House Sitters Are Coming to the Rescue of Many Travellers

House Sitters Are Coming to the Rescue of Many Travellers Copyright © 2005 Ian White Housecarers House Sitting Directory http://www.housecarers.com/







Everyone seems to have accepted the fact that the days of leaving

your door unlocked are over. The rise of crime is affecting

everyone, not just those who live in the larger cities. In fact,

homes in rural areas are being targeted like never before--due

to the opportunity a secluded area provides to the burglar.

Statistics tell us that theft of property is among the highest of

all personal crimes committed in the United States. While many

families do install some type of house alarm, this alone does not

bring complete peace of mind. Home alarm devices can be disabled

by a crafty intruder.



These facts alone would explain why many people are turning to

house sitting directories to help them find a house sitter when

they need to be away from home for an extended time. The presence

of a human is the main deterrent to a burglar. When you have a

house sitter come into your home to live while you are away, you

can almost be guaranteed your home will not be targeted by a

thief or vandals.



While safety is the number one reason people are seeking out

house sitters, they are quickly finding there are many other

added benefits. First and foremost, they are saved the cost

and worry of boarding their pets while they are away. Pets are

happier when they are left in their own environment and kept on

their usual routines. Many pet owners find they are not able to

enjoy their vacation when they are forced to leave their pets at

a kennel. For the individual or family who has to relocate for

months at a time, having a house sitter greatly reduces the

stress upon a family pet, and the money that is saved from

boarding fees can be astounding. A house sitter can see to the

many diverse needs of your pet such as feeding, walking,

grooming, playing and health monitoring.



People that do have to be away from home for an extended time are

finding it is much easier to have a house sitter come and live in

their home--rather than renting out their house or imposing on

family or friends to come by to tend to the day to day issues.

House sitters can do tasks such as checking mail, routine lawn

maintenance, home repair, and more. Having a house sitter can

bring assurance that when you return from your travels you

will still find healthy house plants or gardens--and that your

goldfish is still alive! Your house sitter saves you the expense

of arranging for pool and lawn maintenance while you are away, as

well. House sitters are also invaluable if a major problem arises

within you home, such as a leaking hot water heater or storm

damage.



So, how does one go about finding a house sitter? The safest

way to locate a house sitter is to go through a house sitting

directory. Here you can find a house sitter which can meet your

needs. Standard guidelines for a house sitter generally include

them taking responsibility of your home, pets and property in

exchange for rent free accommodations. Other individual needs can

also be added to your house sitters guidelines such as arranging

for them to supervise a major home repair while you are away.



You may be wondering who actually does house-sitting? You may be

surprised to learn there are many individuals who become house

sitters because it gives them the opportunity to save money on

their living expenses. This enables them to save money for their

own homes. Other house sitters may be retirees who are looking

for a change of environment after years of work, or they wish to

relocate to your area to be near relatives. A few individuals who

are temporarily relocated due to their employment may also look

into house sitting. House sitters are everyday people just like

you and me.



It is usually standard that house sitters will be responsible for

paying the utility bills while you are away. This takes the worry

off a home owner who is concerned about coming home to a large

phone or electric bill. All other bills, such as taxes, mortgage

and home insurance is still the responsibility of the owner.



When you contact a house-sitting directory you will have access

to their data base of registered house sitters. Registration for

home owners is usually free with most directories. You privacy

is assured, and your personal information will not be given out

to any prospective house sitter. You alone decide when you are

comfortable with a house sitter and are open to having him or her

know your personal information.



When selecting your house sitter, you should only choose one that

can meet all of your criteria. Once you have narrowed down your

choices, you will be given references for the candidates. This is

an important part of the process when selecting a house sitter.

Many times you will be able to talk with other home owners who

may have used this individual as a house sitter in the past.



Once you have decided upon a possible candidate, you will want to

interview them. During the interview you will want to let them

know what you desire from them when they are living at your home.

This is when you can tell them about your pets, home maintenance

such as a pool, mowing or shovelling snow. This is also when you

can get to know the personality and character of your prospective

sitter. You need to be assured you are having an animal lover

come into your home if you have pets. It would be unreasonable to

have someone come into your home who is allergic to cats if you

have one for a pet. Also, if someone is fearful of animals, your

dog may not get as much interaction as they need.



When you have chosen the house sitter you are comfortable with,

you should have a contract drawn up. This contract can be

obtained through most house sitting matching services, or you may

prefer to have your family attorney draw it up. This contract

needs to be as detailed as possible. It should thoroughly explain

your expectations for home maintenance, pet care, emergency

contact information, etc. If you would like to have a major home

project completed, such as having someone come in to clean your

gutters, or replace your windows while you are away, you should

have all the details included in your contract.



It is advised that you have a face to face interview with your

house sitter, or at least have them arrive a few days early so

you can show them particular things about your home. While they

are there, you can familiarize him or her with aspects of your

home, such as window that likes to stick, or how to program the

alarm system. This is also a great time for your house sitter

to interact and make friends with your pets. They can see the

routine of your pet throughout the day. This will help them

tremendously. For instance, if you have a dog that does nothing

but sleep all day behind the recliner, your house sitter will

know this is normal and not a sign of illness. However, if you

have a dog that bounces off the ceiling and he or she is laying

around in a stupor all day, your house sitter will know this is

out of character for that particular pet.



The peace of mind a house sitter can bring to you when you are

away from home is priceless. Using a house sitting matching

service is also the safest and speediest route to take when

looking for a house sitter. Both the home owner and house sitter

benefit by these matching services. The sitters can enjoy being

in a new area while saving money for school or a home. Retirees

are particularly pleased to be chosen as house sitters. Becoming

a house sitter allows them an opportunity to travel to a place

where their fixed income may not have afforded them to visit

otherwise. Home owners can be assured they are not imposing on a

family, friend or neighbor to watch over their home. The comfort

level that a house sitter can bring to a pet is also a major

plus. House sitters not only help deter your home from being the

target of a burglary, but they step into your shoes and take care

of the small things on a day to day basis.







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Author Ian White is founder of http://www.housecarers.com/ House Sitting Directory. Visit

Housecarers House sitting directory today.



Registration is free for homeowners (and they'll never have

to rely on cousin Eddie again.)