Part II From the Property Owner's Perspective

In my last blog post, Part I of "From the Property Owner's Perspective", I shared some thoughts from Marilyn, a Roatan Island, Honduras, property owner. Here is Part II with more thoughts from Marilyn on the caretaking and housesitting experience,from the perspective of the property owner.

Gary: As the owner of a property on Roatan Island, are there any common problems that you have experienced with caretakers or housesitters?

Marilyn: A common problem is that the caretaker comes to think and act like a renter. If you are thinking about becoming a housesitter or caretaker, you might want to ask yourself some questions before beginning. For example, Is housesitting right for you? Begin by being honest. Are you healthy in body and spirit? Changing venues is not a cure for troubles. Can you resist the temptation of having friends and relatives drop in for a vacation or extended stay? As the caretaker or housesitter, only you have the right to be there, while watching over someone else’s property.

Gary: When interviewing prospective housesitters or caretakers for your Roatan Island property, what questions do you typically ask the applicants?

Marilyn: Will you find solutions to problems? Can you stop mildew from eating an outside deck? Do you know what to do if bees enter the house walls? What about a septic tank that overflows? Or an employee that steals? These events actually happened at my house. If a homeowner asks if you can handle such things, the answer he hopes to hear is, “I may not know what to do now, but I will find out and deal with it”.

Gary: Are there other things that you consider when looking for caretakers or housesitters?

Marilyn: Is it old fashion to mention morals? Caretakers live in someone's home, and should be respectful of that. Yet a common complaint is that too often the caretaker sees this as an opportunity to run wild, and end up breaking all the rules. Caretakers must have the ability to maintain, business-like relationships with the locals and employees. It is usually better while on the job to be a “hard Prickly” than a “soft cuddly”.

Gary: Any final thoughts from the perspective of a property owner?

Marilyn: “Housesitter”. “Caretaker”. The terms say it all and are so definitive. Reread them slowly because they explain the job. It can be a win-win for both the caretaker and the homeowner. Since a housesitter needs to be on the premises most of the time, he or she has the opportunity to write, paint, etc. They may find themselves in a lovely property with a great view. They just have to keep things clean and in order for the homeowner. That is the exchange. And yet this concept is so hard for some to grasp. I received several emails from people wanting to sit my house and asking if I could find them a job while they were there. My reply? The housesitting position is the job. To all of you that dream of un-fettering yourself I say, just do it! You can inherit the Earth later. Make sure you are truly able to bend, to give, and to keep a sense of humor.

Gary: Marilyn, thanks for writing and giving

advice from a property owner’s perspective. I’m not sure if all of our readers will agree with all of your points, but you do provide some excellent advice. I’m also glad that, via your caretaker-wanted ads in the Gazette, you were able to find Gazette subscribers to caretake your home on Roatan Island.