nomads or long-term travelers who are looking for a week or two of rest from the travel-hopping grind. It also works for slow travelers—those who are more interested in exploring local life than famous attractions. People who love to thoroughly investigate a place, rather than fly through multiple cities, just scratching the surface, will enjoy house-sitting. Those who feel the need to have a loaded travel plan with a new sight in every 30-minute slot will not fit the mold.

How to Become a House Sitter

Highly organized house-sitting platforms like TrustedHousesitters , Nomador , and Mindmyhouse have made the process easy. All three specialize in international house sitting. While each works a little differently, they all require an annual fee for sitters (and usually owners too), ranging from $29/year at Mindmyhouse to $129 at TrustedHousesitters. There are levels to sign up for, depending on your preferred amount of insurance, customer service, and profile promotion by the company.

Sitters fill out a detailed profile—the more information you provide the better. Part of your annual fee goes to pay for your federal background check, which will be carried out by the house-sitting site. Once uploaded, you are good to start hunting for pet-sitting jobs.

How to Get the House-Sitting Gig

As you can probably imagine, these platforms have lots of participants. However, they are not flooded. In fact, many pet owners complain that there aren’t enough sitters available. That being said, the best houses, in popular areas, will have multiple applicants, so you need to stand out. Here are a few tips to make sure you knab the best jobs!

• Answer every question in your questionnaire thoroughly with examples. Be honest. Lying about who you are and your abilities will only get you in a sticky situation later.
• Use a lively and happy tone.
• Focus your wording on cultural exchange and animal care. The purpose of house sitting is far more than getting free stays. If that is your goal, then you are in the wrong business.
• Use Grammarly, or another grammar checker, to ensure your write-ups are grammatically correct and have no spelling errors.
• Look at the platform often and save places you are interested in. Set the notifications so you will be the first to know when they open new dates.
• Read the write-ups carefully! Homeowners will often put in a keyword or phrase that they want you to reference in your application. They do this to make sure you actually read the information and didn’t just look at the pictures of their house.
• Upload tons of pictures, especially ones of you traveling, with family, or better yet, with your pets.

How to Avoid Disastrous Sittings

While most house-sitting jobs are amazing, each has the potential to be a disaster if you don’t do your homework. Lazy searchers, who don’t put in the time, are the ones who end up in less-than-ideal situations. Follow these easy tips to make sure your choices are the right matches for you!

1. Don’t get in over your head.

Just because you’re a pet lover, doesn’t mean you have the experience or expertise to care for certain animals or multiple animals at once. Some house-sitting work is pretty demanding. I have personally seen listings with chickens, horses, multiple dogs, birds, and a laundry list of daily chores. That’s very rare, but it does happen. Especially for your first few jobs, take on listings that you are sure you can handle. That means houses that aren’t too big or too fancy, pets that are healthy and don’t require daily meds, and locations that are easy to live in.

2. Read every single word.

I mean every single word! That means reading the homeowner’s write-up thoroughly, reading testimonials left by other sitters, and looking for previous last-minute cancellations by the homeowner. By reading thoroughly, you get a good idea of who you are applying to work for.

3. Watch for fanatical behavior.

There are many different levels of pet lovers. For some, their pets are more important than people, and their expectations can be quite extreme. Others are too laid-back, and may even seem borderline neglectful by your standards. This is another reason why carefully reading the information is important. Homeowners will let you know what camp they fall into just by their verbiage. Pay close attention to the tone, the demands, rules, or regulations they list, and make sure you feel comfortable with the restrictions.

4. Ensure the home fits your needs.

House sitting isn’t really about the house. Choosing a place just to avoid accommodation costs or to stay in a cool place is unwise. However, all sitters have certain needs, and those needs differ greatly. If you need great wifi for work, have allergy issues, or will need a vehicle, these are all things you need to assess while job hunting.

5. Check out the area.

The house is stunning. The cocker spaniel is the cutest thing you have ever seen in your life. The family is so sweet. That dates match up, and it’s in a country you have always wanted to explore. Sounds amazing, right? Hold up. It’s 45 minutes outside the city. There is limited public transit, and the job doesn’t include the use of a car. See where that could be a problem?

Whatever you need to be comfortable, make sure it is available in the neighborhood. This could be easy access to a vet, grocery stores, or pharmacies within walking distance, or even access to nightlife. Every traveler is different and has different needs. Make sure yours are met in the location you choose.

6. Insist on a video chat.

Most homeowners will ask to chat with you over some form of video platform or social media. They are trying to get a good feel for you. Agree to it, and if they don’t ask, you ask! Spending just a few minutes in real conversation allows you to get an idea of who you will be working with, much more so than a well-thought-out and crafted write-up.

7. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

A video chat also gives you a chance to ask all the questions you didn’t find answers to in the write-up. Make a list of your questions before your appointment, and don’t be afraid to ask. Most owners are very open and honest about their homes, pets, and situation. They want to find a good match, too, and they will have questions for you. These interviews are usually very laid-back, just a quick get-to-know-you kind of thing, so don’t be nervous.

8. Communicate the expectations of both parties.

The most important part of this whole exchange is to make sure that you understand and agree to the expectations. Every single situation will be different. If you go into a home thinking that the dog will sleep downstairs and be left alone during the day while you explore, but get there to realize that the dog sleeps with you and has never been alone for more than an hour, you’re going to be a bit sour. If the expectations of the homeowner are not to your liking, then just politely state that you don’t think this opportunity is for you and withdraw your request.

General House Sitting Tips

So, you found a good match, and you got the job. Great work! Now what? Here are a few general house-sitting tips to help you excel in the program.

1. Know the local social customs.

Is it normal to take off your shoes? Do they shake hands, bow, or kiss upon greeting? Knowing a few little things about the culture can help the initial meeting go more smoothly.

2. Get there early for a good orientation.

If you have the ability to arrive the day before the homeowner leaves (and they are on board), try to arrive early so you can get to know the home, the neighborhood, the daily flow of tasks, and the animal.

3. Pay close attention while the owners are home.

Pay close attention during this time. Ask lots of questions. Go over the house manual and make sure you understand everything. Know where the fuse box is, how the stove works, and how to turn on the shower. Make sure you understand the pet’s routine and scope out the walking route.

4. Be a good communicator.

Once the homeowner leaves, make sure to keep them updated with daily pictures, videos, and updates. Most pet owners love visual evidence that their fur babies are happy and healthy in your care.

5. Make yourself at home, but don’t be greedy.

Every homeowner I have ever sat for has insisted that I “make myself at home.” They genuinely mean it, and you should. However, be respectful of what you use. Don’t drain the hot water tank daily. Don’t use up all the pantry goods and not replace them, unless that is explicitly included in your verbal agreement. Don’t run the air conditioner full blast. Be conservative with your choices.

6. Leave it better than you found it.

Nobody wants to come home from vacation to a dirty house. Clean the place up. Have it looking spotless, and if you really want to impress, have a homecooked meal ready when they return.

7. Lean on the side of caution.

When caring for pets, or another person’s home, it’s important to realize that you may have different ideas about what is and isn’t safe. If something seems off—like a dishwasher is making a funny noise, the alarm system is acting weird, or the pet seems to be getting sick. Don’t be afraid to discuss it with the homeowner. It’s better to ask and get their opinion than to let it slide and something expensive breaks or the pet gets really sick. Err on the side of caution.

Closing Thoughts

That’s it, you guys! Those are the ins and outs of successful house-sitting. If it sounds interesting to you, try it out for your next trip. You might just find a new travel addiction!

For more interesting slow travel opportunities, check out “ Slow Travel, Embracing a More Mindful Journey .”

Considering taking on a life of travel? Take a look at “ Is the Digital Nomad Lifestyle Right for You?: Advice from a Full-Time Traveler .”

Frequently Asked Questions

House sitting is a work exchange program where travelers give their time to care for a home and pet in exchange for free accommodation and sometimes meals.

If you’re looking to travel via house sitting , check out platforms like TrustedHousesitters , Nomadora , or Mindmyhouse .

For cheap accommodation consider house-sitting jobs or work exchanges. Travel slower and see fewer destinations to cut down on transit costs, and utilize a scavenger hunt app for cheap activities!

One of the best ways to get free accommodation while traveling is to sign up for a work exchange program like pet-sitting or house-sitting !

House-sitting is a great way to travel if you enjoy slow, cultural travel . It’s not appropriate for those who want to see it all on a jam-packed itinerary!

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How to House Sit Your Way Around the World

Amy Hornsby is a freelance writer from the U.K. who writes about travel, yoga, and more. Amy has contributed to Lonely Planet, the Calvert Journal, and other publications.

House Sitting Sites

• Applying for Your First Sit

Important Things to Consider

House sitting has become increasingly popular in recent years, combining temporary accommodation, travel, and animal companionship all in one. In exchange for taking care of somebody’s house and, more often than not, pets while they are on vacation, you get to stay in their home. 

House sits can range anywhere from a few days to several months. Available worldwide, they are a fantastic way to travel to many different places; many use it as a way to slow travel, meaning you spend a lengthier time in each area and focus on more of a local experience rather than a jam-packed weekend of sightseeing. There is more to house sitting than simply free accommodation, however, and this guide can help you get started.

The best and easiest way to secure house sits is through a subscription site. There are many to choose from, depending on the location you are aiming for, your budget, and how often you want to use them. These are just a few of the most popular sites.

Trusted Housesitters

Trusted Housesitters is often at the top of the list of sites to use, although for $129 a year, it runs at one of the highest membership fees to sign up as a sitter. If you know an existing member, it’s easy enough to obtain a referral fee for a 25 percent discount, opening up a variety of available international house sits. The interface is easy to use with plenty of filters to help refine your search, the ability to build your profile, and quality support 24/7. Although international, it’s mostly useful for the U.K., Europe, and North America.

MindMyHouse

Started back in 2005, MindMyHouse was one of the very first house sitting sites. The "mom and pop" business has fewer options than others, but as membership is $20 for sitters and free for owners, it's a great option to have. The sits are mostly within Europe and the U.S., although there are more than 80 countries listed on the dropdown search. The interface is basic but easy to use, and the site remains popular within the house sitting community. 

House Sitters America

If you’re staying within the U.S., House Sitters America is arguably your best bet. The annual membership fee is $49, for which you can search nationwide with an extensive list of filter options including region and locale, house type, amenities, sit length, and type of pet. House Sitters America has been up and running for more than 12 years, and has established itself as one of the top house sitting sites for the U.S., with a huge variety of available sits.

Running on the higher end of membership fees at $89 per year, Nomador comes with the added benefit of a free trial that’s good for up to three applications. Originating in France for European house sits, it now operates globally with a focus on Europe and the Americas. 

Kiwi House Sitters, Aussie House Sitters

If you’re heading to New Zealand or Australia, these house sitting sites are recognized as some of the top in their respective countries. Members of House Sitters America will find the exact same layout and search functions on these two associated sites, which provide multiple filter options and a large choice of sits in all areas of each country.

Applying for Your First Sit 

Once you’ve signed up, it’s important to spend time on your profile. Add plenty of photos that represent who you are, and because you will likely be taking care of pets, include as many as you can of you with animals. Then, fill out the rest of your profile fully, verifying your ID through the site, and adding a description about who you are and why you want to house sit. If you have prior experience taking care of pets or houses, get a reference and add it to your profile.

Before applying for a sit, read through the details completely, making sure that you fit the requirements, which may include gardening, taking care of multiple pets, and sometimes having a car. Craft your message to the homeowner and show that you’ve read their post; ask questions, point out a common interest, outline any relevant experience you have, and mention where you are currently located. 

If the homeowner is interested, the next step is to organize a video chat, or at the very least a phone call. Housesitting is a two-way system, so it’s important that you both get a good vibe when you talk to each other. Think of this as an interview, for them and for you, and ask all the questions you have about the home, pets, your responsibilities, and the area. Trust your instincts: If there are red flags or you get an uneasy feeling during the call, don't be afraid to pass on an offer.

It’s not free accommodation: If you’re looking for a way to get free digs while you travel, this isn’t it. House sitting is an exchange and you are selected as a responsible person to take care of someone’s house and pets. This means keeping the house secure and clean, taking in mail, and treating it as you would your own place.

You must love animals: While you can find house sits that come without pets, for the most part, people are looking for someone to take care of their beloved animals. This can mean taking dogs out for daily walks, administering medicine for an elderly cat, or cleaning up bird poop—being an animal lover is paramount.

Communication is key: Stay in contact with the homeowner, even after you’ve secured the sit. Keep an open line of communication where you and the homeowners can stay up to date, share photos of the animals, and ask any questions—especially for longer sits. Be honest about anything within the house that has broken or gone wrong so that there are no surprises when they return.

Not all house sits are alike: There are many variables within house sitting—not only with the type of house and pet you may be taking care of, but what the owners are flexible on. Some welcome couples, families, and people traveling with their own pets. Others even offer payments, which is more likely to happen when you're looking after multiple pets or a garden that requires meticulous care.

Be adaptable: Be prepared for anything, whether it’s a cancellation, a change in dates, or a pandemic! Always have a backup plan and maintain communication with the homeowners so that if things change, you can talk things through.

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Where To Find Paid House Sitting Jobs

Are you looking for paid house sitting jobs?

Or are you wanting to understand a bit more of the process?

Whatever the situation, I aim to provide a little inside knowledge. 

I can give you some advice on making that dream a reality (and that will help secure one of these paid house-sitting jobs)

Table of Contents

What Is House Sitting?

So, what exactly is house sitting?

Well, the accessibility to travel is at a new height!

By this, I mean that thousands of homeowners are away from home for work or traveling themselves. 

A paid house sitter is exactly what it says on the tin!

Homeowners want respectful people to take care of their property while they are away.

They are willing to pay for the service.

How Do I Find House Sitting Jobs?

Breaking down my methods, there are some distinct categories you need to explore. 

These staple skills and knowledge will give you the best chance of getting a paid house-sitting job.

These jobs can be contested and need a bit of time to allow yourself and the strategies to flourish. 

Nothing happens overnight so do not be discouraged if it’s a bit slow to start.

I will say with persistence a paid house-sitting gig will come your way!

Try It For Free 

It might seem funny that my first recommendation is to try it for free.

This will also help you know if it suits you before investing too much time in finding the ideal house!

Close family or friends’ houses are a perfect way to get some initial experience.

You might think this is house minding in a place you have been but treat it like a professional job.

Ask them exactly what they want to be done and forget you even know them.

This immersion will give you peace of mind you are willing and able to do this for a specific period. 

If it involves child care or pet sitting then you know you have covered all the basics.

Before your paid international house sitter jobs. 

Exploring Current Online Resources & Communities 

There are many communities and organizations that you can engage with…

Further in this guide, I have listed a few helpful websites.

I will say though, as a disclaimer that generally these are not for paid house-sitting jobs.

They are still great matching services and a way to be introduced to the community.

These are websites with a monthly membership fee or online subscription.

Be prepared to invest a bit of money at the start.

Marketing Yourself

Have you explored the available resources?

Joined some of the online job sites and organizations?

It is time for self-marketing in your online profile. 

This is very like social media or a CV when applying for any type of job.

Marketing yourself is a skill that needs to be perfected like anything else.

I would research and look at examples of people in a successful house-sitting role.

Think about your spelling and general profile statement.

Include inviting pictures and previous client feedback.

Be clear in your availability and sell your skills. Think of what property owners must as you may even be one yourself.

Experience & Skills

If you haven’t got house sitting experience think of the transferable skills you may have.

Have you done any housekeeping services, administration, or working with animals?

This can always be added to the marketing yourself.

Maintaining Leads & Clear Communication

Clear communication and follow-up with potential employers is a cat and mouse game.

I recommend being honest and to the point especially with a personal travel plan.

Having clear communication enables the best working relationship.

It also irons out any house rules or more costs.

A trustworthy house is a perfect house and this is can be established before you start so it’s not too late.

Where To Find Paid House Sitting Jobs?

All that information is great, but where do I find a paid housesitting opportunity?

We now have more in-depth knowledge of the processes behind getting a job.

So now let us discover where to find them!

Door Knocking

Door knocking in a neighborhood you want to work in is a good place to start.

Do not be afraid to be upfront and introduce yourself. 

This confidence and the face-to-face meeting will break down any barriers.

Helping build trust in any potential employees.

Flyers & Contact Cards

Making a flyer is a quick and sure way to get your information out there.

Make it a day of walking with music!

Ensure the design is minimalistic and to the point. Don’t write for any lengthy amount of time and use lighter colors. 

Put your name and contact information in large font letters and research similar ones to get an idea.

You could even hire a designer if you have extra cash.

Churches & Community Social Clubs 

Any community or institution with lots of people is great.

Also, think about the demographic you are targeting. 

Generally middle-aged or older people will have houses… And the money to pay for looking after them.

Churches and social clubs are great to target because they consist of these aged and types of people.

Vets & Petshops

The people that visit vets and petshops might need a to find a house sitter.

I would reccomend putting leaflets in these businesses.

Airports & Taxi Services

Airports are full of traveling types who likely need their home being looked after. 

Consider standing outside and approaching people coming out…

Rather than the people rushing in.

You could find someone going away on business who didn’t know they wanted a house sitter!

Putting leaflets or cards in a few taxis that go to the airport is another way to get engagement. 

Client Referrals

When you land clients make sure you have a prepared feedback form or review from them to use as marketing.

You can use this feedback as evidence and give them as a referral to any potential customer.

Get A Background Check

Having a police check is less embarrassing if a client requests one.

It also lets them know you are professional and understand trust and safety. 

This is providing you do not have a criminal record.

Make A Professional Facebook & Linkedin Business Profile

Facebook and Linkedin are some of the biggest social networking sites.

These 2 alone have billions of profiles and potential customers.

Why not get ahead of the game and make a professional business page? 

Share your profile and build it up.

You should have professional online conduct as well as personal.

Think about joining groups that are likely full of house owners.

Email Alerts

Email alerts from subscriptions or job sites enable you to act fast.

By acting fast you can get ahead of anyone else trying to apply. 

Make a separate email for house sitting.

This is so they don’t get missed and you can compile your information in 1 account.

See how to set up the alerts here.

Do You Want A House Sitting Job?

Before focusing on where and how to find a paid house-sitting job, I ask you to think about whether you want it. 

This is very subjective and down to personal situations but ask yourself the below.

• Are there any health concerns that might hinder you?
• Are you okay with the possibility of being isolated in another culture?
• Are you okay with the responsibility and trust in looking after a home or care of pets for someone? 
• There might be little control over what country you house-sit in.
•  It might not be luxury accommodation or culture you wanted to be in
• Can you commit to a time when you get a house-sitting opportunity?

This will save you wasting time trying to find a potential house and job!

Online Resources For House Sitting

Below is a list of house sitting websites where you can for house-sitting assignments. I would suggest visiting all these and picking the ones most suitable for your situation. 

Some of these aren’t for paid house sitting jobs but are still great resources for building your references

I know that Trusted House Sitters and Mind a Home don’t provide paid jobs.

However, rover is catered more to paid jobs so be sure to sign up there!

https://www.rover.com/house-sitting/

https://www.trustedhousesitters.com

https://www.aussiehousesitters.com.au

https://www.housesittersamerica.com

https://www.housecarers.com

https://mindahome.com.au

https://www.happyhousesitters.com.au

https://www.kiwihousesitters.co.nz

https://www.mindmyhouse.com

I hope this has helped provide information on obtaining a paid house-sitting job.

Happy hunting!

Author: Britt I am Britt I have been house sitting and pet sitting for the past 7 years. I have cared for 25 dogs, 35 cats 1 turtle, and 1 rabbit over 80+ houses in 15 countries.

The opportunity to experience different homes, cultures, and communities has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Through house sitting platforms like Aussie House Sitters, and Trusted House Sitters, I’ve connected with homeowners seeking reliable sitters. This unique way of living has not only allowed me to save money on accommodation but also offered a plethora of cultural exchange opportunities.

Being a member of these platforms has not only broadened my horizons but also opened doors to short and long-term house-sitting jobs. I’ve found joy in providing excellent pet care and ensuring the home is well maintained.

I get many questions about how to get start as a house sitters, so if you have any questions please reach out! I want everyone to enjoy this incredible lifestyle as well! You can read more about about Jay and me here! Or connect with me on Facebook or in our house sitting community on Facebook

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Baby sitting

Hi Im looking nanny job here in Moscow i have almost 4 years experience if any who interested to hire nanny its my pleasure to work on your family !Thank you!

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Independent Travel to Moscow and St. Petersburg

My wife and I have traveled independently to many European countries and, after reading many of the comments in this forum, feel like we may be able to do so in Moscow and St. Petersburg as well, although we feel somewhat less comfortable than the other countries where we have traveled in Europe.

My biggest question is how much we will miss by visiting the main sites without a tour guide. In the other European countries we have visited on our own we have been comfortable and satisfied with the level of knowledge we have gained by studying and visiting on our own, although we believe a tour guide or tour company in any country would normally be able to provide greater insight than visiting a site on our own, but about in Moscow and St. Petersburg?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Unless you speak at least some Russian and read the alphabet it would be difficult without a guide. Very few signs in English especially in Moscow. Also not too many people speak English there.

I visited St Petersburg last Autumn for a protracted period , and did not find it anymore daunting than any other European city . As Ilja says , learning the Cyrillic alphabet is a big plus . I also found that it was fairly easy to grasp . It will , among other things , enable you to read signs with relative ease . I would answer the main part or your question ( about tour guides ) thus - I am not enamored of tour guides or tours. While I only use a tour under duress ( A sites rules prohibiting an independent visit - ie Glasgow School of Art , Municipal House in Prague , etc ) . Doing your own preparation and homework is the best way , in my opinion . My wife and I ventured through St Petersburg with nary a concern ,and made two day trips outside of the central district ( one was twenty five miles away , and no English speakers in sight ) Figuring out the logistical details , did not present any difficulties . While I never use tours , I am an inveterate eavesdropper , have done so many times , and find , that on balance , the information that they impart is fairly elementary . If you want greater detail , they are unlikely to supply it . I also prefer to go at my own pace , not being rushed and being able to dwell on things that most other visitors barely give a passing glance . If you are interested , let me know . I would be happy to provide you with information that will enable you to travel independently

Thank you, Steven. I am encouraged by your comments and feel the same way you do about tour groups. We are very much willing to prepare in advance and learn the basics of the Cyrillic alphabet to help us have a better experience.

I would be very interested in learning more about your experience in Russia and receiving any additional information you can provide on independent travel there, starting perhaps with obtaining the visa.

I am not opposed to hiring a private or small group guide for a specific site or for a day trip outside St Petersburg and Moscow, but, like you said, I much prefer the freedom of staying at places as long or short as I want and seeing the sites that interest me most. For example, neither my wife nor I are big into shopping, yet most tour itineraries leave afternoon time for just that. Not interested!

Please provide whatever you may feel would be helpful for us.

Russ , I see you are quite near San Francisco - you can start by looking at the VISA procedure , it's fairly straightforward . Since there is a consulate in San Francisco - look here http://www.consulrussia.org/eng/visa-sub1.html

And here - http://ils-usa.com/main.php

Having always traveled independently, we thought we could do a better job than any tour. How misguided (pun intended) we were. Now that we have had the experience of having someone native to the area walk us around and explain things through a personal perspective we realize how much we missed. For St. Petersburg I highly recommend http://www.peterswalk.com/tours.html . This is not a traditional guided tour, but an opportunity to receive some orientation to the area as well as insight into the "Russian soul". I think if you did this upon arrival the rest of your time would be much more meaningful. We really liked the http://www.pushka-inn.com . The location is superb (just around the corner from the Hermitage square), the rooms lovely, the included breakfast at the restaurant next door ample and overall an excellent value. We used this company to get our visa: https://www.passportvisasexpress.com/site/san_francisco_customer_service Note that it costs about the same for a 3-year visa as a one-year, and you never know if you might want to return within that more extended window of time. It is not cheap, so factor that into your planning.

If you like traveling without a guide in other countries and find this satisfying, the same will be true in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Of course it's not either/or - you can certainly take a guided walk or boat tour, for instance.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of learning Cyrillic if you're going on your own. The book I used was Teach Yourself Beginner's Russian Script, which was great. It breaks down the alphabet into letters that are the same as English, letters that look the same but are pronounced differently, etc. It's out of print, but you can get used copies on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-Beginners-Russian-Script/dp/0071419861/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1459701143&sr=8-2&keywords=teach+yourself+russian+script

Russia is indeed a bit more "foreign" than say, Italy. However, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, I found enough English to be able to get by. Many restaurants had English menus and/or English speaking staff, for instance. This was most emphatically not true in Vladimir and Suzdal (two cities in the Golden Ring outside Moscow). I went with my sister, a Russian speaker, and if she hadn't been there, I would have been in big trouble. So, if you want to see places outside these two big cities, use a guided tour (even if just for that part). Also, Moscow and St. Petersburg are huge cities. Coming from New York, I wasn't intimidated, but those not used to a megacity may not be so cavalier (even I found them overwhelming at times, especially Moscow).

I found both Lonely Planet and Rough Guide to be helpful, and both to have various errors. Look at both, buy whichever one has a more recent edition, and then be prepared to have to discard some of the advice therein. Also, these places change more quickly than places in Western Europe. Be very careful of outdated advice. For instance, I was there in 2001 and 2010, so I won't give you any specifics on getting a visa - that changes constantly.

Just as a teaser, two things I saw and loved that I doubt would be included in any escorted tour are the Gorky House in Moscow (an Art Nouveau wonder) and the Sheremyetov Palace in St. Petersburg (it's now a museum of musical instruments, and the decor is amazing, particularly in the Etruscan Room).

Thanks for all the good advice. Any additional thoughts are welcomed.

One of history's seminal works pertaining to Russian history and culture and a MUST for anyone contemplating a visit or simply interested , is this fine work from 1980 - http://www.amazon.com/Land-Firebird-The-Beauty-Russia/dp/096441841X

This is about you and not about Petersburg. Do you like guided tours? We don't and didn't find that a guide added to our experience in China where we did hire private guides mostly for the logistics; it was easy to have someone drive us places. But once at a site, we didn't need the guide. I felt the same way about our 9 nights in Petersburg. We did hire a guide for the trip to the Catherine Palace again for the ease of logistics for us Olds. Here is our visit: https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2016/01/23/an-easy-trip-to-the-catherine-palace/ There are also snapshots of the Church on Spilled Blood in this photo journal. Having someone pick us up at the apartment and get us in without line ups and shepherd us through the palace steering clear of the tour groups was lovely. But we didn't need commentary because we can read and prepare.

You certainly don't need a guide for the Hermitage (we spent 4 days there), the Russian Museum, the Kazan Cathedral or Church on Spilled Blood or the Faberge Museum. We enjoyed a number of self guided walking tours including a couple from Rick Steves guidebooks. We took the canal cruise suggested by RS that had an English commentator. I would not take one without that as you will be totally clueless. The commentator was not all that good but at least we had some idea what we were seeing. So for people like us who like to do our own thing and can read a guidebook and don't particularly like to be led about, a tour is not needed. If you enjoy tour groups, then go for it. Petersburg is easy to negotiate. It helps if you can read the cyrillic alphabet and it is also useful to have the google translate ap on your phone. We found ourselves translating packages in grocery stores with it and the occasional museum sign or menu. I have one food I need to avoid and so it was handy to have the translator to talk with waiters (I could either show them the sentence, or play it for them or play it to myself and then repeat it to the waiter -- that all worked well)

Dear Russ, I cannot help you with Moscow, but about four years ago, my husband and I went to St Petersburg on our own. But, we did use a private guide for 4 half days. We both feel that our guide absolutely made our trip (we stayed 6 or 7 nights). We used a company owned by Tatyana Chiurikova, www.tour-stpetersburg.com I cannot say enough good things about her and our experience. I emailed her and we worked out a schedule/ sights that was tailored to our interests. She also offered some recommendations, which we took. The guide will meet you at your hotel. And frequently, at certain places, with the guide, we were able to skip the long entrance lines. We had an half day driving tour of the city (car, driver, & guide). You are taken to & go in places such as Peter & Paul Fortress, some of the cathedrals, etc. We had a half day with the guide at the Hermitage which ensured that we would see the major sights there. And, of course, you can stay after your guide leaves or return another day. Also, we had the guide for Peterhof (a must & go by boat) and Catherine's Palace. I hope that you will go to the website. As I said, our guide made our trip. I am positive that we would have missed quite a bit on our own everyday. And I'm sure we would have wasted a lot of time trying to get to various place.This was the best of both worlds, a guide where needed and plenty of time on our own. Whatever you do, I'm sure that you will love St Petersburg! Ashley

I am curious about the lines as we encountered no lines on our trip -- but it was in September. We got tickets for the Hermitage at machines and skipped those lines and our guide for the Catherine Palace which was our only guided experience (as noted before, chosen for the logistics of getting there) had arranged tickets and we didn't have a line, but then we also didn't see lines. We did not find lines at any other site.

Both Moscow and St Petersburg I've done on my own, that is together with the Dear Partner. I can't remember any problem getting where we wanted to go. The Metro systems are well signed, and with a little exercise and patience you can recognize the station names. With a good map and a good guide - we had the Rough Guides - that part of the logistics is solved. The language is a major problem, but the usual tricks of pointing, looking helpless, and making a joke of it all do wonders. I would hate to be led by a guide, but for others it is a comfortable thought.

We also did both cities on our own. I found the DK Eyewitness guide for Moscow has the best map. I used the one from our library (kept the book at home). Took the smaller RS book for St. Petersburg ( his book on northern cities). His map and restaurant ideas were all good. We also downloaded the Google maps in our Android Samsung tablets/phones for both cities and then could get directions to any place we typed in. The blue ball guided us everywhere. I'm sure we missed somethings by not having a guide, but we just enjoy walking around and getting a sense of a place. If you like art, The Hermitage is great. We went 3 times and still missed alot. In St. Peterburg we stayed at the 3 Mosta which we loved (quite and not far from the Church of Spilled Blood.) We also loved the Georgian food in both cities. There's a great Georgian restaurant near the 3 Mosta hotel. We're now in Belarus- very scenic. Enjoy your trip!!

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