From the Property Owner's Perspective – Part I

We receive dozens of emails each day - some are from prospective caretakers and housesitters. Others are from our subscribers who are currently caretaking and housesitting. Still others are from property owners - both those who have successfully advertised for caretakers or housesitters for their property in The Caretaker Gazette and those who are in the process of finding good people for their properties.

One of our subscribers, Marilyn, is a property owner who has a home on Roatan Island, in the Honduras. Over the years, she has found caretakers for her property both by running ads in The Caretaker Gazette and by contacting prospective caretakers via their Situation Wanted ads that run in the Gazette. We have heard great things from our subscribers who have accepted positions on Marilyn's Roatan Island property. Marilyn thought it would be helpful to share some information about caretaking and housesitting from the perspective of the property owner. Here is Part I of "From the Property Owner's Perspective."

Marilyn begins with a question, “Why does a property owner want a caretaker?” Speaking from the perspective of a property owner, she answers:

1. The owner wants to keep his house running and looking good. There may be employees, pets and plants to give daily attention. He or she is not
necessarily looking for skilled labor, just a trouble-shooter.

Marilyn continues, adding that there is a second reason why a property owner would want a caretaker or housesitter:

2. There is a need to have someone on the property to discourage crime. Empty houses invite break-ins, so why don’t property owners just rent out their houses? Renters can be destructive and short-term. They don’t care about maintaining property or assuming responsibility. They come and go at will. A caretaker, on the other hand, is getting a place to call his own in exchange for his time and effort.

Next week, Part I of "From the Property Owner's Perspective" -- and more information from Marilyn, our Roatan Island property owner.