An Honest TrustedHousesitters Review + Pro Tips for Success
This post was written by Emilie at Love Life Abroad, where she writes extensively about family road trips across the US and Canada.
Have you ever wondered, is housesitting legit? Well, it absolutely is!
If you’re someone who loves to travel but also wants to keep your travel expenses low, you might want to consider becoming a house sitter.
There are many house-sitting services and sites, but TrustedHousesitters is one of the most comprehensive resources for finding suitable house-sitting opportunities (or reliable house-sitters)!
Housesitting and pet sitting are great options for pet lovers, remote workers, and travelers who are willing to do some work in exchange for a place to stay when traveling.
Here’s an honest review of TrustedHousesitters and how it works.
You’ll also find unique, helpful tips from experienced house sitters and petsitters to help you start your house-sitting journey.
How Does House Sitting Work?
What is House Sitting?
House sitting is an arrangement where a person stays in someone else’s home while they are away, typically for an extended period of time (but it could also be only for a couple of days).
The house sitter may be responsible for a variety of tasks, such as taking care of pets, watering plants, collecting mail, and performing basic home tasks. In exchange for their services, the house sitter receives free accommodation.
Why be a Housesitter?
House sitting is a win-win situation for both parties:
- The homeowner has peace of mind knowing their home and pet are being looked after, and
- The house sitter saves money on accommodation while experiencing a new area like a local.
What is TrustedHousesitters?
Whether you’re interested in house-sitting for a specific trip or as a full-time commitment, TrustedHousesitters is the top option to explore.
As the largest platform for connecting house sitters with homeowners worldwide, TrustedHousesitters offers the widest range of house-sitting opportunities across various countries.
Using TrustedHousesitters, instead of other house-sitting sites, increases the chances of finding a suitable house sit for any desired travel destination. You’ll find a lot of listings in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Western Europe, and the United Kingdom, as well as many other countries.
How Does TrustedHousesitters Work?
TrustedHousesitters is an online platform that connects homeowners with trusted and verified house sitters.
🏠 Homeowners are looking for someone to take care of their homes and pets while they are away traveling (usually).
🏠 House sitters are willing to travel to the homeowner’s house to provide these services in exchange for free accommodation.
When using TrustedHousesitters (or any other house-sitting websites), there is no money and payment involved other than the site’s membership fees. The house sitter is not paid per hour or per day to take care of pets. They receive free accommodation.
How do you get started with Trusted Housesitters?
1. Homeowners create a listing to find a house sitter
Homeowners create a listing on the TrustedHousesitters website, detailing the dates they need a house sitter, the location of their home, and any specific requirements they may have regarding the house and/or pets to sit.
2. House sitters search for house-sitting opportunities
House sitters search for available house-sitting opportunities on the TrustedHousesitters website. They can filter the search results by location, dates, and specific pet care requirements.
3. House sitters apply for house-sitting assignments
Once a house sitter finds a suitable house-sitting opportunity, they can apply for the assignment through the TrustedHousesitters website. They will typically be asked to provide references, background information, and proof of identity.
4. Homeowners review house sitter profiles and select a sitter
Homeowners can review the profiles of house sitters who have applied for their listing, read their reviews from previous house sits, and select a house sitter who they believe is the best fit for their needs.
5. House sitter and homeowner agree to the terms of the sit
Once a house sitter is selected, they will work with the homeowner to agree on the terms of the house sit, including pet care responsibilities, any specific house rules, and other requirements.
6. The house sit takes place
The house sitter moves into the homeowner’s home and takes care of their pets and property while they are away. In exchange for their services, the house sitter gets free accommodation.
7. Both parties give reviews and feedback
After the house sit is completed, both the homeowner and the house sitter can leave reviews and feedback on the TrustedHousesitters website, which helps build the community and the platform’s credibility.
How to Become a TrustedHousesitter?
First thing first, you’ll need to register to the TrustedHousesitters platform. A an annual membership plan costs only USD $129 for the basic plan and up to USD $259 for the premium plan.
After paying the annual membership fee, there are no more extra costs, for unlimited house sits for a year.
If you also want someone to look after your pets or home while you travel, you should consider the combined membership! This allows you to look for petsitting opportunities and someone to look after your own pets and home when you’re exploring new places!
Note that the Premium Membership includes perks like:
- free video calls and online chat with a veterinarian, just in case a pet get sick
- a dedicated member services customer support to help you secure your first sit
- instant alerts for an unlimited number of saved searches
- liability insurance
- a sit cancellation plan, in case the home sitters or hosts cancel
- and more!
How to Create a House Sitter Profile
Once you have your membership, it’s time to create your house sitter’s profile.
Experienced house-sitters share a few tips you’ll want to read carefully:
1. Start Off With Strong References
Pro-tip by Annie of Your Friend the Nomad
Good references are key to landing house-sitting opportunities, especially on sites like TrustedHousesitters. Just a few solid reviews could help you secure a sit somewhere dreamy like the Caribbean island of St. Croix, the iconic city of Rome, or a small town in New Zealand.
Thankfully, there are several things you can do to get your first few reviews.
First, start with family and friends. If you’ve had a house-sat for a friend or family member in the past, you can reach out asking for external references. If you don’t have any house-sitting experience, you can still ask people to leave you a review.
Even though they can’t speak to your skills as a housesitter, they can comment on your relevant qualities and talents—like being responsible, trustworthy, good with animals, tidy, etc.
You can even make it easier for your references by sending a sample review. For instance: “Annie is someone I can really trust with my animals. She is gentle, kind, and responsible. I can’t recommend Annie enough—your pets will be in great hands with her.”
From there, begin by applying to local sits. Your chance of approval increases with nearby sits in your local area because you are less likely to be late or cancel due to travel issues.
Finally, the quality of your references depends on how you perform as a sitter. You can do many things to stand out and get good reviews. The rest of this article details ways to succeed as a housesitter, so pay attention to each tip because they’ll all help with getting good references.
2. Write the Perfect Pitch
Pro-tip by Rebecca Grabowski of The Travel Scrapbook
When writing your pitch, be honest and clear about your experience. Have you house-sat before? Are you an animal lover with lots of experience taking care of pets? Let the homeowner know what you’re capable of.
Being genuine in your pitch will make the owner feel a lot more trusting of you. You can list your strengths and weaknesses in a way that makes the owner recognize you as a real and trustworthy person and not just someone who is saying whatever they can to use their house for the week.
Your pitch should be light, funny, genuine, and somewhat professional. You want to treat this person as a friend that they can trust.
Next, highlight your responsible and trustworthy nature. After all, someone is entrusting you with their home and furry friends. Let them know that they can trust you to take care of everything while they’re away.
What is a good example you have of taking care of someone’s animal or home? If you have never house-sat before, explain a time how you have helped your friends out with these things or how you take care of your own pets and home.
Don’t be afraid to inject a bit of humor into your pitch. Maybe you can’t promise to water the plants on a strict schedule, but you can promise to sing to them every day. Or perhaps you can’t guarantee that the house won’t be covered in glitter by the time the homeowner gets back, but you can promise to clean it up with a smile.
And finally, be flexible and open to negotiation. Maybe the homeowner wants you to stay for a month, but you were only planning on staying for a week. See if you can find a compromise that works for both of you.
These are all things that I include in my pitches when I look to house-sit for someone, and I tend to get a good response & create good lasting relationships.
3. Add Photos With Pets in Your Profile
Pro-tip by Catrina of 24 Hours Layover
One way to be a successful house sitter and secure future sits is to have lots of photos with you and different pets on your house-sitting profile.
Seeing several pictures of prospective sitters with animals helps potential clients see that you are comfortable and experienced looking after animals.
By including photos of you interacting with pets and having fun with them, you can demonstrate your love and passion for animals, which can be reassuring for pet owners who are looking for a trustworthy and reliable pet sitter to look after their fur babies whilst they go away.
In addition, pet owners want to know that their pets will receive plenty of attention and affection while they are away. By showing pictures of you cuddling or playing with animals, you can give pet owners confidence that their pets will be in good hands with you and will be happy having you around.
Including photos of you with animals can also help you stand out from other pet sitters who may not have as much experience or who may not be as passionate about animals.
By demonstrating your expertise and genuine love for animals, you can make a strong impression on potential clients and increase your chances of securing future house sits.
By following this tip (and other tips), Catrina was able to give up her day job and travel because of housesitting.
4. How to Write the Perfect Intro Application to Convince a Pet Owner That You’re the Perfect Sitter
Pro-tip by Colleen from Then We Walked
Collen has been using house-sitters for years and goes away a LOT, walking and travelling. Here is how you can convince her (and other home/pet owner) that you’re the perfect sitter:
“We live in a very popular area in France and receive a lot of applicants. Experience has taught us how to narrow the field.
Our recommendations for a potential sitter to write the perfect house-sits application are :
- Treat your application like a job application. Convince me that you have read the job description and explain why you are the best candidate. Keep it short as I check your profile.
- Don’t tell us that you’re travelling the world and want to visit France. We read that you’re looking for free accommodation.
- Don’t ask if you can invite family, friends or bring your well-behaved dog. We only allow applicants to stay in our home and never allow pets. These requests suggest you’re looking for a free holiday.
- Get reviews even if it means house-sits in places you don’t wish to visit. We never ‘book’ anyone unless they have 5⭐️ reviews on the platform that we’re using. We don’t pay attention to references from outside the platform.
- Pay to join a house-sitting website. We don’t use free sites and feel happier ‘booking’ someone who’s prepared to invest.
- Don’t call my cat a fur baby. In my profile, I say that she loves a neck rub and a back scratch, quote this back to me, and I know you’ve read my profile.
- Our listing says you need a car. Tell me you have a car. Refer to the advert, and confirm details and dates to show that you are serious.
- Ask questions. The more experienced sitters always have a few questions and provide me with alternative ways to communicate, such as Whatsapp.”
How to Avoid a Bad experience with TrustedHousesitters: Pro-Tips from House Sitters
1. Ask Lots of Questions
Pro-tip by Courts from Postcards by Courts
Traveling abroad and having the opportunity to stay in someone’s beautiful home in exchange for keeping it clean (& sometimes looking after their pets) sounds like a dream, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility.
Asking questions of the house owners is an essential part of house sitting, whether you are a seasoned house sitter or a first-timer. By asking questions, you can get a better understanding of the homeowner’s expectations, preferences, and any potential issues you might face while house-sitting. Here are some reasons why you should always ask questions when house-sitting:
- Understand the homeowner’s expectations: Each homeowner has unique expectations for their home and pets. By asking questions, you can ensure that you are meeting the homeowner’s requirements and keeping their home and pets safe.
- Know the routines and habits of the pets: Understanding the pets’ routines and habits can make a big difference in how you take care of them. Asking questions about their feeding schedules, exercise routines, and any medical conditions they have can help you provide better care for them.
- Avoid surprises: Asking questions can help you avoid any surprises that might occur while you are house sitting. For example, if there is a problem with the house’s plumbing or heating system, asking about it beforehand can help you be better prepared to handle the situation.
- Establish clear communication: Asking questions can help establish clear communication between you and the homeowner. By understanding their expectations and preferences, you can ensure that you are on the same page and avoid any misunderstandings.
- Build trust: Asking questions shows that you are interested in doing a good job and taking care of the homeowner’s property and pets. This can help build trust between you and the homeowner, making them more likely to ask you to house-sit again in the future.
2. Meet via Zoom or In Person Prior to The Sit
Pro-tip by Rebecca from Veggies Abroad, a TrustedHousesitter since 2022
Once you’ve found the perfect sit and they’ve reached out and expressed interest in having you come, it’s essential that you set up a time to chat.
If the sit is local, try and meet in person; if it’s not, Zoom or another video conferencing platform works perfectly! You can learn a lot about someone in a video chat!
Once for a sit in the gorgeous seaside and vegan-friendly town of Brighton, I met with the homeowners via Zoom and in person — this was ideal.
Not only was I comfortable with them from the Zoom meeting but meeting in person and walking through their home helped me better understand everything they wanted and any of the home’s quirks.
Sometimes, homeowners who have had a lot of sitters will say this step isn’t necessary, but I think that’s a mistake. Being able to meet ahead of time will also provide the opportunity to ask important questions.
You should ask about their pets, if they’ve used a house sitter before, and if there are special things they need to know about the home.
You should also ask them if they will prepare a guide to their home that includes emergency numbers, special instructions, and everything you need to know about the pets.
During the call or meeting, if you feel like the sit isn’t a good fit for you, for whatever reason, kindly decline afterward. It is crucial that both you and the homeowner are comfortable with each other; if not, it will be a terrible experience.
3. Match Your Needs with the Home/Pets’ Needs
Pro-tip by Jennie from Travel Bravely | Housesitting since 2018
To be successful at house sitting, it’s important to match your needs with the needs of the home or pets you’ll care for. My partner and I, plus our three daughters, did quite a bit of pet-sitting in Australia on our family sabbatical. By matching our needs to the needs of the pets we looked after, everyone had a great experience.
Because we were house-sitting while traveling, we planned to spend most days out of the house for part or all of the day. While there might be days when we’d be home for most of the day, we knew those days would be rare.
So, in our situation, cats were the best pet for us to care for. We were there to feed them in the morning and at night, and we had plenty of time at home to give them as much attention as they wanted. But because cats can be left alone throughout the day, we were able to spend our days exploring cities and having adventures.
On our sabbatical trip, we would not have been a good match for dogs, who need long walks, more engagement, and more frequent outdoor breaks.
However, our recent house sitter who took care of our dog was perfect. She wanted to spend lots of time at our house because she was writing a book.
Also, she planned to take long strolls with our dog because she was recovering from an injury and needed to take daily walks. She was a perfect match for our affection-seeking, walk-loving retriever.
To find the right pet-sitting job, make sure your needs and plans are a good match for the pets you’ll be looking after!
4. Be Aware of the Pet Time Schedule
Pro-tip by Amanda from Hey! East Coast USA | Housesitting since 2016.
Housesitting is a fun way to travel the world as it allows you to visit new locations and get to know local neighborhoods you might not have experienced before the house sit.
However, in order to explore new destinations and see local areas, you need to know precisely how much time you will have to yourself, and this is especially true if you are looking after pets during your house sit.
As an avid TrustedHousesitter, a pet peeve (boom boom) is that many ‘pet parents’ don’t disclose how long their pets can be left alone, if at all. There’s an unspoken dance through messages where you have to work out if you’ll have time to work out, go sightseeing, or meet with friends in the area.
As well as pet time schedules, it is best to ask about visitor etiquette if you have friends swinging by to pick you up; no one can resist meeting a new dog or cat, so they’ll probably want to pop in to pet them!
Ironing out how much time should be devoted to the pets and if friends can say hello will make planning your house sit and visit much smoother.
For example, while I was pet sitting in Salem, Massachusetts, the pet parent advised that the cat shouldn’t be left alone for more than about 5 hours, or she might start yowling.
Because the home was right downtown, it meant I could still tour the city to see the striking buildings and enjoy a craft beer in the local pub before returning to cat cuddles. Bliss!
5. Be Respectful of Neighbors
Pro-tip by Denise from Chef Denise | Housesitting since 2022
To be a successful home sitter, you must get along with the neighbors. They can make or break your reputation! When house-sitting, you often don’t meet the people you are sitting for, so if you meet the neighbors, they will be the ones either singing your praises or complaining. So make sure to get on their good side.
In condos, townhomes, and apartments, neighbors are obviously much closer and you’re likely to have a lot of rules. Make sure you know what they are and follow them. For example:
- don’t park in someone else’s spot,
- don’t leave garbage in the hallways,
- don’t make lots of noise during quiet hours.
By respecting the rules, you’ll be respecting your neighbors. If you don’t know them ask.
One time when condo sitting in Laguna Beach, CA, our host didn’t give us the number to their parking spot. Afraid of making someone angry or getting towed, we asked the person next door.
These neighbors were very helpful and appreciated that we wanted to do things correctly. They became a great resource for us and let our hosts know how wonderful we were!
Whether the people next door are a few steps or a few acres away, you’ll be surprised how much a friendly wave, a smile, or a few simple courtesies can get you.
6. Know Where the Emergency shut-offs Are Located
Pro-tip by Vicky from Buddy The Traveling Monkey
To be successful at house sitting, make sure you know where the emergency shut-off for the water and gas is as well as the electric panel. It’s important that you aren’t just told where these are by the home owners; you should both go together and the homeowner should show you exactly what you need to do should there be an emergency.
You should feel comfortable with breakers and emergency shut-offs at any house sit and at any time of year because you never know when something could come up. However, it is especially important to know what to do during an emergency if you are house-sitting in areas affected by hurricanes or winter storms.
Because I grew up in Florida, when a house sit I was on was suddenly in the path of a hurricane, I felt comfortable throughout the ordeal.
However, during one of my first house sits, there was an unexpected freeze while I was house sitting in Mississippi. The house and its pipes were very old and one morning, one of the pipes burst and water was flooding underneath the house.
Luckily, the homeowner had shown me where the shut-off was in the yard and I was able to turn off the water before any major property damage occurred. Good thing we discussed this in advance!
7. Send Updates and Photos During Your Stay
Pro-tip by Jess of Uprooted Traveler | Housesitting since 2016
If you want to stand out as a house sitter, send updates and photos about your stay, especially if you’re watching pets (or even plants!) while you’re there.
When your clients are away from home, regardless of whether they’re traveling for work or going on a far-flung vacation to the Taj Mahal or on an African safari, they want to be present at their destination and not constantly worrying about how things are going back at their house.
By proactively sending periodic updates on what you’ve done around the house (e.g., watered plants, got the mail, or brought in a package), it will put them at ease that you’re in control of the situation and of their precious belongings, which will, in turn, put their mind at ease.
For the best client experience, you may want to check in with your clients ahead of time to see what kind of cadence they’d prefer to receive updates—if they’re headed to a mindfulness retreat in the remote villages of Nepal, it’s possible they won’t want their phone constantly dinging. On the other hand, there are plenty of pet owners who would be happy to receive a dozen or more cute photos of their fur child every day.
8. Leave the house extra tidy at the end of your stay
Pro-tip by Amber from Amber Everywhere | Housesitting since 2015
There’s nothing worse than coming home to a messy home when you’ve been on vacation. You’re tired, probably a little reluctant to return to your normal routines, and generally wanting to relax as much as possible before heading back to work. It would be such a drag to come home to a messy house, especially if it’s someone else’s mess.
To leave a good impression on your host, be sure to clean the house before you leave. Most of the time, you’ll arrive at a relatively clean house – and you’ll want to return it that way. If you can, spend some time really sprucing it up for a few hours before you head out because it will help make a great impression for the homeowners when they return.
If you are working remotely while you’re housesitting, be sure to leave your desk space extra tidy. Check for crumbs, coffee cup stains, and any other evidence that you spent a while sitting in one spot in their home.
Additionally, you’ll want to take out the trash, sweep/vacuum, empty the recycling, and wipe off the counters. Be sure to clear out your food from the fridge, put away the clean dishes, and certainly don’t leave any dishes in the sink. For an extra touch, you could buy some flowers and leave them in a vase in the kitchen or another central area.
🐶 Try TrustedHousesitters for your next vacation. Take care of a house and/or pets while you travel.
F.A.Q’s about TrustedHousesitters + Housesitting
Do you get paid on TrustedHousesitters?
No. You don’t get paid on TrustedHousesitters. You will get free accommodation in exchange for taking care of a house and/or pets.
What are the best house-sitting sites?
There are many options for house-sitting sites. I think that the best, with loads of listings around the world, is Trusted Housesitters. The name says it all: it’s the perfect place to find trusted house sitters!
Is TrustedHousesitters legit?
Yes. TrustedHouse Sitters is legit. It’s in fact one of the largest house-sitting website around the globe with more than 180,000 members. I wrote this honest review of TrustedHousesitters because I’ve had such great experience as a member of the platform. I’ve met some amazing people (and pets!) during my travels as a housesitter!
How long are Housesits?
The length of each housesit varies, depending on the needs of the homeowner. You’ll find sits for a few days, a couple weeks, and several months.
Final thoughts on TrustedHousesitters
So what are you waiting for? Signs up now with TrustedHouseSitters and get ready to explore the world as a housesitter!
Whether you’re a remote worker, full-time traveller, or someone who’d love a free place to stay in exchange for looking after a home and pets, housesitting can be a wonderful opportunity for pet lovers and conscientious caretakers to explore the world!
