How we housesit

Table of Contents

Introduction

Every homeowner and housesitter are unique individuals, and therefore, every exchange is unique! Housesitting is a personal thing, and there’s no one way to do it. There is a housesit for everyone, but not everyone is for every housesit.

Here are some answers to common housesitting related questions, and our personal opinions/approach in response.

Getting Started

What regions/countries are you available in and when?

We love to take housesits all over the world, so this can vary quite a bit! To see specifics, check out our calendar here.

How far in advance do you typically book sits?

For our own life/travel planning purposes we generally like to have 3-6 months booked out from the current date, so that means we can book sits anywhere from 3 months to up to a year in advance. We can be available for some last-minute sits in the right situation, though!

Do you have any restrictions on types of properties or animals?

No fleas, please! Besides that we mostly just go by feel. In terms of preferences:

Fast wifi – we do generally need good internet, but can work on low bandwidth if necessary
Off-leash exercise – for medium-to-large dogs, we most enjoy arrangements where dogs have easy access to the outdoors, and/or taking them off-leash in areas where they can run and smell and explore freely
Polite pups – it’s great when dogs are well-behaved and socialize calmly with other animals (this is true for cats as well, but usually less of a hassle since they don’t go out for walks as many dogs do)
Chill homeowners – we are professional and laid-back people, we appreciate being appreciated for the help we’re providing and likewise appreciate people welcoming us into their home; we ask to be treated with respect and as equals
“Goldilocks” cleanliness standards – we are naturally somewhat minimalistic and prefer to stay in hygienic, organized homes that have enough space and storage to easily accommodate guests; we are not professional cleaners but we always clean up after ourselves and the animals to keep things looking how they were when we found them

How do you screen potential sits?

Typically we scope out sits we’re interested via the housesitting sites where we have profiles. If something looks interesting, we’ll send an application letter. If the homeowner thinks we seem like a good fit, we usually meet via video call to discuss details and see how we get on before confirming the sit.

Services & Fees

What’s included in your housesitting service, and do you charge fees?

This really depends on the sit. We care for animals, plants, manage home maintenance issues or quirks, take in the mail, etc.

We typically don’t charge for these services but request financial exchange for more labor-intensive situations (extensive yard work, cleaning, or other projects), or sometimes when the animal(s) requires more-than-typical attention or care, depending on what’s needed. If this is the case, we agree upon a rate with the homeowners in advance before agreeing to the sit.

How do you handle specific pet needs (medications, special diets, behavioral issues)?

First and foremost, it’s important to make sure all the animal’s needs are clearly defined and understood before the sit. It’s also important to maintain the routines the animals are used to, and make sure that there is a plan in place in case of emergency.

We’ve taken care of a number of animals with special needs, including medications, dietary requirements, and behavioral idiosyncrasies. Some examples include:

Elderly pets and picky eaters with quirky meal routines
Dogs with Addison’s disease and raw food diets that require special meal preparation
Cats and dogs with various health issues who need medication administered via food or mouth
Dogs who have trouble walking or socializing politely and need additional attention or training
Dogs and cats with anxiety or allergies who need extra attention and care

Every animal has their own unique personality, traits and needs, and we are mindful of that every time we consider a housesitting opportunity.

Can you handle basic home maintenance issues that might arise?

The short answer is yes! The longer answer is, it depends on your setup. We have experience taking care of everything from remote, off-grid farmhouses in developing countries to luxury condominiums in international cities, so we’re adaptable and can tend to a wide range of needs. Prior to confirming a sit, we ask about the property and what kinds of things need maintenance so we can make sure we’re prepared upon arrival.

How do you manage transportation?

This depends on how rural or urban a sit is. We love walking and are happy to use public transit wherever possible. We also keep our International Drivers Permits up to date, so we can rent a car if needed, or borrow the homeowners’ car if they allow access.

Trust & Safety

Do you provide references from previous sits?

We have references/testimonials on our housesitting profiles:

MindMyHouse (since 2017)
TrustedHousesitters (since 2025)

Do you have insurance?

It’s a good idea to have insurance – some sites like TrustedHousesitters.com provide this. We have our own travel and health insurance to protect ourselves, and expect homeowners to have their own solutions set in place before the sit.

What happens if you get sick or have an emergency during a sit?

Luckily, as a couple, we have each other to hold down the fort if one of us falls ill or an unexpected emergency comes up! If anything were to happen that would impede us from fulfilling our duties as housesitters, we would contact the homeowners to let them know and sort out a solution as necessary. This has yet to happen, but being clear and transparent and having a back up plan seems like the best way to go!

How do you handle emergencies or unexpected situations with the animals or home?

Prevention is the best medicine – we always ask about what kinds of unexpected circumstances might come up during a sit, and what to do in case of emergency. Being prepared for the worst situations allows everyone to focus on creating the best.

That being said, not everything can be prevented, and sometimes things do happen that require quick action.

For example, while out on a night hike in rural Vermont, one of the adorable husky mixes we were caring for got quilled by a porcupine! We contacted the owners right away, but certainly couldn’t wait to help the poor guy. While it’s possible to remove quills by hand, this was something we decided needed to be handled by professionals.

We immediately called around to find an open veterinary office, and got the okay to come see a vet who was about an hour away in Massachusetts. After a long drive filled with lots of cuddles and reassurance for our sweet and sad buddy with quills poking out of his nose, he was admitted in to get some anesthetics so the quills could easily and painlessly be removed.

Though he was delirious from drugs post quill-removal, this book we found in the waiting room presented an opportunity to do some light educational reading before heading home. Knowledge is power 😉

We finally returned to the cabin in the wee hours of the morning with a very loopy and thankfully quill-less snow dog.

As housesitters, we take our responsibility to respond to emergencies seriously, and always strive to bring things back to a calm state in a way that prevents the most harm. In moments where there isn’t time to discuss tactics, we have to use our best judgement to do the right thing.

In an emergency, the most important thing is to remain calm so you can make smart decisions while acting quickly to remedy the situation. Communicating with the homeowners as soon as possible is also extremely important, especially in circumstances where their inputs are needed to ensure the best outcome.

Communication & Touchpoints

What’s your typical arrival/departure process?

This depends heavily on the location of the sit, and the homeowner’s preferences. We don’t usually visit a house before we agree to a sit, unless it is very convenient. Once a sit is confirmed, this works out in one of a few ways:

In-person “friendly visit” handoff: we arrive day or two before homeowner’s departure; we go through the necessary items together, perhaps meet neighbors or visit some local spots, share a meal or two and help out where relevant
In-person “down to business” handoff: come an hour or two before the homeowner’s departure, walk through the necessary items together and ask any questions
No-contact handoff: housesit instructions and access to the house have been provided prior to arrival, homeowner leaves and we arrive in a pre-determined window after their departure

When we leave, it typically mirrors the style of arrival, but can vary between:

In-person “welcome home” handoff: we usually cook and share a meal with the homeowners, chat about the sit, stay the night they arrive, and depart the next day
In-person “touching base” handoff: we stick around until the homeowner returns, tie up any loose ends and chat about the sit before heading out
No-contact handoff: we leave things tidy and ready for the homeowner’s return, departing in a pre-determined time frame before their arrival

What’s your communication style while homeowners are away?

This is also highly dependent on the homeowners’ preferences. Some homeowners are pretty hands-off and prefer not to be contacted unless there is an emergency, others prefer to receive messages with photos and updates daily!

We always ask the homeowners’ preference and, if they aren’t too specific, keep at least a light touch of contact throughout the sit, with the frequency depending on the duration of the sit overall.

Still curious?

If you read through all this and there are some questions left unanswered, send us a message!