Tips on Being a Good House Sitter

Have you ever thought about being a house sitter for someone? There are a lot of college students and people that are in between homes that enjoy house sitting for people. House sitting for someone is a great alternative for college students that want more privacy than dorm life offers. It is a good inexpensive way to live in a house and not have the responsibility of owning, renting or paying most of the bills. Of course there are a lot of other responsibilities that go along with the deal and here are a few tips on being a good house sitter if it is something that appeals to you.

There are a multitude of arrangements that can be negotiated between the home owner and the person they choose to house sit for them. It is a good idea to sit down with each other ahead of time to hash these out and if possible get something in writing so that you both are clear on each others desires for the arrangement. Some home owners want the sitter to be responsible for some of the bills such as the electricity and water bills since they are the ones using these utilities. Others are so thankful to have someone they feel is reliable and trustworthy watching their home that they are happy to pay all of the bills.

The first and probably most important thing about house sitting for someone is to be respectful of their home and possessions. Keep the home clean and tidy as much as possible and always make sure that when the owners come home it is as clean or cleaner than when they left it. This will assure them that you are taking care of their investment and they will be happy to have you sit for them again.

Never go through the owners possessions. Think of the home as your own but don't go digging through things that aren't yours. Put yourself in their shoes, you wouldn't like it if someone dug through your private things. Ask the owner ahead of time to make sure to put any of their special items away, just in case someone breaks in, this will also alleviate any question that they might have of you seeing something and offing with it too. Better safe than sorry, false accusations can cause hurt feelings and put an end to the job you are doing for them.

It is a good idea to limit visitors or not invite anyone over. You may be respectful of the property you are taking care of but chances are others will not be so caring. They have no reason to be, they don't have to answer to the owners when they come home. Certainly do not have anyone over for a party! The more people that come over the more of a chance of something happening. If you feel the need to socialize, go out somewhere or over to someone else's house to do so.

Take good care of the house plants. People enjoy their plants and get attached to them. Make sure you keep a good eye on them and water them when they need it. Trim the old leaves off so they continue looking nice and well cared for. Use common sense when watering, knowing that not all plants need the same amount of water, depending on pot size, type of plant and where the plant is located in the house they will all take a different amount. The owners will be happy to see that their favorite plant is alive and thriving upon their return!

Make sure the yard and outside of the house looks well kept. Whether it is you doing the mowing of the yard or they hire someone else, make sure it always looks clean and neat. This is a reflection on you as the neighbors are no doubt keeping a watchful eye on you and the place too. You can be assured they will give the owners an update on your behavior and what the house looked like while they were away.

If by chance any mishaps do occur while you are watching the house make sure and let the owners know when they call to check in. Even if it isn't anything that needs taking care of at the moment let the owners know about as soon as possible so that when they return home they are not bombarded with a list of things that went wrong while they were gone. This can be overwhelming and create a negative feeling toward having you sit again.

All in all most of these points are common sense, but sometimes overlooked. If one acts responsibly and respects the property they have been entrusted with the experience will be an enjoyable one for everyone involved. The owners will feel comfortable leaving their home knowing that it will be well taken care of in their absence and most likely think of you when it comes to needing a house sitter the next time.