House sitting is a rewarding way of life and the financial benefits are huge. Free board, no electricity bills, no phone line costs, no rates, no rent. My living costs while house sitting were around $100 a week.
Then there are the cute pets in most homes. I have looked after big stately dogs, little fluffy dogs, elegant cats, and scruffy moggies. I have also taken care of one miniature horse, several full-sized horses, two cowardly steer, numerous fish, and half a dozen chickens. Having pets in the homes is a bonus. I got to play with them, feed and walk them, and they kept me company.
So what is not to like?
To be honest not much, but there are a few things you might miss if you take the plunge into house sitting.
1. You can’t have parties
Having a few people over for dinner would probably be fine, but having a large group might not. Anything that might cause undue wear and tear on the house or annoy the neighbours would not be a good idea. Now I am in my own home, I can invite all the family over any time.
2. You usually can’t go away for the night.
Since the only reason you are there is to occupy the house for the owner, it would probably be a breach of your agreement (even if it is just verbal) to be away overnight. Exceptions might be for a long house sit where the owners have set up a backup for any animals.
3. You can’t decorate it how you like
You can put some of your own things around of course, but you wouldn’t expect to hang your own pictures, or install your own shelves. I love trialling other people’s lifestyles and seeing their decorating ideas, but I miss the photos of my sons I usually have on the wall.
4. You won’t have your own garden
While I benefitted from other people’s gardens and enjoyed their fresh vegetables, there is nothing like growing your own. When I knew I was going to be settling down for a while, I got excited about having my own garden.
In summary, house sitting is a wonderful lifestyle and I love it so much, but there are responsibilities to the job too.
After being a middle level manager for so many years, I think I can live with a few restrictions when the rewards of the lifestyle are so incredible.
