How To Start House Sitting As A Side Hustle [Step-By-Step]

Do you enjoy house-sitting? If you do, you can put it to good use to make some extra cash.

It’s not an easy job, but it’s an adventure indeed. Besides, it’s the perfect job for travelers!

Now is the time to turn your passion into a side hustle and start participating in the gig economy.

An Overview of House Sitting: A Primer

House-sitting is an exciting way to make money. It entails taking care of pets, properties, and plants of other people while they’re away.

This service is widely in demand, especially among pet owners who wish to travel the world with peace of mind.

When you have someone in your house to provide pet care and house maintenance, you can guarantee a better travel experience.

The tasks of a house sitter include:

• Regular maintenance
• Feeding, walking, bathing, and caring for pets
• Watering plants and keeping them alive
• Keeping the house safe and clean

How Much Can House Sitting Earn You?

House sitting can be a great second job that gets you free accommodation, cash, or both.

Some people hire house sitters in return for free accommodation. That option is more popular among travelers or people staying temporarily in a city for work or study.

It can make a traveler’s life much easier to find free accommodation in return for some house chores and pet care.

Some house-sitting jobs offer an annual salary of around $56,000. That number isn’t fixed, of course. It depends on several factors, such as

• The house location
• The chores required
• The number of pets

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Side Hustle House Sitting?

Becoming a house sitter doesn’t cost much. According to Starter Story, it can range between $60 and $35,000.

It depends on what you’re willing to offer, and whether you want to start a business or do it as a side hustle.

To start doing house sitting as a side hustle, you won’t need more than some basic expenses, including:

• Internet access: You need internet access to find house-sitting gigs.
• Website membership: Most websites require you to pay a membership fee to search for jobs.
• Transportation expenses: You should be able to reach the house where you’ll be sitting easily, so keep the transportation cost in mind.
• Pet care supplies: Any tools that help you care for pets will come in handy if you get a job that requires caring for pets.
• Insurance: That’s not mandatory, but it raises your credibility among clients.

Where Can You Find House-Sitting Gigs?

Finding house-sitting jobs shouldn’t be a problem. You can find jobs on your own with some public relations.

You can also use the services of gig economy companies that can help you build a strong profile to attract clients.

Where to Independently Find House-Sitting Gigs

You can find jobs independently through your circle of friends and acquaintances. Here’s how:

Tell everyone you know about your passion for house-sitting. Talk about your jobs, interests, and past gigs.

Spread the Word

That way, the people who know you will recommend your services whenever possible.

Post on Social Media

Use your social media profile as a space to showcase your abilities and services. Post pictures of you caring for pets.

Don’t preach the house owner’s privacy, of course. A story or two about how enjoyable your job is should be enough.

Gig Economy Companies That Offer House-Sitting Gigs

If you want to transcend the local market, gig economy platforms can help you reach an international clientele.

Here’s a list of the top platforms to check out:

Sittercity

You can land a house-sitting job on Sittercity. This platform allows sitters of all types to create a profile and post their services for a membership fee.

Sittercity allows clients to browse the profiles of babysitters, pet sitters, caregivers, or house sitters for free.

They can only pay a membership fee if they want to post a job or connect directly with the employee.

House Sitters America

As the name implies, House Sitters America is a specialized platform that connects house sitters with home and pet owners.

House Sitters America allows homeowners to list their ads and browse house sitter profiles for free. It charges sitters an annual fee of $30.

Once they find a perfect match, both parties sign an agreement with all the required house-sitting assignments.

Why You Should Consider House Sitting As a Side Hustle

House sitting is the job for those not afraid to try new experiences. Here are some of the benefits of housesitting:

• New adventure: Whether you live in the house or only visit, taking care of someone’s home and pet can be a new adventure. You’ll meet new neighbors and make new pet friends or even live in a whole new city.
• Free Accommodation: You can cut down on travel expenses if you’re living in a new city temporarily. Instead of booking a hotel room, you can do house-sitting in return for accommodation.
• Escaping Routine: Escape your daily routine with a cheap vacation. You can plan your house sitting in a vacation destination. That way, you can have fun while performing your duties.

 Problems With House-Sitting

 Here are some of the cons of house-sitting:

• Commitment: Once you accept a job and arrive at the property, you’re stuck. Regardless of any surprises that come along the way, you can’t leave the house or the pet.
• Instability: Sometimes, you get used to the house or the pet. That’s great, but it can be a problem when it’s time to go. When you do this job a lot, you can feel that life is a bit unstable.
• Responsibility: Caring for someone’s pet and property can be a huge responsibility. Don’t expect the job to be a walk in the park. Every pet has its habits, and every plant requires a certain level of care.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Can a House-Sitter Stay?

How long a house sitter stays depends on the agreement with the homeowner. There’s no limit to the duration of the house sit. It ranges between a day and a year. In some cases, it lasts a few years.

Do House-Sitters Stay Overnight?

Most house sitters are required to stay overnight, but some homeowners only ask them to check on their pets a couple of times per day. It all comes down to the agreement between the house sitter and the homeowner.