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Next year we are planning on going away travelling for a few months (April-June ish, if that makes any odds). We have a cat and some ducks who need to be fed/watered etc, so we are thinking about finding someone to house sit for us.
Does anyone on here have any experience of doing this type of thing? Any recommendations of a website to try, success/horror stories etc?
Are you friendly enough with your neighbours?
Ours pop in to feed and entertain the cats whilst we’re away
Are you friendly enough with your neighbours?Ours pop in to feed and entertain the cats whilst we’re away
We are on good terms with the neighbours - in fact they already help out by letting the ducks out for us when we can't in winter (we leave/arrive home from work when it's still dark).
Unfortunately they are selling up at the moment so we can't rely on them for help next year.
I had a cat sitting job for years, introduced by an old neighbour. The owner had used agencies but prefered someone she knew. Really worked for us and them, I must have done it 20 times in 10 years the same house.
Try asking friends if they know anyone, meet them and trust your instincts. Probably best to make it absolutely clear what you expect so as not to get any surprises, e.g., visitors, car use, food, cat illness.
I use TrustedHousesitters with great success.
It’s like AirBnB for homes and pets - you advertise your house and pets and be clear in your expectations - like do you need them to just feed on cat, or is there a crazy fixed sailing routine they need to follow which means they can never leave the house?! You put up what dates you need and people with profiles about themselves apply to sit for free.
Then you can message them, or Skype them to see if suitable.
I have had only good experiences over the last 2 years. Much better than with paid sitters actually.
It does cost, but it’s so minimal in the context of what you would have been paying a house sitter. Thinks it’s £90 for a year or £70 with a referral code which I can give you (or you can find online I’m sure).
I really like knowing that someone is in the house when I’m away.
I ask for proof of life photo when they arrive (if they arrive after I leave - for a month long sit I would have them arrive the day before I think) and daily photos and updates about what my cat has been up to 🙂
Think you need to inform and clear with your house insurance company but could be wrong.
We looked into this many years ago and in the end it was cheaper to board the cats than pay travel and subsistence for a sitter.
I use TrustedHousesitters with great success.
Cheers, I'll look into that.
I really like knowing that someone is in the house when I’m away.I ask for proof of life photo when they arrive (if they arrive after I leave – for a month long sit I would have them arrive the day before I think) and daily photos and updates about what my cat has been up to
We probably wouldn't need anything that often, but a couple of pics every week or so sounds a good idea.
Think you need to inform and clear with your house insurance company but could be wrong.
We looked into this many years ago and in the end it was cheaper to board the cats than pay travel and subsistence for a sitter.
Yea, figured both insurance and mortgage providers would need to be informed. If house sitting is an issue for either of those, that might swing things in favour of re-homing the animals elsewhere while we're away and leaving the house empty. My mum would happily take the cat, rehoming 8 ducks is a little trickier, though not impossible.
Mskenneththecurtain has put up an ad on one of the house sitting sites, so we'll see what sort of responses we get to that for now.