Why write a post on the pros and cons of housesitting?
Because I wanted to make it crystal clear that although housesitting is an incredible way to see the world for free (it is most certainly how WE afford to travel the world), it isn’t always a walk in the park.
Far from it.
Housesitting is more like one of those jogs you do when you realise your jeans no longer fit. The jog that gets you all sweaty and puffy but feels amazing afterwards.
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Housesitting in France. We were there for Bastille day.Can you imagine what that would have cost us in a hotel?!
Why Housesitting?
We became proffessional pet and home care housesitters when my husband, myself and our two teenage kids set off on a year-long adventure to travel the world.
We overheard a conversation between two women. One had just returned from Northern Spain and was telling her friend about how she was able to travel for free housesitting.
I was intrigued.
I did my homework, and after reading many, many blog posts, I discovered the company TrustredHousesitters.
We use the Housesitting Company, TrustedHousesitters.
I’m not going to go into why we use and love TrustedHousesitters; you can read my in-depth TrustedHousesitters review for that. It will tell you everything you need to know. Just know that they are the only company we have ever (and will ever) use and recommend.
For now, I want to talk about the pros and cons of housesitting.
Since our very first housesit (which was looking after two dogs in a whitewashed harbourside house in Auckland, New Zealand), we have clocked up twenty-seven housesitting experiences.
It is safe to say that you are in good hands when it comes to getting facts, tips and anything else you need to know about Housesitting.
Ready? Let’s go.
Housesitting Pros and Cons
House sitting isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. There are times when housesitting sucks.
I have met plenty of travellers who say they can’t think of anything worse than looking after someone else’s home and pets, but I disagree.
Strongly.
For the sake of being careful with the china teacups and making sure the house is cleaned thoroughly at the end of the stay, house-sitting is, by far, the best way to travel.
Big Pro: Free World Travel Meeting Interesting People!
How else (unless you win the lottery) could you visit the world’s most expensive and unique destinations and stay for free?
We have met fabulous people all over the world. Stayed in parts of countries we would have never known about. The memories with our kids when we were housesitting in Europe are priceless.
But I am here to tell you both sides of the story. The good and the bad of housesitting.
Let’s start with the positive (a half-full glass is far more attractive, wouldn’t you agree?!…)
The Pros of Housesitting
As you can see, I am a massive fan of housesitting. Here are some reasons why I think you should be, too.
The Cost
It’s free. There’s your first clue.
Look After Pets
You get to look after pets. Pets can be a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it.
We have a dog and four cats. We were travelling the world for a year with our kids and were craving some animal company. For us, the pet part was a pro.
Extra Housesitting Perks
The housesitting host often leaves a vehicle for you to drive.
That is not always the case, but two of our hosts did, and it saved us even more money on car hire—a big win.
Meet Different People
You get to meet different people.
It is customary to arrive at your housesitting job at least a day before the owner leaves. This way you meet them and their animals, learn where the hoover lives and what day to put the rubbish out.
If you’re lucky, as was the case for us when we were housesitting in Ireland, you will be shown where the stables are so you can tack up and ride the horses every morning!
Me and my daughter while housesitting in Ireland. Riding the owner’s horses was a huge PRO for us! It was wonderful.
Housesitting is like home-from-home
Housesitting is nothing like staying in a hotel.
You get to do the things you would do at home: meet the neighbours, collect the milk off the doorstep, and experiment with your cooking skills in a nice, new kitchen.
But. As I said, it’s not all perfect, and before you part with any money, you may want to read my TrustedHousesitters review. By the end of it, you’ll be an expert.
* While my husband and I were house-sitting in Tuscany, Italy, we recorded a podcast discussing the pros and cons of housesitting.
Listen to The PODCAST NOW!:
“Housesitting in Tuscany For Six Weeks! (And how You Can do it TOO!)”
(Above is a screenshot from my phone. An example of the daily housesits you will receive when you sign up to TrustedHousesitters!)
Housesits are all over the world!
Check out these housesits in Italy!
Check out these housesits in Ireland
Check out these housesits in New Zealand
Check out the housesits in the USA
Want to try Housesitting like us? Use This Link For a 25% Housesitting Discount:
Sign up for TrustedHousesitters and use my exclusive discount code to save yourself 25% by clicking here.
Other Housesitting Posts you will enjoy:
27 Sits Later: A TrustedHousesitters Review. (An Honest One)
The Cons of Housesitting
As I said, I’m a fan of being a house sitter, but there are a few niggles that you have to deal with, and I’d be a big fat liar if I didn’t tell you that there are times when, to put it bluntly, housesitting sucks.
So, before you start looking for a location independent job and skip off to the French Riviera with your passport in your hand, know this:
Cleaning
You have to clean the place before you leave.
Unlike a hotel where you can get up in the morning with nothing to worry about but what eggs you should have for breakfast.
I hate cleaning, and I especially hate it if I know the owner of the house is coming home to inspect the place, so this is my biggest con about housesitting.
Yes…I know I’m not in the picture. But I was there with the mop. Honest.
Have to be EXTRA careful when Housesitting!
You have to be super careful. People are trusting you with their possessions.
Thankfully, after housesitting in Europe for three months, we only broke an outside table and a candlestick.
The owners were lovely about both, but you must be aware and try not to be cack-handed when setting the table for dinner.
Housesitting Means Looking after Pets
House-sitting isn’t just about looking after nice properties in Europe; it’s also a job that requires you to look after animals.
Sometimes, you will get lucky. You will land a chateau in the Swiss Alps with only a goldfish to feed.
Or a feral cat.
But mostly, you will have pets to look after.
If you are a pet lover, this won’t be a problem, but you have to consider that the dogs will need to go out for a walk before you set off sightseeing for the day.
You will also have to pick up dog poop and empty cat litter that smells of pee.
Please. Think about this before you sign up for housesitting. As I say, although we love it and it is how we afford to travel the world, it’s not all a bed of roses.
Housesitting pros and cons. Looking after pets. It could be taken both ways…
You may have to cut the grass
We did this when we were housesitting in France, although, to be fair, we made our teenage son do it. We’re nice like that.
Seriously, if you don’t like gardening, don’t apply for a housesit that has acres of Kew Garden lawns.
Either that or go for it and then email me. You can hire my teenage boy.
“Wait? Is that my phone ringing??”
awww…Look at him go…
Want to try Housesitting? Use This Link For a 25% Housesitting Discount:
Sign up for TrustedHousesitters and use my exclusive discount code to save yourself a WHOPPING 25% on HOUSESITTING membership by clicking here.
Summing up the Pros and Cons of Housesitting
I hope you found this pros and cons of being a housesitter post helpful and it has given you more of an idea of what housesitting is and how it all works.
Remember, you can reach out to me at any time, either by email or in the comments on our YouTube channel.
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