Housesitting – free accommodation outside the garrison

Are you ready to join me on an amazing journey with a budget flavor? Then pack your travel bags, fasten your seat belts and let's go! Today we are going to get acquainted with one very interesting idea of ​​an unusual and very cheap vacation. This way of traveling is called house-sitting.

What is housesitting

You do not even need to be an expert in English to understand the origin and approximate meaning of this unusual term. Housesitting is usually called temporary residence in someone's house, or rather looking after him.

It turns out that if you intend to go on vacation or on urgent business, and there is no one to leave the house for, there are many people who will gladly look after your home, feed their beloved cat and pour precious petunias on the window. These are the so-called “housesitters”, which provide such services in exchange for a certain time of free living in someone else's house.

If this is your first time hearing about this type of recreation, you may be pleasantly surprised by its considerable advantages. The main advantage of this way to relax abroad is gratuitousness. You will not have to pay for accommodation, but you will have to take on certain simple responsibilities.

This method of travel has long been known in Europe and America, but among Russian tourists it is only gaining its popularity. Interestingly, such unusual contracts between residents of exotic countries and tourists can be concluded for a variety of periods and with any reservations.

Another way to find free accommodation abroad is couchsurfing. All the details in our article.

What are the benefits of housesitting

It should be noted right away that housesiters do not aim to save their travel expenses or earn extra money. However, this is by no means out of the question! The main goal of lovers of such an extraordinary way of traveling is to learn the features, traditions and nuances of people's lives in a particular country of interest to them. It is the establishment of personal relationships, meeting new people and replenishment with invaluable life experience – these are the main advantages of housesitting.

Would you like this kind of relaxation? Everyone decides for himself. You can go to a distant country and stay for a few days in a hotel or a modest hostel you like. In this case, you will not be bound by duties and will not remain indebted to anyone.

But if you are not afraid of difficulties, are ready to take care of looking after cute pets and do not see anything shameful in accepting a free offer to live in a private house, apartment and cottage – housesitting will be the best option for you.

At the same time, you can directly plunge into the world of national traditions, see an exotic country not through the “pink” prism of the hotel windows, but become a full-fledged resident of it. Even if not for long.

Where to go

When the question arises of where to go on a housesitting trip, you have an impressive list of countries in Europe and America. Here, this method of mutual assistance is known firsthand. Thousands of tourists have already appreciated the benefits of such an unusual holiday. Among them are many Russians who easily picked up this trend.

Therefore, you can safely make a schedule for exploring the sights of Great Britain, Portugal, Italy and other countries. As a rule, the services of housesitters are used by those who do not want to leave their house unattended during their departure, who need help in looking after their pets, or who want to put their country house in safe hands during the off-season.

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It is in such cases that you can count on free accommodation and accommodation in exchange for your time and labor, which will have to be spent on performing often simple duties. Housesitting is the best way to spend a complete vacation away from home. But not everyone can afford to pay for accommodation even in an inexpensive hotel.

Who should choose

Well, are you already interested? Housesitting will be a great option for a holiday abroad for all those whose main activities are not tied to one place. In particular, businessmen who supervise affairs via the Internet, other specialists whose workplace is the World Wide Web.

Even students who do not study full-time. In general, it will be useful for them to be away from their home. Perhaps it is in the picturesque suburb of Parma or on the shore of some lake in Germany that you will think better, and your thesis will be more successful.

But all those who are “bound hand and foot” by office ties, whose work is connected with a certain place, should not despair. They can also taste the delights of an extraordinary holiday. After all, no one canceled a vacation or a weekend. It is only necessary to correctly guess the timing and discuss in advance all the possible nuances. Undoubtedly, the number of options will be somewhat more modest, but everyone will have a place for an interesting vacation even in the busiest work schedule.

How to select options and where to look for offers

So, we have already formed a certain idea of ​​a tourist vacation abroad called “housesitting”. Now let's try to figure out where to find offers, and what points should be prioritized.

As mentioned earlier, this form of mutually beneficial travel is most common in Western Europe, North America and Australia. Therefore, there are a number of sites that are always full of ads and current offers. It is enough to enter only the key phrase “housesitting in…” and a lot of options will be offered to your attention, some of them may seriously interest you.

In addition, there are already several international sites that post such ads for temporary residence in exchange for small housekeeping services. If you plan to travel in this manner for a long time, you should take care of registering on the sites. To your attention are always fresh and relevant offers that are posted on the sites:

What is necessary

Since housesitting travel involves not just spending time abroad, but also close communication with the owners of houses where you can stay for a while, discussing all the nuances of mutually beneficial tourism, you will definitely need to be fluent in foreign languages. In most cases, only English is sufficient. But it will be much easier for those who speak several languages. This greatly simplifies communication and increases the chances that you will be chosen.

So, let's say that you have a burning dream to experience all the delights of housesitting, and even picked up the first place for the trip. In addition, you are fluent in English and have a great sense of adventure. Then you have to register on one of the sites you like and make an entrance fee. The amount is modest and, rather, even symbolic – from 20 to 80 dollars. This payment will have to be made annually.

In addition, future housesiters will have to fill out a detailed questionnaire about themselves, post their photos, as well as reviews of those with whom you had the good fortune to meet. The main thing in this business is responsibility. After all, a profile filled out correctly and once will work for you for a long time, and sincerity and simplicity will become the best “magnet” for possible foreign friends.

By the way, on the Internet you can find a lot of practical recommendations and tips on how to become a real housesiter and succeed in this type of tourism.

When the registration process is completed, you will periodically receive emails with fresh offers that are posted on the site. You will only have to monitor the offers and choose from the whole variety of offers that are interesting for you, which are suitable for both dates and places.

Once you find what you need, contact the landlord. To do this, you will have to fill out an application form and wait to be contacted. Depending on how interesting your profile is, and what facts you have stated in the application, you will have a higher or lower chance over other housesitters.

If your profile is to your liking, you will be contacted and offered to chat. And if everything goes smoothly, you can discuss all the nuances of living in someone else's household.

Do not forget to find out all the points that interest you so that there are no unpleasant surprises. Fortunately, now it is not difficult to do this, because ultra-modern communication channels are at your service – Skype and e-mail. And one more nuance. Housesitters arrive a couple of days before the departure of the owners of the house in order to have time to get acquainted with the house, animals and receive detailed instructions. They leave the next day after the owners returned home.

Worth remembering

If you choose such a budget way to relax abroad, do not forget about some important points. First of all, housesitting is not a banal opportunity to live in someone else's house for free. Remember, a potential guest is chosen scrupulously, studying the personality in detail and transferring its qualities to oneself. As a rule, already in the process of communication, a certain impression is formed about the guest and the owner of the house, which, in most cases, turns out to be correct.

Europeans and Americans choose a person according to values, studying all aspects of personality. They will not let anyone into their comfortable house on the seashore or in the middle of the beautiful capital. It is not uncommon for a housesitter to receive an invitation from the hosts after a couple of letters or one Skype conversation. But the experience of compiling a profile comes with time.

Another important nuance. Since for Russians this type of recreation is still a “dark forest“, many of our compatriots equate housesitting with the services of “housekeepers”. That is why, due to the call of their pride, many refuse housesitting, declaring that they are able to pay for their vacation themselves. And they don't know what they're actually giving up!

And that's why. Housesitting does not at all indicate a lack of money for recreation. Among housesitters there are many citizens who can boast of higher incomes than the bulk of tourists from Russia. But they still go on a visit to distant countries, preferring to live in someone else's house, and not in a hotel. This is a kind of exotic, an opportunity to get acquainted with the traditional activities of people who live on the other side of the world, an opportunity to plunge into the unusual world of traditions and local customs.

Important Instructions

Housesitting, despite its growing popularity, is filled with competition. As soon as you see a suitable option for the tour, you should immediately apply. After all, only those who are faster win in this case. The more interesting the offer, the greater the queue of those who want to get it will be knocking on the homeowner's door. It is not uncommon for applications to stop accepting applications within a few hours after the ads are posted, and homeowners opt for one of the candidates.

Therefore, if you want to go to an interesting place and get a coveted offer, you should systematically monitor the options and do not hesitate to submit applications. Pay priority attention to “hot” offers, the chance to get them is always higher. Sometimes unforeseen situations happen to the originally chosen housesitter, and homeowners have to urgently look for replacements. This is where your “finest hour” can come! The main thing is not to miss it.

When considering offers, immediately specify whether you can come alone, with a couple or with children. As a rule, homeowners have nothing against such a family vacation. Well, it's not always possible to relax with animals, although there you are as lucky. Sometimes having children is a priority. For example, if the owner of the house has his own children, and would like to introduce him to communicate with his peers. In this case, you will win doubly: you will be able to spend a vacation with your family and give your kids the opportunity to “pull up” English or another language.

In addition, it is worth paying attention to the presence of animals at the host. If you come across an offer to spend a few weeks in the city of your dreams and live in a chic house on the lake or the sea, whose owner loves his pet, be sure to write about your cats / dogs and how much you love animals. Give examples of why it is worth choosing you and entrusting the care of your pet into your kind and reliable hands with a calm heart. It helps a lot.

And further. Don't be intimidated by the prospect of caring for animals. You will have enough time to visit the sights, and swim in the sea, and other little things. Many housesitters will attest to this.

Well, do not forget to agree on all the nuances. For example, many invitees do not mind at all if you drive to the city for shopping in his car. It is important to remember here that the cost of gasoline and the payment of possible fines will fall entirely on your shoulders.

Also, do not forget to specify the points related to paying utility bills, making the necessary contributions, and the like. This is especially true if you plan to live in the house for more than a month. Well, some points can generally be prescribed in the form of a written agreement. This will help to avoid incomprehensible situations and get out of difficult situations with dignity. So do not neglect this opportunity.

Undoubtedly, novice housesitters will have to learn a lot of nuances of this type of recreation. But it will pay off handsomely.

And here is another good advice: try to build any agreements and acquaintances solely on personal qualities. Trust between people is tested in practice.

This is what a housesitting holiday is like. We wish you interesting adventures, interesting acquaintances and vivid impressions. See you!