Housesitting is a fast-growing trend in the world of travel. Budget-wise travellers are flocking at the opportunity for free accommodation, plus the chance to make a furry friend (or several!). Those unfamiliar with the concept may wonder, why would anyone lend their home to a stranger for free?

How house sitting works:

House sitting is a win-win scenario for all. Though for-profit services like AirBNB exist where vacant homes can be rented out while on holiday, home owners save big by not having to pay for maintenance while they’re away (e.g. care for pools, gardens, yards, and most commonly – pets). Put simply, for home owners, the concept of house sitting is a penny saved is a penny earned.

How we stayed in Germany’s most expensive city for free

Famed for Oktoberfest, beer halls, and enormous food portions, Munich is an exciting albeit costly place. In fact, it’s Germany’s most expensive city, though we managed to land ourselves a house sit there in the height of the summer tourist season. This provided us with our own apartment, saving us upwards of $600 USD for our 12-day visit. In exchange for feeding a cute cat twice a day, we got an authentic local experience in a charming neighbourhood, made friends with the home owners, and enjoyed great proximity to tourist attractions, all at the whopping cost of free.

Our perfectly Munich housesit experience: beer, sausage, Munich river surfers our German cat host, Chimpsy

How to become a house sitter in 3 easy steps

Step 1. Choose a housesitting site

Website: nomador.com
Cost: $89 USD/year
Pros:

• Clean interface & easy-to-use filters
• Users don’t pay until a housesit is confirmed
• Thorough ID check

Cons:

• Fairly new, not yet popular in all major countries but big in France

The above three are services we’ve used ourselves, but there’s plenty more out there:

Region Specific House-Sitting Sites

Region or country specific house sitting sites can mean less competition, and possibly more listings as smaller sites often provide cheaper membership.

Step 2. Make a house sitter profile

A good house sitting profile can be the difference between frequently landing great gigs and not being contacted at all. Here’s some key tips to making a good housesitting profile:

Step 3. Search & apply for house sits

Seek out listings and filter your searches accordingly (e.g. which animals you’re able to care for, location preferences). When considering and applying for house sits, be sure you cover these basics:

• Make sure you can “see” the home. If a listing doesn’t have images, avoid surprises and ask for photos. It’s wise to check that a home is liveable before committing!
• Apply ASAP for hot listings. Listings in popular locations or with great perks often go quickly, in as little as half a day. Don’t be discouraged, but apply as soon as you see a good one!
• Determine the true location of the house before committing (sometimes a house is listed in a city, but could in fact be quite far from the city centre).
• If pet-sitting, ask the right questions. Inquire about behaviour (do the pets ever scratch or bite?), special needs (e.g. medication), and how long they can be left alone.
• Make clear if you need to pay for anything. Sometimes house sits require the sitter to pay for their own Internet, energy, etc. so ask upfront what is provided.

Once You’ve Landed A Housesit…

Decide when and if you will meet the home owner before the house sit start date. Offer to have a “meeting” on Skype or a meal or drinks before the day of your sit. Before you start your house sit, be sure to run through these important items!

Remember: house sitting is more than just “free accommodation”

It’s a responsibility – and a big one at that! Here’s a few final tips on being a great house sitter:

• If something’s wrong, speak up. Is a pet acting strange? Has something stopped working? Did you accidentally break something? Don’t be afraid to contact a home owner and never ever cover up a problem!
• Say thanks – you can afford to! You’re getting a “free” place, be sure to leave a kind note & token(s) of appreciation whether a bottle of wine, chocolates, or a fully stocked fridge.
• Leave your host a review – and ask for one in return. Try to do this ASAP after a sit, it’s easier to recall and you may later lose touch.

And there you have it, 3 easy steps to being a house sitter. It can’t be said enough that house sitting is a great opportunity to see a new place affordably, locally, and authentically. So what are you waiting for? Get ‘sitting!

Have a question about house sitting? Feel free to leave a thought below!