If you want to get into full-time house sitting, you might want to book some long-term gigs. But competition can be fierce for these types of sites.
So below outlines how we find and land lots of long-term sits! So you don’t have to worry about packing, cleaning, and moving every week!
Table of Contents
What Is A Long-Term House Sit?
Generally, a short-term house sit is between 1-30 days.
The medium-term house sits are between 1-6 months.
The long-term house sits are for 6 or more months.
Different kinds of house sitting are good for different kinds of people. If you are interested in long-term sitting opportunities, keep reading to learn more!
What Are The Benefits Of Medium And Long-Term House Sits?
Many house sitters prefer longer jobs because it decreases the stress of moving in and out of a home. If you sit at a different house every week, you’ll constantly be packing and unpacking.
If you stay at one house for a full month, you don’t have to worry about packing up as often.
Besides packing, you also have a lot of other duties every time you go to a new house.
For instance, you’ll need to talk to the homeowners to understand the expectations. You’ll also need to become familiar with the home and get into a routine.
While these tasks aren’t usually time-consuming, they can add a lot of stress. Often, it takes a full week to feel completely comfortable in a new home.
When you only have to do this a few times a year, you may enjoy the digital nomad life more fully.
If you want to move somewhere far away, house sitting is a great way to become familiar with that area. This will also prevent you from moving somewhere and regretting it.
How To Find Medium And Long-Term House Sits?
You might notice that most job postings are for people who need someone in their home for just a week.
Fortunately, there are many ways to find these listings.
Find A Good House Sitting Platform
A good house-sitting platform will help you find the ideal house sits. You may need to pay a service fee, but it may be well worth it.
Set up a profile with your experience and photos and start looking for listings. Just remember once you start pet and house sitting you should go back and update your house sitting profile as you go.
Filter Your Search
Most house-sitting websites have filters on the search function. You can use these to your advantage.
You can choose certain travel dates or appealing locations. You can also choose specific lengths of time.
If you’re not interested in short-term house sits, then don’t even look at them!
This is how you apply then filters on Trusted House Sitters to find long-term sits.
Search Expat Facebook Groups
There are Facebook groups for everything, including groups of ex-pats in every part of the world.
A lot of these groups have opportunities for long-term house sits. As ex-pats often get 1-2 months to go home and therefore need house/pet care services.
You can also look for groups about the communities you hope to visit. Some people will post ads looking for locals to help out, but would accept help from a traveler, too.
The community groups also help you to live like a local. You’ll learn all the insider knowledge about any city you live in.
Travel bloggers also have many Facebook groups. These are great places to find tips for living a travel lifestyle.
Find Luxury Homes
Get your name into the world of luxury homeowners.
This will increase your chances of finding long-term accommodation.
Many people with second homes prefer a long-term house sitter to stay in their home. M
ost of these people have friends who also need a long-term house sitter.
By getting your name out there, you can find long-term accommodation.
Build Your Profile
No matter what kind of job you’re looking for, you want an impressive profile.
Highlight your skills and experience. Proofread and edit your information so you sound professional and responsible.
Choose your photos wisely. You want people to take you seriously, but want to show your pet-loving side.
If you can share reviews from previous clients, do it! These testimonials will encourage clients to book you.
In addition to positive reviews, word of mouth is a great way to get jobs. By collecting references, you’ll have a list of people who want to book you.
Be Ready For Anything
Some people will want to get in touch with you quickly. Always be prepared for a short-notice interview!
They may ask you plenty of questions. This shouldn’t be a problem if you’re confident in your abilities.
If they want you to move fast, you’ll want to cater to their needs. If they want to get more information, make sure they can access it.
By putting potential customers first, you will leave them with a positive opinion.
Here is what to ask homeowners in a house sitting interview.
What Is Expected Of Long-Term House Sitters?
Long-term housesitting jobs may have different duties from short-term jobs. However, most of them are about the same.
Pet sitting and watering plants are some of the most common expectations. Some other tasks may include basic house cleaning, landscaping, and checking the mail.
You should also ensure that the home is safe and secure at all times. And, of course, tend to emergencies, such as a leak in the air conditioning.
You may even have to maintain a pool, garden, or even a guest house if the owner has one.
Some of these tasks may be less important if the owner is only gone for a week. When you watch their house for several weeks, they may expect a more in-depth job.
Make sure you know the owner’s expectations and house rules before agreeing to a job. Then you’re ready to book a plane ticket and start your travels!
With this information, you are ready to start searching for long-term house-sitting jobs! You should be equipped to find jobs that suit your lifestyle.
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.