10 ways house sitting is a job – and 3 ways it’s not

This post is about the ways that house sitting is a job, and some ways that house sitting isn’t a job.

Staying for free in beautiful homes around the world – and only having to look after some cuddly pets in return – seems like such a good deal that it confuses a lot of people. They think it must involve some exchange of money, but that’s hardly ever the case. 

House sitting via a site like Trusted Housesitters, the world’s biggest house sitting website, does not involve any payment to the house sitter. So in that way, house sitting is not a job.

But in some ways, house sitting is definitely a job – just an unpaid one. Here are 10 ways house sitting is a job, and a few more ways it isn’t a job at all.

10 ways that house sitting is a job

1. You’re a security guard

While security might not be much of a concern for apartment owners, keeping burglars out is a big priority for people who live in large and valuable homes. As a house sitter, being a deterrent to criminals is one of your most important jobs.

Staying in the house overnight is the main way you’ll maintain security. You may also be asked to adjust lighting and blinds to give the appearance that someone is home.

Collecting mail from the mailbox is another way to communicate that someone is living inside the home. It’s important that a house sitter does this job each day not only to keep the mailbox clear, but also for security’s sake. 

2. You’re a pet feeder

Well, duh. This is, bar none, your most important job as a house sitter. It’s vital that you understand all the details of the pet’s diet, and follow them to the letter.

This goes double for foods the homeowner tells you the pet is unable to eat. The pet could just have a sensitive stomach, or it could be a potentially life-threatening allergy to a certain food – whatever the reason, always assume the pet’s owner knows best and follow their instructions.

3. You’re a gardener

When you’re applying for longer sits – anything over a week or so – it’s useful to have at least some experience with keeping plants alive.

Depending on the season, you’ll be asked to regularly water outdoor plants (unless the garden has an irrigation system), and you may also need to use fertilizer or pest control substances.

Potted plants dry out a lot faster than ones in garden soil, so usually need watering much more often.

Indoor plants take even more care. The homeowner should leave clear instructions on how to look after them, but if not it’s best not to just guess.

I recommend downloading an app like PlantNet which can identify any plant through a photo. From there, you can just Google their ideal watering/feeding schedule. 

Remember, more indoor plants die from overwatering than underwatering. If in doubt, put down that watering can!   

4. You’re an emergency worker

Other than caring for pets, the most important job of any house sitter is responding to emergency situations. If there’s a fire, what would you do? What about a power cut, or a plumbing emergency?

Make sure the homeowner has left a list of every emergency contact you might need, and have a clear understanding of how any fees or charges will be paid.

For example, the owner might have an account with the local emergency vet, or you may need to pay yourself and be reimbursed.

5. You’re a cleaner

To be clear: you should not be expected to clean up the homeowner’s mess or do any housework outside of everyday upkeep. But you will need to be OK with cleaning up after the pets, and doing a clean and tidy of the house/apartment before you leave. 

How clean is “clean” can be in the eye of the beholder, of course. You can think you’ve cleaned the house from top to bottom, but the returning homeowner could disagree. A

casual discussion about cleaning expectations with the homeowner before the sit commences may be worth having.

If it sounds like they expect too much, you can always change your mind – just be considerate and don’t leave your cancellation too late.

Here’s one good rule of thumb: the longer you stay, the more time you should spend cleaning before you leave.  

6. You’re a doorman/concierge

This is a pretty easy one. As a house sitter, you’ll likely have to sign for deliveries and may need to allow entry to maintenance workers or the homeowner’s cleaner or gardener.

7. You’re a personal photographer

If there’s one piece of advice new pet sitters should follow, it’s this: take photos of the pet, and send them to the owner.

As a sitter, you’re in charge of the thing the homeowner values more than anything in the world – their pet. While you know you’re a responsible pet sitter, to the homeowner you’re basically a stranger. 

8. You’re a dog walker

For house sitters, walking a well-behaved dog is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Not only do you make the dog happy, you get a chance to explore the neighborhood and perhaps meet some locals.

But walking a dog can also be highly stressful. If the dog is anxious, untrained, or highly reactive, it’s important to be aware of that before you accept the sit, so you can make an informed decision about whether it’s a job you want to take on. 

Also consider the number of dogs you’re looking after. If there are two dogs in the house that need to be walked separately, you could be looking at four walks a day.

That may be fine if you’re house sitting as a couple. But for a solo house sitter, it’s going to be an enormous time suck.

9. You’re a groomer

OK, you probably won’t need to bother much with grooming a pet if you’re only staying for a few days.

But you’d better be prepared to use that hair brush if you’re on a long-term stay with a long-haired cat like a Persian.

You’ll also need to keep on top of grooming with a dog with long or woolly hair like a poodle, Airedale terrier, or an old English sheepdog.

10. You’re a care-giver

Looking after pets isn’t just about keeping them fed, exercised and safe – although those are by far the most important jobs.

Your job is also to provide care and companionship, whether that means playing with an indoor cat, monitoring a nervous dog’s anxiety levels, or showing lots of affection whenever the pet wants it.

Three ways house sitting is not a job

1. You’re not being paid

This is by far the biggest way that house sitting or pet sitting via a site like Trusted Housesitters is not a job. While paid sitting opportunities do exist via apps like Rover, the major sites only offer unpaid sits.

The deal is: a homeowner offers free accommodation in return for you looking after their pet. Yes, house-care only sits do exist, but 99% of sits on Trusted Housesitters involve one or more pet to look after. 

It is against Trusted Housesitters’ rules to ask for payment for house sitting services, or for homeowners to ask you to pay to stay at their home. 

2. You get to hang out with pets

If you love animals, spending time with them never feels like a job – especially if they’re well behaved, well trained, or just generally low maintenance. 

3. House sitting is a win/win

Instead of a job, house sitting is more like a barter: the house sitter and the homeowner both get something out of the arrangement, without any money ever changing hands.