Exploring the world while saving as much as possible on accommodation is probably every traveller’s goal. That option exists, in the form of house sitting. The name itself tells you most of what you need to know: it means looking after someone’s home. This article describes and answers in detail the question of what house sitting is.
What house sitting is
House sitting is a concept that brings together trust, travel and an exchange of services. In practice it means that the owner of a house goes away (on holiday, a business trip and so on) and needs someone to look after their home – water the plants, walk the dog, feed the cat, or simply make sure the house isn’t left empty.
In return you get accommodation for free – and often a whole place to yourself. No hotels, no hostels, just a real home anywhere on the planet. So house sitting is something of a win-win, though it can also be a slightly tricky situation.
Why house sitting pays off for travellers
If you travel long term, accommodation costs tend to be the biggest item. And that’s where house sitting comes in like a small miracle – instead of expensive hotels you live like a local.
- You’ll save hundreds or thousands of crowns a month.
- You’ll see life “from the other side” – not as a tourist but as a neighbour.
- You can stay longer in one place and get to know the area in depth.
- If you work remotely, you get an ideal base for calm, focused work.
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The terms of house sitting
Despite the straightforward name, let’s spend a moment on the definition. House sitting is a situation where someone lets you use their house or flat in exchange for looking after it and any other duties closely tied to keeping the household running – most often caring for pets, plants, the garden or the pool, but also protecting it from thieves or checking the post. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the reason people offer their property for this form of stay is precisely to have their pets looked after.
House sitting has plenty of advantages for the other side too – the “house sitters”. Besides saving money, they get to stay in comfortable houses or flats where they can feel at home. On top of that, a great benefit is getting to know the local culture, which is often reflected in the home itself and indeed in the whole neighbourhood.
So house sitting is a good deal for both sides – the owner of the house or flat and the house sitter. The duties involved are manageable and easy to fulfil.
Platforms for arranging house sitting
We’d recommend using established platforms, of which there are plenty. Probably the most popular is TrustedHousesitters, which has been on the market for over 10 years and is therefore used by large numbers of house-sitting hopefuls from around the world. It’s very intuitive to use – the How it works section clearly explains (including in video form) how to arrange a house sit. The downside is the higher cost of using the service.
Another option for finding places for your travel goals is HouseCarers, which comes a clear second behind TrustedHousesitters. The number of listings isn’t as high as on the site above, but you can register for free on HouseCarers and browse the house-sitting listings (responding to a listing does cost something, though).
The third site we’ve picked is MindMyHouse. This website’s slogan says it wants to connect property owners and house sitters, but the number of listings is the smallest of all the platforms mentioned. On the other hand, MindMyHouse is the cheapest and its clear user interface is a big advantage.
The best destinations for house sitting
In our view it depends most on where you want to go. In Europe, the top of the popularity ranking is traditionally held by the UK, Germany, France and Spain. Worldwide, the most popular places are the USA, Australia and Canada. That popularity is mainly down to the fact that most listings come from those places. If you’re longing for a different destination, you’ll certainly find some house-sitting option sooner or later.
Whether or not you decide to travel this way, do read our travel tips section, where we reveal individual travel hacks.
