Are you curious about house sitting trends and statistics in 2024? Whether you’re considering becoming a house sitter or looking to hire one, understanding the latest insights can be invaluable.
With house sitting on the rise, reliable data is hard to come by, so we conducted a survey within an active community of over 125,000 homeowners and house sitters to shed light on this growing trend.
Read on as we explore key questions and answers, starting with what homeowners want to know and followed by insights from the housesitters themselves.
Table of Contents
44% Of Homeowners Find Sitters Through Online Platforms
We received a few different answers when we asked homeowners how they find new house sitters.
44% of the homeowners said they find new house sitters on house-sitting websites.
Then, 19% of people said they use word of mouth to find new sitters, and another 19% said they use groups to find sitters.
About 12% of homeowners find sitters in groups, and about 6% find potential house sitters through local advertising.
51% Of Homeowners Will Only Hire Sitters With References
We asked homeowners if they think references are necessary, and over half agreed that references are mandatory.
The second most popular answer was, “I like to give beginners a chance with 38%.
Then people said no, making up 11% of the votes. Then 11% said they don’t mind if you have references or don’t.
We received some interesting comments from homeowners; we have listed some below.
Many people need to know they can trust a pet sitter because they love their pets. Pet sitters must understand pets’ conditions and be able to provide proper pet care.
Many people thought it was essential to give newbies a chance. A few people couldn’t imagine letting beginners watch their homes and pets. However, every sitter starts as a beginner.
Some people hired newbies with excellent results. Others will never hire someone without references again. Fortunately, sitters can provide character references until they are more experienced.
40% of Homeowners Find It Challenging to Find the Right Pet Sitter
There were a few challenges when hiring sitters. Most pet parents struggled to find a sitter with the right skills for their animals, with over 40% of the votes.
In the second place, 30% of voters struggled to find the right sitter for their house. It can be tough to trust someone with your home.
20% found it challenging to find someone who can maintain the garden. They also worried about the sitter’s ability to recycle properly. Since our world increasingly values sustainability, more homeowners will follow these practices.
10% said it was hard to find a sitter in their area. This is especially true for those who live rurally or in small towns.
Handover Questions for a Homeowners
We always recommend that you leave a detailed handover for your house sitters. That way, the house sitter will have all the necessary information to exceed your expectations. You can use this pet sitter checklist template to ensure you have included all the relevant information for your sitter.
Homeowners Worry About A Variety Of Things While Traveling
When pet owners go on vacation, they worry about their pets’ health and happiness. Owners of livestock often have even more concerns. It’s hard to trust a stranger with pet sitting.
Some stress about house and travel insurance. Others just hope they return to a well-maintained home. House owners who have gardens and yards worry about that. Can the sitter properly maintain their property?
Some travelers can embrace the vacation. Their biggest worries are finding wine and making sure they don’t spend too much money on luxury!
46% of House Owners Hired A Sitter Twice in 2023
We asked homeowners how many times they hired a sitter in 2023.
46.2% of the homeowners had hired pet sitters twice in 2022, but 23.1% had yet to hire a house sitter.
15% of homeowners had hired a house sitter once or three times.
As house-sitting becomes more popular, there will be more opportunities each year.
43% of House Sitters Sit Part-Time
We asked house sitters if they sit part-time, full-time, or only on vacation.
The majority of house sitters, 43 % house-sit part-time
The second most popular answer was for a vacation, which comprised 32% of the vote. They will house-sit for a week here and there.
Around 23% of house sitters sit full-time.
44% of House Sitters Find House Sits on House Sitting Sites
We asked housesitters how they find new house-sitting opportunities. House-sitting sites were the most popular option, with 44%.
About 24% of respondents agreed they find sits through word of mouth.
The most popular option was within this particular community of 130,000 homeowners and house sitters; it received 20.6% of the vote. Then, 9.5% of respondents used other groups.
3% still used traditional marketing, such as flyers and mailings.
46% of House Sitters House Sit Abroad
When we asked how many people do international house sits.
That was nearly 54% of the respondents plan to start sitting internationally.
Then 46% of the respondents said they do sit internationally.
68% of House Sitters Have Started Sitting Since COVID
We asked house sitters if they had taken a break during COVID and returned to house sitting.
36% of respondents had already started house-sitting again after COVID
28.6% of respondents have not started house-sitting again since COVID-19, and 32% didn’t even start house-sitting until after COVID-19.
Since more people are working remotely, more people can house-sit. It’s a great way to make extra money while traveling without giving up your day job!
37% of Sitters Plan To Sit 1-3 Times in 2024
We asked house sitters how many house sits they plan to do in 2024.
37% of voters plan to do 1-3 house sits.
25% of voters plan to do 4-6 house sits.
17% of voters plan to do 7-10 house sits.
8.5% of voters plan to do 11-15 house sits.
5.75% plans to do 26-30 sits
5.75% plans to do over 31 house sits.
1.5% aren’t if they’re ready yet this year.
That means 98.5% of house sitters plan to do at least one sit this year.
38% of House Sitters Struggle to Find New House Sits
We asked house sitters about their biggest challenges.
The top challenge is finding new sits. 38%, agree that finding new sits is a challenge.
Communication can help house owners and sitters find a good match. Open communication makes it easier to determine whether to work together.
Second place was a tie. 23% thought that moving around was a challenge. 23% felt that it was hard to leave pets.
6% of voters have found it hard to find house-sitting assignments without pets. We have found that these assignments are more common in places where people have second homes.
4% found it difficult to find house-sit opportunities where they could bring their dogs with them, and 4% found it hard to deal with pet illness.
86% of House Sitters Loved House Sitting In Europe Most
We also asked about their favorite geographic location for house sitting.
41.4% of the respondents voted for Europe.
Second place was a tie between North America and Greece. They each received nearly 14% of the vote.
Third place was also a tie between Ireland and the UK. They each received 10% of the vote.
Two people voted for Asia, making up 7% of the vote.
If you pay attention, you’ll notice that many of these answers were from different parts of Europe. House owners in Europe should be able to find housesitters pretty easily!
House sitters may want to find opportunities to sit in less popular places. Because of less competition, these places will be easier to find opportunities in. While many sitters go to Western Europe, not as many go to the Middle East or South Africa.
Fortunately, you’ll be able to find a good opportunity in most places as house sitting becomes more popular.
House sitting may be a rapidly growing industry, but it’s still evolving with plenty of potential. As more people explore this arrangement’s benefits, homeowners and sitters have questions about what lies ahead. For those starting out, understanding what homeowners look for in a reliable sitter can be essential.
Likewise, homeowners are often curious about the individuals entrusted with their homes and pets. One thing is sure—the world of house-sitting is only getting more popular, bringing new opportunities and experiences for everyone involved!
Need Help Getting Started With 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.
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.
