How to Locate Housesitters
- 1). Speak to friends, family members and neighbors. Ask if they have used a housesitter when they have been on vacation and whether they would recommend them to you. A housesitter will have full access to your house and belongings, so getting a personal recommendation can help put your mind at rest regarding your home's security.
- 2). Contact the housesitter if you receive a recommendation from a friend or close relative. Ask what the charge would be for them to occupy your house for the length of your vacation. Do not assume the price will be the same as what your friend or neighbor had paid. Rates may have increased over time due to the cost of living or due to the housesitter having alternative work available.
- 3). Examine your local neighborhood directory to see if they list housesitting agencies in your area if you cannot get a personal recommendation. Select a housesitting service that has existed for several years and can provide names of previous clients, if possible. This reduces the security risk of allowing a stranger into your home.
- 4). Ask a friend or neighbor if they can check your house every couple of days if you cannot afford the rates of a housesitting agency. This is not as secure an option as a full-time housesitter but it can offer some protection. Ask your friend to visit at different times during each visit. If your property is being monitored by burglars, they are less likely to target your house if they see that there are people coming and going at irregular hours.
- 5). Leave a list of instructions with your housesitter before you go on vacation. This may include tasks, such as feeding tropical fish or other household pets, taking the garbage out, garden maintenance and putting central heating on at regular intervals to avoid the risk of damp developing.
Source...