House sitting jobs

No, I haven't done it but I signed up for one where you house sit and take care of the owner's pets and receive their emails with postings for petsits. Some of the homes look nice.

R1 here. I forgot R1 is supposed to be snarky. I would really like to have my own business dog sitting and get paid for it.

I've done petsitting professionally, you have to be licensed and bonded. And you don't make that much $. People are notoriously cheap. If you want me to housesit and do CHORES or things like receive your packages, take care of plants, gardens, pool, on top of petsitting, then the rate goes up.

Read a testimonial from a sitter who claimed she got to stay in lovely homes in the carribean. She just had to buy her tickets.

If you plan to housesit internationally, you must have a work permit, even if you're doing it without pay. I only know this due to the discussion around that Australian who was interrogated here while en route to Canada. Several housesitters explained that a permit is always required even if you're sitting for free, as it "takes a potential job opportunity from a citizen." Just something to be aware of in advance.

Read the Trusted Housesitters website and scream. So many of the homeowners are outrageously demanding, expecting up to 20 hours a week of menial labour, eg gardening, livestock care, managing multiple dogs, occasionally building work. One even wanted someone to manage his AirBNB business, including cleaning. All this for just having a roof over your head. Fancy living in France? How about in the middle of nowhere in the depth of winter? Car necessary!

Yes, there are some good offers. A flat in central London, with only one quiet cat to take care of. But prospective housesitters have to market themselves on the website, and compete to get the decent offers.

I want to house sit Blake and Rufus's place