Wondering what a house sitter job description involves? House sitters main duties are to care for homeowners’ properties and/ or animals in their absence. This is done in return for free accommodation, utilities, and sometimes even income – should it be agreed upon.
Keep reading to learn the detailed description of being a house sitter and the duties and responsibilities the job entails one to carry out and have.
Table of Contents
Overview of a House Sitter’s Job Description
In a house sitting role, owners will typically entrust you to carry out basic duties such as cleaning and maintenance services, to keep their homes operational for a stated period of time.
Contacting the homeowner promptly in case of an emergency and mitigating any issues that arise are also key elements of the role. To find deisrable house sitting assignments you need to look at some of the top house sitting platforms, here you may find penthouse apartments, beach front villas and mountain chalets to looks after.
Duties Of A House Sitter
A house sitter has a wide range of duties that include :
– Occupying the house and monitoring surveillance, alarm systems, lighting, and locks
– Staying in contact with the homeowner and reporting any unusual activity immediately
– Taking care of pets who live in the home and watering the plants
– Cleaning the home regularly to keep it in good condition
– Providing basic home maintenance services such as changing light bulbs and checking appliances to ensure they are in working condition.
Requirements To Be A House Sitter
The following can help you to become an in-demand housesitter:
– Passing a criminal background check
– Having proven house sitting experience in the past
– Excellent communication skills and ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
– Honesty and reliability
Skills House Sitters Need
House Sitters also need to be equipped with the following skills in order to be successful in their assignments:
Responsibility Is Your First Priority
Being responsible is an obvious requirement for securing and being successful in a housesitting job. This is because housesitters are in charge of caring for someone else’s home and pets while owners are away.
Being Self-Sufficient
Being self-sufficient is necessary for house sitters to be able to take care of owners’ homes and pets without needing to call someone for help.
Self-sufficiency is also beneficial as it allows you to independently take care and react to problems that may arise out of the blue.
Keeping Attention To Every Detail
This is another skill that requires you to notice the smallest changes in the home’s environment.
This can then lead to you reacting accordingly and solving any issues that may arise in a timely manner.
Being An Active Listener
A house-sitting job may need you to care for pets or homes for a long period of time.
Active listening can help you better understand the needs of the pet or home as soon as they arise so that you can react accordingly.
Adapting To Circumstances
This is an essential skill to build your trust and successfully cater to the homeowners’ needs.
As a house sitter, you may need to adapt to different situations, by changing your plans and being flexible based on the homeowners’ circumstances and within short notice.
Being Self-Sufficient
Being self-sufficient is necessary for house sitters to be able to take care of owners’ homes and pets without needing to call someone for help.
Self-sufficiency is also beneficial as it allows you to independently take care and react to problems that may arise out of the blue.
Defining Expectations Before Taking Up House Sitting
By defining and communicating your expectations in advance, you can minimize almost all unwanted situations- except for the most unexpected ones.
A written house agreement can work wonders to clearly define the expectations of the assignment, and prevent miscommunication from both ends.
This does not need to involve a legal house-sitting contract.
Just a list of duties, responsibilities, and expectations should suffice.
Recent Trends in House Sitting
There are specific trends that influence how housesitters work.
It would be best if you ideally kept up-to-date with these developments to keep your skills relevant and navigate the competitive nature of the workforce.
Increased Movement In The Next Decade
The next decade is predicted to see more movement as people move around the country in search of better opportunities.
Hence, housesitters will be in high demand, as people may be looking for services when moving.
House sitters can take advantage of this trend by becoming certified in specific areas such as pet care or maintenance to become more attractive to potential clients.
Early Retirement
As people live longer, they also retire earlier.
This may lead to an increased demand for house sitting services as retirees will be after people that can watch their homes while they are away.
Becoming experts in home security and maintenance tasks can be beneficial for housesitters to capitalize on this trend.
Furthermore, developing relationships with local businesses and professionals may lead to referrals and additional business.
Increased Demand For Pet Care
There is a growing demand for pet care services as the economy continues to improve.
As people work longer hours, they do not have the time to take care of. their pets.
Becoming certified in pet care may allow house sitters to capitalize on this trend.
As they will be able to offer a valuable service to homeowners looking for someone to take care of their pets while they are away.
What’s The Work Environment Like?
House sitters work in someone else’s home, so they must be comfortable being by themselves for long periods of time.
Furthermore, because they tend to work on a freelance basis, they may have several clients at one time or may work for a single family for a long period of time.
Working flexible hours, and ensuring they are available when the homeowners are away is necessary.
Handling last-minute requests to accommodate any change in homeowners’ travel plans can also be extremely beneficial.
Advancing In House Sitting
Developing the in-demand skills of a house sitter will help you advance.
Some of these skills include;
Pool Maintenance
Garden Maintenance
Indoor Plant Care
Animals Care
Senior Animal Care
Experience With Farm Animals
This will not only show potential clients that you are serious about your work but can also be helpful when looking for new clients.
Another way to advance in house sitting can be to specialize.
Specializing in a particular area such as caring for senior animals or a specific location can make you more attractive to potential clients, as they trust you can handle their needs.
The role of a house sitter boils down to maintaining the safety of the location and allowing the peace of mind of the homeowners’.
By being honest, reliable, and having a written agreement, you can excel in your housesitting role in no time.
Author: Britt
I am Britt. I have been house-sitting and pet-sitting for the past seven years. I have cared for 25 dogs, 35 cats, one turtle, and one rabbit over 80+ houses in 15 countries.
The opportunity to experience different homes, cultures, and communities has been extraordinary.
I’ve connected with homeowners seeking reliable sitters through house-sitting platforms like Aussie House Sitters and Trusted House Sitters. This unique way of living has allowed me to save money on accommodation, explore new cultures, and meet new people.
Being a member of these platforms has broadened my horizons and 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 start as a housesitter, so please reach out if you have any questions! I want everyone to enjoy this incredible lifestyle as well!
You can read more about Jay and me here!
Or connect with me on Facebook or in our house-sitting community on Facebook.
