7 TIPS FOR SUCCEEDING AS A HOUSESITTER

I've had many questions from prospective and new subscribers who are interested in the basic requirements for succeeding as a housesitter. In response to those requests, below are 7 tips. Gary.

1. Have a one-page list of your references prepared and ready to send out immediately. Anyone who has common sense, positive references, and is in good health can be a housesitter. If you have never been a housesitter, your reference list will not include the names of homeowners but will instead include professional references: your employer, doctor, attorney, landlord, etc.

2. Have a one-page resume prepared and ready to send out immediately. Keep it simple and to the point. Be sure that everything on your resume, especially your contact information, is up-to-date.

3. Read the housesitter assignments in THE CARETAKER GAZETTE very carefully and make sure the assignment is right for you. If you don't think that you are interested in an assignment, please do not waste your time or the homeowners' time by applying for housesitting assignments that you don't think you will accept.

4. Read the details for each housesitter assignment in THE CARETAKER GAZETTE and if the property owner asks you to fax or mail your resume and references - then do exactly that. Please don't ask us a property owner's email address or other contact information, because we don't have the homeowner's permission to release it.

5. As soon as you feel that you are ready and able to accept an assignment, and your resume and references are in order, please respond to the property owner's ad with exactly the information they are asking for, and do not include additional information unless they have asked for it.

6. Ask the homeowners if they have ever had anyone watch after their home in the past and, if so, ask if they have written details for the duties, responsibilities, whether bonding required, animal/pet care, utility payments, garbage collection, emergency contacts, how they would like to keep in touch with you while they are away, etc.

7. After you and the property owner have reached an agreement, both you and the property owner should sign a written agreement that includes all of the details about the assignment.