Are you looking for unique ways to make part-time supplemental income and need more ideas that work for you and your lifestyle?
Although there are almost as many ways to make money as there are birds in the sky, it can become overwhelming to come up with ideas to find what will work for you.
What if you need something simple and flexible that allows you to run other side gigs simultaneously, doubling your daily income?
How about something unique like house sitting?
yes, you to be able to Make money looking at houses, and it can be a great way to make extra cash! Although sometimes your “salary” is the free housing you get for days, weeks, or in some cases, even months. is Home based gigs where you make money.
Imagine if you needed room and board and wanted to earn roughly $25 to $55 or more per night while staying at the homes of away owners. Would that appeal to you? Some homeowners will ask you to take care of their pets, which can increase your daily fee.
If this sounds like a great way to make some extra money – keep reading to find out more details about this fun and unique way to make money.
What is house sitting?
You might be wondering what house sitting is and how you can make money doing it.
Good question!
House sitting is when a homeowner needs someone to stay overnight at their home while they are out of town. Often, you’ll be responsible for watering the plants and outdoor landscaping, taking care of any pets they have, getting the mail, and making sure the house is locked and secure.
Homeowners hire a house sitter to turn the lights on and off throughout the day and night in hopes that no one will suspect they are out of town.
And if they are pet owners, they will hire you as a pet sitter too.
House sitters give the homeowner peace of mind while they are on vacation or out of town that their home and pets are taken care of.
You will find specific instructions for each house sitting job. Items may include what vets have in case of emergencies, safety protocols, how to secure homes for the night, and if they want to add in-home services such as pet sitting, housekeeper services, help with live-in care, and so on. . In most cases though, you’re only there for house sitting and possibly pet sitting.
How to be a house sitter
You’ll want to get the word out about your services to the world, and a great place to start is by telling your friends, family, and colleagues about your services.
You can join house sitter Facebook groups to find jobs and meet clients and fellow house sitters.
But you don’t have to stop there.
Although a great place to start, there are other ways to find part-time or full-time house sitting jobs besides Facebook groups.
Some ways to house sit is to find websites that connect house sitters with clients. These websites will charge an annual fee to access the jobs at home
They take the legwork and advertising out of it and connect you directly with clients. This can help you get your home sitting business off the ground.
Let’s talk about those sites below!
House sitting site
Faithful house sitter – It is one of the well known and trusted site for house sitting jobs. This company is particularly preferred by house sitters in the US, UK, Australia and Europe. You must be 21 years of age or older to operate this site. Annual memberships are $129-$259.
the nomad – The company started in 2014 with a strong presence in France and remains strong there, but they also have house sitting gigs worldwide. Prices are $99-$199 and vary from a 3-month subscription to a yearly subscription to the site.
MindMyHouse – The site was founded in 2005 and has since become one of the largest house sitting websites on the Internet. House sitting jobs are available all over the world. You can join the site for $29 annually.
House Carers – This site connects homeowners with homeowners worldwide. Fee is $50 annually. Founded in 2000, and known for its lack of interface, I’ve read multiple glowing reviews for this site.
What are the responsibilities of the house sitter?
You are hired to give the homeowner true peace of mind. You’re there for reliable service, good customer support, and home, pet, and plant care.
As mentioned earlier, housesitting is not only monitoring the home and making sure it is secure, but it can also be a variety of services such as:
- Securing Home: Closing and opening blinds, locking doors and windows, turning lights on and off throughout the day and night, and keeping the house organized.
- Pet Care: You may have to walk a dog, feed and water the pet, let them out of the potty, and even take the animal to the vet in case of an emergency. Let’s face it, as pet owners, we want happy pets, and happy pets are safe and well cared for. It is imperative that if you work with pets that you take great care of them.
- Household: While you are at home, you may be required to do basic household chores, such as sweeping, vacuuming, washing dishes, etc.
- Plant Care: Water and care for indoor or outdoor plants.
- Taking care of the pool: If they have a pool or hot tub, your tasks may include general maintenance.
As a house sitter, it is essential to ask lots of questions before taking on the job so that you can provide effective service and be aware of all the home owner’s needs and desires for you while house sitting.
How much can you make as a house sitter?
According to the roverYou can charge upwards of $100 per night in big cities like New York and Los Angeles, and in smaller cities, the rate can be upwards of $50 per night.
The smaller the town or rural area, the lower the fee.
Ideas for how to charge your fees:
- location – Bigger cities usually bring higher rates.
- pets – If there are pets and they need to be walked, let down etc., you can charge more for that too.
- how long to stay – Do they want you for daytime or night hours or for the whole day and night? Factor this into your rate.
- food and drink – Consider if the fridge is empty, and you will be responsible for your own food and drinks for the duration of your stay.
- house size – If the home is larger and requires more effort from you, you may charge more than a smaller home or apartment or condo home.
You can join house sitter Facebook groups and learn to interact with fellow house sitters, ask questions and increase your experience with this type of work.
Why You Can Enjoy House Sitting
There are many advantages to working from home as a career in addition to a side gig or even other remote jobs! We have outlined them below.
Flexibility: House sitting jobs can vary in length of time, from a few days to a few months, which can offer you a flexible schedule.
This can be ideal for people who want to work remotely, travel or pursue other interests while still earning an income.
And honestly, who wouldn’t love a flexible side job?
Accommodation: As a house sitter, you have the incredible opportunity to live in a variety of homes and locations without paying rent or utilities.
This can be a great way to save money on living expenses.
Peaceful and easy work: In most cases, house sitters are responsible for basic tasks such as keeping the house clean and safe and taking care of pets.
It can be less stressful than other jobs that require more responsibility and stress.
If you’re an introvert who enjoys a peaceful job or another remote job where you can work anywhere, this would be a great opportunity to add more income to your day while hanging out and keeping a home.
Travel Opportunities: House sitting jobs can be found all over the world, which can allow you to travel and explore new places.
You may even be able to combine homestays with your travel plans, allowing you to save money on accommodation while experiencing new cultures and lifestyles. How cool would that be?
Tips for becoming a successful house sitter
Not all house sitters are created equal. Some are better than others in the sense that some are more prepared and more professional than others.
Below are some tips to be the best house sitter you can be!
- Clear communication is key – Asking as many questions as you need before taking the job will help you in the long run. This will ensure that you and the homeowner leave with a positive experience.
- Be reliable – A reliable and responsible house sitter is a professional and booked house sitter. Treat this like you would any other career. Show up on time, speak politely and professionally, don’t waste the homeowner’s time, and follow their instructions and wishes.
- Be careful at home – The landlord is hiring you to stay with them when they leave. Respect any animal including their property and care. Leave the house as good or better before you take the job.
- Be prepared for anything – Hopefully, you won’t encounter an emergency at home, but on the off chance that you do, it’s better to know in advance what to do than to be stuck in an emergency not sure what to do. Keep vet information for any pets, know home security systems and codes, and more.
You can do it!
With the tips and information in this article, you are ready to make house sitting as a side gig or a career.
This can be a unique, interesting and fun way to bring in some extra money and a great opportunity if you already have a remote job or business. It allows you to earn money from home while you work.
If you want to become a house sitter but aren’t sure where to start, I’d recommend connecting with fellow house sitters on Facebook groups for jobs first.
I recommend typing “house sitting jobs” into the Facebook search bar, then scrolling to “groups” which will filter out house sitting groups only.
I found Facebook will usually filter by your location, but I’m sure if you want to find a job in another city, state, you can type something like “house sitting jobs (insert location here)” when searching Facebook, and even countries where where you currently reside.
Next, browse through the roommate sites mentioned in this article and find the one you want to join Read each site’s FAQ section for more information, and don’t hesitate to contact each site directly if you have any questions before joining.
For more ways to make money on the side, sign up for The Work at Home Woman’s free newsletter!
Wish you a happy journey to your home!
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