What is house sitting in exchange for accommodation?

House and pet sitting is awesome. Fact. If you’re unsure what it means to house sit in exchange for accommodation, we’re here to help. We’ll look at what it means to be a house sitter, if it’s different from pet sitting, and important pieces of etiquette to follow on all and every house sit while you build up your pet care experience. Pack up your old ways of vacationing and traveling, find out how house sitting can be a fantastic way to see the world, without paying the Earth for your stay. 

What is house sitting in exchange for accommodation?

House sitting in exchange for accommodation is caring for someone else’s home and pets, without any money passing between pet owners and sitters.

Homeowners benefit from receiving loving, in-home pet care, and the security of having someone look after their home, while sitters get to explore the world and have pet-filled experiences - for a fraction of hotel costs.

And unlike staying in a hotel, house sitting comes with a list of important responsibilities that mean pets, homes, and gardens are all well looked after during the sit.

Is there a difference between house sitting and pet sitting?

The majority of the house sitting opportunities you’ll find here at TrustedHousesitters require some form of pet care. Our community is based on trust and a love for animals - and our sitters are here to enjoy meaningful travel experiences, enriched by caring for pets along the way.

Other house sitting websites may require sitters to do a house swap with another family, and some may just want someone else in their home to keep it safe. If you ask us, this isn’t anywhere near as fun without furry or feathered friends to look after!

The pros of house and pet sitting

The list is endless! But let’s start with a few of the key things our members love about house and pet sitting:

• Enjoy a home away from home. By staying in homes rather than hotels, you don’t have to give up any of the comforts you love - no matter where your adventures take you.
• Get to know adorable animals. Naturally, it’s all about the pets! Our sitters get to take care of new pet pals, wherever they stay - from cats and dogs, to birds, horses and llamas.
• Have an enriching travel experience. Immerse yourself in a new culture, chat to neighbors, and make friends for life with fellow animal lovers.
• Live like a local. Avoid the tourist hot spots if you prefer to, and instead stay in pockets of the world where you get to live alongside local communities.
• Save on hotel fees. Sitters can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on hotel fees - as nothing is exchanged between pet parents and sitters but loving pet care and a place to stay on their travels.
• See places you never thought possible. Whether it’s the bustling city centre of New York City, or a remote island in Thailand, house and pet sitting can take you (almost!) anywhere.

House sitting cons

While house and pet sitting isn’t for everyone, there aren’t many cons if traveling the world and caring for pets sounds like your cup of tea! With that said though, it’s important for sitters to fully understand the responsibilities they’re taking on before confirming a sit - taking care of someone else’s pets and home isn’t something that should ever be taken lightly.

Tips and etiquette for house sitters

How do you become a house sitter?

• Choose your sitter membership plan. Explore our sitter plans to find the one that’s right for you.
• Complete your profile. Upload your photos, get your ID verifications done, request your references and fill out your profile for owners to see.
• Apply to sits. Peruse our platform for sits in locations you’ll love, with pets you’ll love even more, and apply to sits where you know you can meet the owner’s home and pet care needs.
• Let your adventures begin! Make sure you understand the home and pet care responsibilities by talking with owners beforehand, confirm your sit - and pack your bags!

Do you need previous house and pet sitting experience?

Good question! Firstly, if you’ve never been pet or house sitting before, we don’t recommend applying for a house sit on acres of land with five horses, 20 sheep and four puppies! 

However, if you’re a pet lover who’s happy to offer your time towards animal and home care, you’re sure to land a sit soon enough. Just be sure to complete all sections of your profile - showcasing your personality, letting your love for animals shine through, and sharing any experience with animals you have. It’s also worth starting locally with pets who are simpler to look after, and being willing to meet pet parents beforehand.

House sitting etiquette

As a sitter, you must always remember you’re a guest in someone else’s home - it’s not a hotel or holiday rental, but another person’s sanctuary that you’re being trusted with. Essential house sitting etiquette starts with maintaining full respect for the owner’s pets, property, their belongings, and the local neighborhood. 

Caring for animals in their own home is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it should never be committed to lightly. This isn’t a vacation where you can come and go as you please - instead, you need to be able to meet every pet’s care needs during the sit, and give them the staycation of their dreams! 

Pet parents should give you a list of duties to make sure you’re as prepared as possible beforehand. Ask for all emergency contact numbers, what to do in certain scenarios (the boiler stops working, their pet becomes sick), and how they want you to react.

Similarly, keep those parents up to date each day with how things are going - if this is what they’ve asked for. A quick message, video, or phone call only takes a few minutes of your time to reassure the owners for the rest of that day.

For more info on how to prepare for before, during and after your next house sit, check out our house sitting checklist.

Helpful resources

• 10 tips on how to become a house sitter
• Tips for working remotely
• Pet sitting tips, 14 years in the making: an expert opinion