The $2,700-a-Week House We're Staying in For Free

House sitting has saved us tens of thousands. Here's exactly how it works.

Hello there, US of A! 🇺🇸 ❤️

We touched down at LAX yesterday morning, and after a hearty breakfast of a muffin/scone type thing, called a ‘biscuit’, some eggs and cheesy potatoes (when in Rome)…

…we made our way to a lovely town called Oceanside.

What we hadn’t realised is that it’s Memorial Day weekend, and almost every hotel was full. After a fair bit of driving and mild marital negotiation, we eventually found a little room at a budget place conveniently next to an In-N-Out Burger. I haven’t had one yet, but I’m reliably informed it’s a rite of passage, so that’ll be happening at some point.

Then today we drove on to Encinitas, where we’ll be house sitting for the next two and a bit weeks, looking after this gorgeous fella.

This is Teddy. He’s a mixed breed of some sort (ChatGPT thinks doodly/terrier), sweet as anything, and absolutely determined to be wherever I am at all times. I’ve already tripped over him twice. We are, I’m pleased to report, firm friends after one tummy rub (and a small nibble of cheese!) 🐶

And the house? Well, here’s my morning coffee view.

☕️ ❤️

It’s a beautiful 3-storey place, open plan, full of light, with the ocean glinting away in the distance.

We spent the afternoon mooching around Encinitas, which has beaches a stroll away, and a lovely long high street with cafés, shops and bars down both sides.

We also hit the farmers market (where I bought a hot tomato dip, because I am physically incapable of leaving a farmers market without some kind of hot sauce), then did a giant food shop at Walmart, because after weeks on the road I am thrilled at the prospect of cooking my own meals for a fortnight. (Even though I’m not a great cook!)

After living out of suitcases through Brazil, Colombia & Costa Rica, simply being in a relaxed home, with a dog and a kitchen and a sofa, feels like the greatest luxury going.

Out of curiosity, we just looked up what a place like this would cost on Airbnb in this area. $2700 was the going rate. A week.

We’re paying nothing.

And there’s the magic of house sitting.

In exchange for some doggy love and looking after a home, we get to stay, for free, in places we’d never otherwise be able to afford, in towns we’d never otherwise have found. Encinitas wasn’t on any list of mine. I’d barely heard of it. And yet here we are, with a sea view, a farmers market, and a very lovable dog who’s laying on my toes.

Over the past few years, house sitting has taken us to Waipu in New Zealand, a tiny town with a surprisingly rich (Scottish) history we’d never have stumbled on otherwise. Also various places across Australia, and the UK, including spending almost 8 weeks over the whole of last Christmas in a gorgeous home in Dulwich Village in London, which would have cost an absolute arm and a leg over the festive period.

We’ve also got sits coming up just outside New York and down in Richmond, Virginia later this year.

When I add it all up, house sitting has saved us tens of thousands of dollars in accommodation over the last few years. London and this San Diego sit alone would have been knocking on $20k in these locations for the length of time we’ve stayed.

But what I love most isn’t even the money. It’s that I get a big dose of unconditional puppy love while staying somewhere I’d never have visited, and would never likely have visited, were it not for this rather wonderful arrangement.

So today I want to pull back the curtain and show you exactly how we do it. How house sitting works, how to get your very first sit when you’ve got no reviews to your name yet, and how to build it into a lifestyle that lets you travel the world while barely spending a penny on accommodation.

Let’s start with the basics.

What Is House Sitting?

House sitting is an arrangement where you temporarily take care of someone’s home, and often their pets, in their absence. In exchange for these caretaking duties, you live in the home rent-free for the duration of the homeowner’s absence.

This mutually beneficial setup allows homeowners to leave their property in trusted hands while providing house sitters with the opportunity to stay in different locations without the usual accommodation costs.

It’s a complete win-win. Homeowners gain peace of mind knowing their home and pets are cared for, while house sitters enjoy the comforts of a rent-free home and the opportunity to explore a new area. It’s a fantastic way to travel, experience different lifestyles, and save a small fortune on accommodation.

It almost sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, like anything, it’s not without its horror stories, but generally it’s a wonderfully cost-efficient way to travel the world and experience new places.

Understanding What’s Involved

Before diving in, it’s worth grasping what house sitting actually entails. At its heart, it involves caring for someone’s home, and mainly their pets, while they’re away.

This can range from simple tasks like mail collection and plant watering, to more involved duties like garden maintenance. (I do NOT have a green finger in my body, so had to Facetime my sister throughout a sit last year to ensure I wasn’t pruning flowers while digging up weeds. Now I just leave it to Rhett! 😂)

The key here is trust. Homeowners need to feel confident leaving their most valuable possessions, and very often the loves of their life, in your care.

Required Qualities

Not everyone is cut out for house sitting. It requires a particular blend of traits:

• Reliability is paramount. Homeowners need to know they can count on you.

• Adaptability is crucial, as each sit comes with its own challenges and routines.

• A love of animals is usually a must, as most sits include pet care.

• Strong communication skills, a sense of responsibility, and a respectful attitude towards the property and the homeowner’s privacy are all essential too.

For you, it’s a brilliant way to slash the cost of your next adventure. For the homeowner, they’re entrusting you with their worldly possessions and, in most cases, their beloved pets.

If you’re comfortable with that, here’s your 6 step guide to getting started:

What follows is my complete step-by-step guide to getting started, from picking a platform to landing your very first sit, free for paid members. And because I want you to have everything, paid members also get my full house-sitting course in the Backpack, with the profile video walkthroughs, swipe-copy application templates, the complete pre-sit checklist, and a whole module on handling things when they don’t go to plan.

One membership, the lot.