12 Proven Strategies to Land More House Sitting Jobs in 2025

Whether new to house sitting or building it into a full-time lifestyle, finding regular, well-matched sits takes time and effort. With competition increasing on the most popular platforms, being strategic is more important than ever.

These proven tactics have helped us maintain a full calendar across three years of full-time house sitting and 5 years of part-time house sitting, even as the landscape has become more competitive.

How Easy Is It to Secure Back-to-Back House Sits?

Before we discuss the strategies, we wanted to discuss something we get emails about daily: Is it possible to secure back-to-back house sits?

To be honest, it can be an art and a science, but if we have travelled somewhere, we might use that break to explore the new location for a few days or get an Airbnb to relax. Another thing we have noticed is that it is easier to create a calendar of seamless house sits if you are doing it as a couple; that way, you can find the ones that overlap.

In our experience, consistently achieving back-to-back sits requires strategic planning and flexibility but becomes increasingly manageable as one grows in experience.

The key is to work with overlapping timeframes. We typically secure an “anchor sit” – a longer assignment in a desired location – then fill in around it with shorter sits. Planning at least 3-4 months significantly increases your chances of creating smooth transitions, as last-minute scheduling often results in awkward gaps.

Flexibility with accommodation between sits is occasionally necessary. We budget for occasional 1-2 night hotel or Airbnb stays to bridge small gaps when perfect back-to-back timing isn’t possible. These brief paid stays are worth the investment when they enable longer periods of free accommodation through house sitting.

As your reputation grows, direct invitations often help complete your calendar. Approximately 30% of our sits now come from homeowners contacting us directly, many offering flexible dates to secure our services. These relationship-based sits have become the backbone of our continuous house sitting schedule.

Build a Personal Website or Online Portfolio

Creating a personal house sitting website was a game-changer for our success rate. While platform profiles are limited in scope, a dedicated site allows homeowners to see the complete picture of who you are and the care you provide.

Here’s what we include:

• A warm “About Us” section sharing our story and house sitting philosophy
• Quality photos of us caring for different pets (with homeowners’ permission)
• An availability calendar showing our schedule for the next 6 months
• A references page with feedback from previous homeowners

We include our site link in every application; many homeowners mention it influenced their decision. For those who are not tech-savvy, a well-designed PDF portfolio or dedicated Instagram page works well, too.

Consider adding a short video introduction (60-90 seconds) to your site. This personal touch allows homeowners to get a sense of your personality and communication style before even reaching out. In our experience, this small addition has significantly increased our response rates.

Join Multiple House Sitting Platforms

Diversifying across platforms significantly expands your opportunities and provides insurance against algorithm changes or membership issues.

Our multi-platform strategy includes:

• At least two major international platforms with different user bases
• Location-specific platforms for regions we frequently visit
• Free community platforms and Facebook groups for particular destinations

For a comprehensive breakdown of the different platforms and their unique features, our house sitting website comparison can help you determine which ones best match your needs.

The Investment Will Pay Off Within a Week!

After a decade of house sitting worldwide, we firmly believe our multiple platform subscriptions are investments in our freedom-based lifestyle, not expenses. We’ve consistently created seamless itineraries without accommodation gaps by maintaining active profiles across several international sites, plus regional platforms specific to our target destinations.

Each platform has its unique community and listing profile. TrustedHousesitters might offer more diverse options worldwide, while Aussie House Sitters will have hundreds more options in Australia (and less competition). This diversity allows us to craft a varied, interesting house-sitting calendar that suits our preferences.

The math still makes sense for occasional sitters. Calculate your accommodation savings for a week-long stay in a desirable location, then compare it to the annual subscription fee.

The return on investment becomes obvious, especially for families or those traveling with pets who face more limited options. Having access to multiple platforms can mean the difference between finding that perfect match or compromising on dates or location.

We’ve found particular value in country-specific platforms like Aussie House Sitters when focusing on a specific region for extended periods. These specialized sites often have listings that never appear on the international platforms and typically feature homeowners who prefer sitters familiar with local customs and practices.

Set Up Alerts and Apply Quickly

In today’s competitive environment, timing is often the difference between securing a great sit and missing out. On TrustedHousesitters, many desirable listings receive their maximum of five applications within hours of posting.

Create saved searches with your specific parameters and enable notifications on your phone and email. Check listings first thing in the morning and before bed when new opportunities often appear.

For a detailed guide on setting up effective alerts on TrustedHousesitters, check our step-by-step alert setup tutorial.

When filling out specific dates, we respond to suitable listings within 30 minutes if possible. If we don’t hear back within 3-5 days, we send a brief follow-up—this simple practice has secured us numerous sits where homeowners were overwhelmed with choices.

It’s worth developing a quick-response system that works with your lifestyle. We keep template paragraphs about our experience with different animals and home types saved in a notes app, which we can quickly customize for each application. This approach balances personalization with efficiency when speed matters.

The Power of Following Up

Following up is an often overlooked strategy that can dramatically increase your success rate. Many homeowners receive dozens of applications and can easily miss promising candidates in the shuffle. A thoughtful follow-up demonstrates your genuine interest and organizational skills.

We follow these guidelines for effective follow-ups:

• Wait 3-5 days after your initial application before sending a follow-up
• Keep your message brief, friendly, and non-pressuring
• Reference your original application and reaffirm your interest
• Add a new piece of relevant information if possible
• Express understanding of their busy schedule

Approximately 25% of our confirmed sits came after a follow-up message, including some of our most memorable experiences. One homeowner in Barcelona told us our polite check-in made the difference—she had been overwhelmed with 20+ applications and had completely missed our initial message.

The timing of follow-ups matters. Too soon appears desperate, while too late might mean they’ve already selected someone else. The sweet spot is typically 3-5 days, which shows respectful persistence without pushiness.

Keep Your Profile Updated

Your profile is your digital first impression, and it requires regular maintenance to remain effective. Many platforms’ search algorithms prefer recently active profiles.

Make these updates part of your routine:

• Refresh your main photos quarterly
• Add new animal breeds or specialized care experiences after each sit
• Keep your availability calendar current
• Request references immediately after completing sits
• Follow up with homeowners after two weeks if you don’t receive a review

Even minor updates signal activity to both algorithms and homeowners browsing profiles every few weeks.

Each completed house sit offers new materials to enhance your profile. Did you care for a breed you haven’t mentioned before? Add it. Learn to manage a pool or security system? Include it. These details demonstrate growing expertise and versatility that appeals to homeowners with specific needs.

Use Local House Sits to Fill Gaps

Short, local house sits are incredibly valuable but often overlooked. They’re not just gap-fillers—they’re strategic opportunities to strengthen your house sitting foundation.

These local sits provide quick reference-building when you’re new and flexible options between longer international commitments. You’ll often find less competition, as many sitters focus exclusively on destination locations.

We regularly accept weekend sits in our home region, which has led to numerous repeat bookings and referrals to friends and family members.

Local sits frequently convert to long-term relationships. We have six homeowners in our region who book us 3-4 times annually for their regular trips, providing reliable anchor points in our schedule around which we plan international adventures.

Know What You Want When Reviewing Assignments

With experience comes clarity about your preferences and deal-breakers. Developing a consistent evaluation framework saves time and leads to more satisfying experiences.

Before applying, consider whether the location aligns with your travel plans, whether the pet care requirements match your daily routine, and whether the home amenities support your needs. Evaluate the homeowner’s communication style—is it clear and respectful?

We’ve learned to pay attention to listings’ tone and detail level. Vague descriptions often indicate unclear expectations, while overly controlling language might signal challenging homeowners.

Apply Thoughtfully and Personally

Your application is your opportunity to make a human connection. Generic messages are immediately apparent to homeowners who receive multiple applications daily.

Our most successful applications include:

• A personalized greeting using the homeowners’ and pets’ names
• Specific references to details in their listing that resonated with us
• Highlights of our relevant experience with similar animals or properties
• Connections between our background and their specific needs
• A brief explanation of why their location fits our travel plans
• A clear offer to arrange a video call at their convenience
• Our website link or portfolio for additional information

Taking time to craft a personalized application drastically improves response rates compared to template messages. We typically spend 10-15 minutes tailoring each application, which has resulted in a response rate nearly three times higher than when we used more generic approaches.

Know What to Avoid About House Sits

Experience has taught us to recognize warning signs that might indicate problematic sits.

We typically decline opportunities with minimal photos of the home or pets, vague pet care expectations, or reluctance to answer specific questions. Be cautious of mentions of previous “unsuccessful” sitters without clear explanations and requirements for unexpected financial deposits.

Trust your instincts—we’ve never regretted declining a sit that gave us pause.

Join Local Groups

As you gain experience, your referral network becomes increasingly valuable. Many of our premium sits never appear on platforms—they come through word-of-mouth recommendations.

To cultivate your network, send occasional updates to previous homeowners about your availability and join house sitter community groups. Consider joining local expat groups in areas where you’d like to sit.

Approximately 40% of our sits now come through referrals, which typically involve less competition and more pre-established trust.

Keep Building Those References and You’ll Be in Demand!

Building a successful house sitting profile takes persistence, especially in the beginning. Many sitters quit after a few rejections, but consistency ultimately pays off.

Stay motivated by setting realistic expectations, celebrating small wins, and refining your approach based on feedback. Remain flexible about locations and types of sits while building experience.

Remember that house sitting is fundamentally about building relationships and trust. Focus on providing exceptional care and creating positive experiences, and your calendar will gradually fill with opportunities that match your preferences.