Traveling can be expensive, but there are ways to make it more affordable. Like WWOOFing, Trusted Housesitters is a website that pairs hosts and sitters to provide free accommodation. Only instead of exchanging hours worked on a farm, the sitter simply watches the host’s home, and usually their pets, while they are away for travel or work.
There is an annual membership fee for both hosts and sitters. For hosts, that means having their pets cared for in their own homes for a one time fee of $99 a year, regardless of how many pets they have or where they are located. For sitters, the fee is $89 a year, and you can register as a couple. This covers unlimited sits around the world and access to 24 hour veterinarian advice.
The people behind Trusted Housesitters truely care about keeping the platform centered around trust. They ensure that the review system between hosts and sitters is widely used and very reliable. They also support both the hosts and sitters with their insurance backed guarantee.
But if the reviews are so important, how do you get started on Trusted Housesitters? Well, it’s easier than you might think. Here’s the tips we followed to get started and succeed on Trusted Housesitters. It’s how we saved hundreds of dollars on our United States road trip.
Find family or a friend that will let you practice.
Before you get started sitting for hosts on Trusted Housesitters, see if you can find someone you know who will let you sit for them. This will do two things. You will get the hang of house sitting somewhere you’re comfortable, and you’ll quickly learn what questions you need to have your host answer before they leave on their trip.
If you can’t get anyone to let you house sit for them, you can always volunteer at local animal shelters. This way you can still get experience meeting and caring for new animals.
When you do sign up for house sitting they can submit an external review to Trusted Housesitters. That will boost your profile right from the start. You can also take free online training courses through this site if you want to give yourself a little bit of additional training.
Fill out your profile completely.
Spend some time filling out your profile thoroughly. Be sure to include all of your house sitting and applicable volunteer experience, as well as any special training or certifications that you have.
Include as much information about yourself and your experience with animals as you can. Include what animals you have had as pets, any medications that you have administered, or other special treatment that you have given. People want to know that you are capable and willing to give their pets the best care possible while they are away.
Be sure to upload as many photos as the site will allow. Upload photos of you with your own pets, pets you have cared for or volunteered with, and photos that show something interesting about you to help you stand out to the hosts.
Try to get as many levels of verification as you can.
While you’re filling out your profile, be sure to submit all of the necessary documents and information to receive a standard level verification. Hosts want to make sure their homes and pets are safe in your care. The verification is just another piece of your profile that will give the host peace of mind and make you more appealing as a new house sitter.
Nail your application email.
Treat this like a job application, because in essence, that’s what it is. You aren’t getting a paycheck, but you’re getting free lodging and amenities (generally the hosts will pay the utilities during a stay, but the sitter is responsible for their own groceries). Don’t tell them how great the sit would be for you, tell them how great you will be for them. Write about any relevant experience you have with pets like theirs, and what a great job you’ll do taking care of their pet. Mention how you found their listing and why you’ll be in that area, but don’t make it the focus of your message.
Offer to speak with them on the phone or video chat if they would like to, and keep it relatively short! They are trying to plan for their own upcoming travel and likely have several applicants. They won’t have time to read long emails. See the template we used below.
Hello [Home Owner]!
My husband, Derek, and I were looking at house sits for our upcoming road trip this spring when we found your listing. We would absolutely love the opportunity to sit for [Pet’s Name]. He seems so sweet! We have done house sitting before, but this is our first time on Trusted Housesitters. We also recently booked another sit in March for two large breed, energetic dogs.
Derek and I are committed to caring for him like you do, so that he has the best, most stress free time possible while you are away. We are comfortable sending you updates as often as you like to put your mind at ease. We are also very tidy people, and nonsmokers.
Our dates are somewhat flexible, so we could easily arrange to show up a day or two before the sit so that you can show us the ropes before you leave. We are more than happy to answer any questions you have about us or our experience, and if you prefer to chat on Skype we are happy to arrange that, too. Please just let me know!
Thank you!
Kacie
Communicate with your host.
Make sure you communicate details clearly with your host. And respond to them quickly whenever possible. Do everything you can to make the process as easy for them as possible. Before they leave for their trip, make sure you have answers to the following questions:
- What are the feeding and care instructions for the pet(s)?
- How long can the animals be left alone?
- Are the pets allowed to leave the house, ie. walks or dog parks?
- How should you get ahold of the hosts if you need to?
- Do they have your contact information?
- How often would they like updates?
- Who is their local vet and what are their emergency numbers?
- What room should we stay in?
- Are there any special instructions regarding the house itself?
- Where are the keys or lock codes to the house?
- What’s the wifi password?
- Are you allowed to use their vehicles?
Most hosts will have a welcome guide or a binder of instructions that has all of this information written in it. They will probably go over all of this information with you without you having to ask, but if they leave anything out, be sure to find out.
Many hosts will ask you to come early so that you can meet the pets before they leave. Do your best to accommodate, and be clear about when you should first arrive (don’t be late!). The sit will go more smoothly if you can meet them ahead of time!
Stick to the routine.
Once your sit begins, stick to the plan. Do your best to keep the pet’s routine as close to normal as possible. If something should happen to go wrong with the house or the pet gets sick, contact the host immediately and find out how they want to handle it!
Be sure you send any promised updates to the owners on time and keep things tidy. Clean up after yourself and the pets, without invading their privacy. When they return, try to at least have the house in as good of shape as they left it. No one should have to feel disappointed when they come home from vacation!
If you follow these steps, you’ll have plenty of five star reviews in no time. The most important thing is just be professional. Your house sit responsibilities should come first over your own travel plans, but generally it’s easy to do both!
House sitting is a great opportunity to travel on a budget! And Trusted Housesitters is one of the very best platforms to find great house sits. You may even find you’ve made friends with some of your hosts and that you are returning to the same sits every year!
Have you used Trusted Housesitters before? What did you love about it? Let us know in the comments below!
Ready to check it out? Click here to learn more.
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