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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