House sitting is a unique arrangement where someone stays in a homeowner’s residence while they are away. This can involve various responsibilities, such as looking after pets, watering plants, and maintaining the general upkeep of the property. But one of the most common questions that arise in this context is: Do you get paid for house sitting?
The answer is not straightforward as it depends on various factors, including the arrangement between the homeowner and the housesitter. It’s also important to consider the duration of the house sitting, the tasks involved, the location and the type of platform you use to secure housesits!
My House Sitting Experience
I began house sitting using TrustedHousesitters at the end of 2023. I’ve completed 4 sits in the UK and Ireland and have really enjoyed embracing the new experience and getting to spend time with new pets!
I love helping others get started with housesitting so feel free to send me a DM on Instagram if you have any questions.
Types of House Sitting Arrangements
There are generally two main types of house sitting arrangements: paid and unpaid.
1. Unpaid Housesitting
If the arrangement is unpaid, the house sitter usually agrees to stay at the property in exchange for free accommodation. This type of housesit is usually appealing to travellers, remote workers, or anyone looking for a change of scenery without the cost of lodging.
Some of the benefits for the house sitter include:
- Free Accommodation: The primary incentive is saving on accommodation costs, which can be significant, especially in high-cost areas. For example, if you’re living in London where rent is ridiculously high, house sitting could be a great way to save on rent. It’s also great if you’re travelling through countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US where rent is known to be high!
- Experience New Places: It offers an opportunity to experience living in different locations without long-term commitments. Flexibility that comes with choosing different housesits in various parts of the world is great!
- Minimal Expenses: Besides accommodation, some homeowners may cover other expenses such as utilities, internet, and sometimes even groceries. Every homeowner I’ve worked with has provided me with all the food in their pantry/fridge; some have been extremely generous and taken me out for dinner and provided me with snacks that fit my dietary requirements. This won’t always be the case and is never expected but is greatly appreciated when it happens!
- New Connections: Another unexpected but great benefit of unpaid housesits are the connections you can make with the homeowners. Most are very outgoing, like getting to know you and it can result in a new friendship! If you plan on staying in one area for a few years, you can build a relationship with different homeowners you sit for which can be very rewarding.
2. Paid Housesitting
Paid housesitting arrangements involve the housesitter receiving financial compensation for their services.
The payment can vary widely based on several factors:
- Location: Housesitting in a city or popular vacation destination often command higher rates due to the higher cost of living.
- Duration: Longer housesitting engagements may offer more stability and therefore, a different pay structure compared to short-term gigs.
- Responsibilities: The more tasks involved (such as pet care, garden maintenance, or managing other household staff), the higher the compensation.
- Number of pets: If multiple pets need care while the homeowner is away, the housesitter can charge more for the amount of work required.
- Pet behaviour: Certain breeds of dogs or types of pets might be a little more work than others. This could be due to behaviour or the training they’ve received. Housesitters can charge more for pets that are more challenging to work!
Determining the Rate for Housesitting
If you are considering paid housesitting, it’s essential to understand how rates are determined.
Here are some factors that influence how much you can get paid:
1. Responsibilities and Skills Required
The tasks you’re expected to perform significantly influence your pay. Simple duties like collecting mail and watering plants might not command a high fee.
However, if you’re responsible for pet care, managing household staff, or handling other significant responsibilities, you can expect to earn more. Specialized skills, such as being able to administer medication to pets or having a background in property management, can also justify higher rates.
2. Experience and References
Experience plays a crucial role in determining your pay. Experienced housesitters with positive references can command higher rates. Homeowners are often willing to pay more for the peace of mind that comes with knowing their home is in capable hands.
Don’t have much experience yet?
Watch a friend, family member or neighbour’s pet to get some practice under your belt and then use them as a reference to continue building up valuable experience! That’s what I did initially to have something to include on my profile.
3. Market Rates
Researching local market rates is essential. Go through platforms such as HouseSitter.com to find out what other housesitters in your area are charging.
Rates can vary widely based on geographic location, so understanding the going rate in your specific area is critical.
4. Duration of the Stay
Long-term housesitting engagements can sometimes offer lower daily rates compared to short-term stays.
However, the stability of a long-term arrangement can be financially beneficial overall. For shorter stays, you might charge a higher daily rate to make it worth your while.
How to Get Paid for House Sitting
Looking for paid house sitting opportunities? Here are the best places to find them:
- HouseSitter.com – Starting rates $20/day +
- Care.com – Starting rates $15-25/day +
- Rover.com – Starting rates $12+ per dog walk, $40+/night for boarding ($49 one time profile review fee)
- Indeed
- Facebook Groups & Community Boards – Search for local communities online and in person to find more opportunities!
Other UNPAID Housesitting Platforms
- Nomador – Pricing from €29/3 months
- MindMyHouse – $29/yearly membership
- HouseCarers – $50/yearly membership
- TrustedHousesitters – $97/ yearly membership using the code SPELLBOUND25 – While TrustedHousesitters costs more than other platforms, I’ve found it to have the most opportunities which is SO important if you’re using it while travelling.
You can always sign up for free to browse and when you’re ready to start messaging hosts, use my 25% discount to save on the annual membership 🙌ðŸ¼
Benefits of Housesitting
Whether paid or unpaid, housesitting offers several advantages:
- Cost Savings: Free accommodation can significantly reduce your living expenses.
- New Experiences: Living in different places and environments can be enriching and offer new perspectives.
- Flexibility: Housesitting can offer flexible living arrangements without long-term commitments.
- Skill Development: Managing a household, caring for pets, and handling various responsibilities can enhance your skill set.
Challenges of Housesitting
While housesitting can be rewarding, it also comes with its challenges:
- Responsibility: Taking care of someone else’s property and pets is a significant responsibility. It could take some time to get used to how things are run in a new house and how to provide the best care to the pet.
- Lack of Stability: Moving from one housesitting gig to another can be unsettling for some people. You might struggle to find house sits that line up perfectly but this depends on which country you’re hoping to house sit in. Some places will have more listings from month to month than others. You’ll have to plan ahead to have the best chance of securing one house sit after another.
- Negotiating Terms: It can be challenging to negotiate terms and compensation, especially if you’re new to housesitting.
How to Get Started
If you’re interested in housesitting, here are some steps to get started:
- Create a Profile: Sign up on housesitting websites and create a detailed profile highlighting your experience, skills, and references.
- Build Experience: Start with unpaid gigs to build your experience and gather positive references. I’d recommend starting on Trusted Housesitter (which is the platform I use) to get experience and build up your portfolio.
- Network: Use your network to find housesitting opportunities. Personal referrals can be a great way to secure gigs.
- Negotiate Terms: Be clear about your expectations and negotiate terms upfront to avoid misunderstandings later.
Other Blogs You Might Enjoy
- Housesitting 101: What Are the Duties of a House Sitter?
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- Looking For a Cheap European Country to Visit? Must Read
- Find Remote Jobs Online: Easy Ways to Start
- Healthy Hostel Meal Ideas: Vegan + Easy to Make
Final Thoughts On Paid House Sitting
By understanding the dynamics of housesitting and negotiating fair terms, you can turn housesitting into a rewarding endeavour. While it can be great to find paid house sitting gigs, I also love the many perks that come with unpaid gigs while I’m travelling and working remotely!
If I had to choose one platform to join for paid opportunities, I’d choose Rover. I know many people personally who have used the platform and loved it. It’s a great way to earn some extra money while spending time with adorable pets!
I’ll be back shortly with a new blog but in the meantime, you can follow my adventures as a full-time traveller and digital nomad on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube!
Cheers,
Amy xx
P.S. Like this post or found it helpful? Consider buying me a coffee or share it with a friend 👇ðŸ¼
