10 tips on how to become a house sitter

Updated 26/11/24

Want to become a house sitter and find your perfect first pet sit? You’re in the right place!

Whether you're thinking about house sitting long term, locally, or you simply want to register as a house sitter and secure your first sit, follow these 10 tips to get your adventure started and head to our house sitting packing list once your sit is secured.

1. This is an obvious one - you must love pets!

While not all house sits include a pet, most owners on the site are seeking someone to not only look after their homes but their furry (or not so furry) friends too! So, if you're wondering how to become a pet sitter with no experience, know that loving pets - first and foremost - is a must.

The adorable animals of TrustedHousesitters include every kind of pet (unlike the pets on many other pet sitting apps), from dogs and cats to lizards and alpacas, all looking for a companion to keep them as happy in their home as their owners do.

So, the greater your love of pets, the greater your chances of securing a house sit and becoming a great house sitter. Be sure to let your love for pets shine through in your TrustedHousesitters profile. It needs to be clear that you consider the responsibilities of animal care a pleasure, never a chore!

2. First impressions count

The house sitter profile you create when you register with TrustedHousesitters is the first thing that owners will see and so it needs to engage with the owners and their pets, straightaway. You can get that picture perfect pet and house sitting profile by…

When writing your profile:

• Put yourself in the owner's shoes

What would you want to know about a person coming to care for your home and pets? Keeping this question in mind will help you include your experience and qualities that really speak to an owner. Understandably, owners also like to see a clear photo of potential house sitters and, if possible, pictures with pets too! For more advice on this, head to our blog where we explore what you'll need to consider when choosing your pet sitting pictures for your profile.

• Who are you?

Profiles should be full of personality and include your skills and qualifications, and communicate any passions that may help you to house sit. Are you an experienced chicken owner renowned for your egg collecting capabilities or the best dog walker in your hometown? Whatever it is that makes you a stand out house sitter, it’s these personal touches that will get you noticed!

• References are the key to house sitting success

References are vital for reassuring owners. Your references don’t have to be from previous house sitting experiences, as you can use a character, landlord, or employer reference instead. Then, once you have become a house sitter and gained some experience, always remember to request a reference from the owners to start strengthening your house sitting profile — simply send a request to the owners via your TrustedHousesitters dashboard!

3. Be flexible

New and exciting house sitting opportunities are added to our site every day, which means there are endless possibilities for you to stay somewhere for FREE and explore new places!

So, if your TrustedHousesitters experience has just begun and you’re struggling to find a suitable first house sit, try broadening your search. The more flexible you can be with location and dates, the more house sits you can find, the more applications you can send, and the more likely you are to secure a house sit. It’s that simple!

You could stay for free in exchange for caring for pets in sunny California

4. Set up a saved search

Once your profile has been created, it’s time to set up those all-important saved searches! These daily email alerts can be tailored to your preferred locations, pet types or sit dates, and will keep you in the loop of all the latest and greatest international house sitting opportunities.

What’s more, by being a TrustedHousesitters member, you’ll have access to all our pet and house sitting listings 24 hours before non-members, so you can apply to house sits as soon as they’re listed!

Take a break in Paradise - stay for free over the holidays with a summer house sit.

5. The message matters

You’ve found the perfect house sit with those two adorable tabby cats that remind you of your childhood kitty. It’s time to act fast! You need to contact the owner immediately with the perfect house sitting application message.

But how do you write that perfect house sitting application? Click here to read our useful tips that will help you secure that dream sit!

6. Keep the conversation going...

Communication is key to securing and enjoying a successful house sit. As a potential house sitter, you need to talk to the owner regularly to build trust, learn more about their four-pawed family members, and make sure you can live up to expectations.

If you want some help on how to best to communicate with the homeowner before you accept a sit, when you’ve been accepted and during and your sit, head to our handy tips here, or sign up to TrustedHousesitters' Community Forum and hear it firsthand from your fellow sitter members.

7. Find the true meaning of 'living like a local'

"When you arrive at a new destination the difference between checking into a hotel room and being welcomed into a home is incomparable." - TrustedHousesitter Millicent Mayflower

Get ready to say goodbye to tour guide booklets and online searches for ‘the best restaurant in town’. Pet and house sitting will unlock a new type of travel that will see you fall for new pets, and get to know amazing places and people, by immersing yourself in someone else’s lifestyle. You’ll be amazed by how many lifelong friendships have formed from a friendly chat with a local, wondering why someone new is walking the Westie from up the road!

Try out staying in luxury homes for free in exchange for looking after adorable pets.

8. Fall for unforgettable animals

"Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened" - Anatole France

For our fellow animal lovers, it will come as no surprise that many of our house sitters’ most memorable moments have been made when with their new pet pals. For every walk you take, ball you throw, and treat you give, the joy house sitters receive in return is twofold.

It is also a fact that living with pets has proven health benefits. Quality animal time can lower your blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and boost immunity. So, you could say that a pet sit a day will keep the doctor away!

9. Kindness and caring is the best form of thanks

As you come to the end of a house sit amidst your pet sitter responsibilities, it’s time to prepare for the owner’s return. What better way to welcome them back and thank them for opening up their home, than with a freshly made bed, a tidy house, and perhaps a meal on the table?

Of course, a meal is not obligatory — especially for the culinarily-challenged house sitters among you — but even the smallest gesture of kindness can make all the difference. It could even lead to another invitation to house sit again! And if you'd like to take it one step further, how about showing your appreciation for the sit with a gift or two? If this sounds like your thing, check out these lovely dog mom gifts or these gifts for cat owners for ideas.

10. Travel more with TrustedHousesitters

The best way to get started on your house sitting journey is to visit TrustedHousesitters.com and explore all our exciting house and pet sits (explore TrustedHousesitters reviews to hear what real members have to say)! Costing less than a night in a hotel room, TrustedHousesitters annual membership unlocks a year of FREE accommodation in amazing locations, with adorable animal companions to share the memories.

We make it simple to become a house sitter, so what are you waiting for?

This could be the start of a wonderful new way to travel or, for those considering becoming a full-time house sitter, a wonderful new way of life!

What should I know before trying to become a house sitter?

House sitting is not a holiday. It’s a lifestyle that involves the responsibility of taking care of homes and pets while their owners are away. That means that you’ll have to do basic house chores like cleaning, watering plants, collecting mail, looking after cute animals and making sure everything is ok and everybody is safe and happy. And yes, you get to live anywhere in the world, experience other cultures and enjoy the perks of feeling like a local. But as amazing and rewarding as the experience is, it comes with responsibilities. 

So, if you’re serious about wanting to become a house sitter, you’ll have to demonstrate you’re reliable, trustworthy, empathetic and, of course, love pets. For a glimpse at what preparing for a house sit looks like, explore our checklist for house sitters to get organized ahead of your adventures.

How to become a house sitter, step by step: How to register as a house sitter

So you now know what a house sitter is and you’ve decided you want to become one. You’ve read all our tips on how to be a great one. Now it’s time for a quick step-by-step guide to set you up for success. Firstly, let's start with how to register as a house sitter:

1. Sign up to TrustedHousesitters

With just one click and an annual fee (and a TrustedHousesitters discount code if you're lucky!), you’ll unlock limitless opportunities to house sit anywhere in the world, plus you'll get access to our online vet help during sits, available 24/7. By signing up to TrustedHousesitters with a sitter plan, you’ll be registered as a house sitter, and ready to connect with pet owners on the platform.

It’s your passport to staying in beautiful homes, giving love and care to adorable pets and helping people while discovering new places at a slow pace. What’s not to like about that?

2. Create a house sitter profile of dreams

Put yourself in the shoes of the pet and home owner and craft the best first impression out there. If you want to stand out from the crowd, follow these tips to write the perfect house sitter profile and you’ll be set up for success. We go into a lot of detail in that guide but, to summarise it, remember that keeping it personal, picking the right photos (with pets, if possible), getting great references and writing a cracking heading help. 

Now you can start searching for house and pet sitting assignments. 

 3. Craft a fantastic introduction message

Like a pick-up line, the first message you send a home owner or a pet owner is key. They will use that to assess whether they want to meet you or not. So, keep it short but highlight all the important details about your experience and, of course, show them how much you’d love to take care of their home and animals. 

4. Be quick

Speed is key and some house sits are a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it opportunity. If you see an assignment you’re truly passionate about, apply quickly and remember to personalise your message. Exchange emails with the owner and be fast. Sometimes, being one of the first house sitters to apply will increase your chances of getting it. 

5. Have references

Being trustworthy and reliable is key when you become a house sitter. The most important thing that a home owner or pet owner will look at is your references. Ensure you’ve got them on your profile. And if you don’t have a lot of experience yet, don’t be afraid to ask anyone who can attest to your character, trustworthiness and reliability for references (former landlords, old neighbours or bosses are good people to go to). 

6. Prepare for your interview

Arrange a chat with the owner, and prepare in advance for it. These days interviews tend to happen more over Zoom, Skype or any other video conferencing platform than regular phone calls, but nonetheless getting ready for them is equally important. 

Ask lots of questions, prepare your answers to any queries the owner may have, be honest and, after all, trust your gut. The vibe needs to be right, so don’t be afraid to say no if something doesn’t add up. 

For more information on house sitting, we recommend reading our community manager's top house sitting tips.

Helpful resources

• Is TrustedHousesitters worth it?
• Cat sitting for long-term travelers
• Tips for working remotely
• Pet sitting tips, 14 years in the making: an expert opinion
• How to become a dog sitter - local and international