Can House Sitting be a Full Time Job?

House SitterCan House Sitting be a Full Time Job?

 

A lot of People who love travelling are seeking the answer  if House Sitting Can be a Full Time Job for them? Let’s dive deeper and see PROS and CONS and if it realy could be a full time job as sitting and taking care of someones house with pets or without.

House Sitting as a Full Time Job

House sitting has become an increasingly popular way for people to travel and live in different places while taking care of other people’s homes and pets. For some, house sitting has even become a full time job and sole source of income. But can house sitting realistically be a viable full time career? In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of house sitting as a full time job and look at the key factors to consider.

What is Full-Time House Sitting?

Full-time house sitting involves making a commitment to house-sit year-round, often moving from one house-sitting assignment to another with little to no downtime. It is a departure from the traditional understanding of house sitting as an occasional or part-time gig.

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The Rise of Full Time House Sitting

House sitting used to be considered just a way to get free accommodation when traveling or a side gig for extra income. But over the past decade, full time house sitting has become more common for several reasons:

– The growth of remote work means people can work location independently. This gives full time house sitters flexibility to move around more.

– Sites like TrustedHousesitters make it easier to find longer-term house sits around the world. Some full time house sitters stay in each home for weeks or months at a time.

– Millennials and younger generations value experiences and travel more than material things. House sitting allows you to “live like a local” in different cities and countries.

– The communal economy has grown. More people are sharing their homes and resources through services like AirBnB.

– Pets are increasingly pampered family members. Pet owners want reliable sitters they can trust.

While there’s no official count, some estimates suggest there are thousands of people successfully house sitting full time as their main source of accommodation and income.

Pros of Full Time House Sitting

There are many potential benefits and upsides to house sitting full time:

– It allows you to live in multiple cities or countries and experience different places and cultures. Full time house sitters get to live like a local by spending extended time in each home.

– Accommodation is free. For full time house sitters, housing is provided as part of each house sitting gig. This removes a major regular expense.

– Petsitting provides emotional fulfillment. House sitters get the joy of caring for pets, which some consider a privilege.

– You can take on side gigs or freelance. House sitting provides a flexible schedule to pursue other independent gigs.

– It’s an adventurous, non-traditional lifestyle. House sitters get excitement, novelty and escape the boredom of routine.

– You can build a community of other house sitters. Many house sitters connect online to share tips and meet up while traveling.

– There are online platforms to find gigs. Trusted Housesitters and other sites make finding house sits easier than ever.

Cons of Full Time House Sitting

However, there are also some significant challenges and potential disadvantages to house sitting as a full time career:

– Unstable income. There’s no guaranteed regular pay. Income relies on finding enough paid house sitting gigs and side jobs.

– Periods of unemployment. There may be gaps between house sits, especially when starting out. This can cause financial uncertainty.

– No benefits like insurance or retirement savings. House sitters are self-employed and responsible for all benefits and financial planning.

– Can be isolating. House sitters lack a home base and community, needing to constantly make new connections.

– Challenging to develop relationships. It’s hard to date or have a family living such an unsettled lifestyle.

– Personal space is limited. House sitters live in someone else’s home and share their space. This can limit privacy.

– Lots of responsibilities. House sitting comes with many duties – pet care, plant watering, mail, security. It’s not as easy as it may appear.

– High competition for gigs. The most desirable house sits can get hundreds of applicants. Standing out is difficult.

– Potential scams and safety issues. House sitters need to be savvy to avoid fake listings, fraud or dangerous situations.

Key Considerations for Full Time House Sitting

If you’re considering house sitting as a full-time lifestyle and sole source of income, here are some key factors to assess:

– Financial needs and costs. Calculate a budget reflecting taxes, travel, medical and other expenses to see if house sitting can realistically support your needs. Have emergency savings on hand.

– Other sources of income. Most house sitters recommend having secondary income streams through freelancing, virtual assisting, or online work to supplement house sitting.

– Time commitment. Longer house sits of 1-3 months are easiest to string together as a full time gig. Shorter sits require more frequent travel and planning.

– Homebase. Even nomadic house sitters usually keep a storage unit or relative’s address for some belongings and to establish residency for taxes, healthcare, etc.

– Travel costs. Factor in any deposits, flights, transportation or visa fees required to move between house sits. These add up.

– Backups and gaps. Have a plan for periods between house sits – savings for hotels or temporary rentals, housesitting back-up options, staying with family/friends.

– House sitting credentials. Build up profiles, references, reviews to give homeowners confidence. The more experience and great references you have, the easier securing sits becomes.

– Homeowner preferences. Many want longer-term, experienced sitters. Understand common homeowner concerns to be an ideal candidate. Have local references.

– Burnout. House sitting can become tiring over time. Take breaks between sits. Say no once in awhile. Have self-care practices.

– Partnership. If traveling or sitting with a partner, make sure you’re on the same page about this lifestyle. Discuss each other’s needs.

– Pets. Consider any limitations regarding types and numbers of pets you can manage. Set boundaries if needed.

The Realities of Full Time House Sitting

While house sitting can allow you to travel widely and live affordably, it’s important to keep in mind the realities:

– It takes effort and planning. You often need to apply for gigs months in advance and carefully coordinate timing between sits. Last minute bookings are rare.

– Days can be long and tiring. Between caring for pets, cleaning, household duties and working, there’s often little free time. It’s not as glamorous as it may appear.

– You sacrifice connection to community. Constant moves mean you can’t put down roots and have to continually say goodbye to new friends.

– House sitting puts you in limbo. You aren’t a visitor, but also not at home, which can feel socially isolating.

– Personal space and alone time is limited, especially in shared houses. Close quarters with homeowners can be an adjustment.

– House sitting often pays little or nothing beyond free stay. You rely on savings or supplemental income between paid gigs. Expenses add up.

– Scams and misleading listings are risks, especially abroad. Do thorough research on each listing and host. Trust your intuition.

Despite the challenges, many still find house sitting offers benefits greater than the costs. But it’s not a long term solution for everyone.

Keys to Succeeding as a Full Time House Sitter

If you want to pursue full time house sitting, here are some tips to set yourself up for success:

– Start local. Build house sitting experience in your current area first, slowly expanding your range.

– Vet listings thoroughly. Ask lots of questions to determine it’s a good fit. Do video calls with homeowners if possible.

– Have contingency plans. Line up back-up house sits or temporary housing in case a sit falls through.

– Set boundaries and don’t overcommit. Know how many pets and duties you can realistically manage to avoid burnout.

– Manage finances closely. Track income and expenses to maintain a workable budget and save for slower periods.

– Ask for references from previous house sitters. A reputable homeowner will provide contact info. Verify sitter experiences.

– Build a profile portfolio. Showcase relevant experience, skills, passions. Provide positive references.

– Offer extra services like plant care or handyman skills. This makes you more competitive. But know your limits.

– Bond with pets quickly. Ask about care routines. Stick to schedules. Give anxious pets extra assurance.

– Communicate regularly with homeowners before and during sits. Ask lots of questions and provide updates and photos.

– Maintain your own housing. Keep a storage unit for off-season stuff. Use a relative’s address for tax/voting residency.

– Take care of your health. Join healthcare sharing programs and purchase travel insurance to ensure you have coverage.

– Create community. Attend house sitter meet-ups while traveling. Share tips online. Seek out social connections everywhere.

Is House Sitting for You?

House sitting can be an amazing opportunity for the right type of person – someone adventurous, responsible, flexible, and comfortable living temporarily in other people’s homes. If you love pets, new experiences, and can handle uncertainty, it may be a satisfying full time path. But it’s not for everyone. Consider your personality, needs, skills and passions to determine if the house sitting lifestyle suits you long term. And start small – test it out with local sits first before jumping in fully. With the right planning and preparation, house sitting can absolutely become a viable full time career.