House Sitting Jobs For Retirees (Simple Steps to Getting Started)

If you dream of retiring and traveling, keep reading to learn how you can make it a reality. House sitters are needed globally, and they offer a fantastic way to reduce travel costs while staying in beautiful homes.

I run a Facebook group for housesitters and homeowners to connect. With over 130,000 members, I can see that the age demographic swings to the retiree bracket, with over 68% of members over 65 years old. So no one is too old for house sitting—retiree age is perfect for it!

Below, I’ll outline house sitting, how it can benefit you, steps to getting started, success stories from other retirees, and simple resources for you to follow.

What Is House Sitting?

House sitting is the perfect way to live rent-free, meaning you can spend your hard-earned dollars how you like! Thousands of homeowners are away from home for work or traveling themselves. These homeowners want respectful people to take care of their property and/or pet care while away. 

Some Tasks Required of House Sitters

• Living in the house like you would your own
• List of expected everyday tasks to be completed and other agreed rules
• Reporting and communication with the owners
• Taking care of animals if they are pet owners
• Respectful and appropriate behavior conduct

So now that we understand the gist of house sitting let’s explore why you can benefit from it and even secure a professional housesitter job!

Why Are House Sitters Is Great For Retirees?

Below, I have compiled the top reasons why retirees who still want to travel will benefit from being housesitters. From cheap accommodation to making lifelong friends, I hope that at least one benefit of house-sitting jumps out at you!

Imagine you want to retire in Mexico but don’t want to sell your house and rent down there. You can just house sit! There is no need to furnish a whole house or deal with bills!

Travel Experiences

You don’t want to have travel regrets, as retiring is meant to be where the fun begins! Fantasize right now about the places you’d dreamed of traveling but didn’t have the time. 

Was it beautiful Italy? Or back to San Francisco because you can’t remember the time you spend there in the 1960s! The awaiting experiences are endless and are just starting for you!

Affordability Of Travel Costs

Retiring is a stressful process that requires extensive financial planning or even budgeting. In the back of one’s mind, there is always the question, ” Did I put enough away?” or ” How can I further help my children?”

Accommodation costs are the largest chunk of the budget, and thousands of dollars can go into these costs, especially if you are visiting more than one place on a trip.

Housesitters to homeowners live rent-free, so the cost of accommodation is null. You won’t have to worry, and you can spend your precious money on other things you love.

You can also make money by house sitting! See how much to charge for house and pet sitting and you’ll have some pocket money to explore these incredible new locations!

Security & Peace Of Mind

The world can be louder and faster than it was, and you don’t want to feel stressed or even afraid in a new place. Retiree house carers can take it at their own pace in quiet solitude if that’s what they want. 

Any unfortunate health problems can also be managed as you would in your private space. I don’t want to judge! Maybe you want to get on your dancing shoes and salsa in South America!

Pet Loving Globe Trotters

Did you live your life with a furry companion, but they are now at rest, and it was too much work to commit again? Pet sitters go hand in hand with house sitting without the full responsibility of owning another animal.

Having a companion on your travels makes life so much sweeter, and just imagine intermittent dog care while walking around a new city.

Relationship Building

Our last point is forming new friendships. Sometimes, we can forget that relationships develop positive reinforcement within ourselves. It’s nice knowing you are helping someone and are also helping when you need it. 

Who knows, you might even find a house-sitting opportunity where you can swap with your own home. It’s never too late to get to know a new culture.

What Is The Average Time For A House Sitting Arrangement?

So you might be asking how long I have to stay? It’s completely up to you and the agreement with the homeowners. Don’t worry about having to stay for a longer period if you have other things to do!  There is always a variety of long-term and short-term house-sitting opportunities.

How To Become Retiree House Sitters

Right, are you now wondering how to get into house-sitting? Don’t worry—below, I have compiled some steps to get you on the right track.

1. Try It & Get Some Experience

I am sure you have babysat the grandkids or housesat for some friends throughout your life. 

The first step is to go out there and try it again. Is it comfortable for you, and can you easily manage the responsibility of being away from home? Ask your children, friends, social club, or even your church if anyone needs a housesitter.

2. Join A Community Or Organisation

The second stage is building relationships with an official house-sitting platform. This is usually done through online resources, usually through your email address on a website. 

Don’t be dismayed if you aren’t too familiar with using the Internet. I promise you it’s easier than you think, and I have made follow-along videos for all the resources.

3. Work On Your Profile

You will need to create a profile when you have made an account with a house-sitting organization or some house-sitting websites. This is very similar to Facebook, where an online identity is generated and you can advertise yourself.

If it sounds complicated, then I assure you it’s not. Just be honest with what you want and your availability, throw in a few pictures of your experience, and you are away! Most of these websites will help you create the profile, so you just need to type information into the right boxes. 

4. Know Your Limitations

IRetirees make up a huge percentage of all housesitters. You just need to know your limitations and apply for house sits that work within them. If the homeowner has a puppy that requires a 30-minute walk and that is beyond your capacity, apply for a different position. Maybe they are after an experienced gardener, and you could outline that in your application.

Success Stories Of Retiree House Sitters 

Discover how retirees are turning their dreams of travel and adventure into reality through house-sitting. This section shares inspiring success stories from retirees who have embraced this lifestyle, offering valuable insights and practical tips.

Learn how they’ve navigated their new way of life, managed travel expenses, and found rewarding experiences while house-sitting around the world. These stories will provide motivation and guidance on how you, too, can embark on a fulfilling journey as a retiree house sitter.

Cathy is a 70-year-old retiree from Florida; read her story

Els is a 54 year old retiree from The Nethers: read her story

Tony and Marje are retirees from Montreal; read their story

Susan and Gordon are retirees from Australia; read their story

Beth and Mark are retirees from Atlanta, USA; read their story

Are You Interested in Trying House Sitting?

Have we got you excited about house-sitting? We love sharing our experiences and teaching others how to become house-sitters and start their journeys. 

So, if you need help starting your house-sitting journey, see my resources here, and don’t hesitate to contact me and ask me any questions.