Caretaker Tips for Rent-Free Living

Here are some caretaker tips for rent-free living. I hope that both new and experienced caretakers will find these useful. For additional information, I've included more tips for rent-free living in the Letters to the Editor section in the current issue of The Caretaker Gazette.

• Carefully read the details for each rent-free living position in THE CARETAKER GAZETTE. Contact the property owner via the contact information that he/she has included in the position listing. For example, if the property owner includes a mailing address and asks that resumes and references be sent to that address, please do that. (and, please, do not look up their phone numbers and call them if they have not included a phone number in their ad). Similarly, if they want to initially be contacted by email, please use the email address that they have listed in the ad to contact them. Please do not ask us for additional contact information. The property owners have authorized us to release only the information that is included in their ad.

• If you think that you are ready to enjoy rent-free living as a caretaker or a housesitter, be ready to respond to the ads that are run in the Gazette. You should have a current resume and references ready to provide to the property owners.

• Once you are contacted by the property owners, you should ask them if they have had caretakers in the past. If so, request the details, in writing, for the duties, responsibilities, whether bonding is required, any animal or pet care, handling of utility payments, garbage collection, emergency contacts, and, if it is an absentee landowner situation, how they would like you to keep in touch with then.

• When you and the property owner have worked out the details of the caretaking position, you should ask if the details can be put in writing and signed by both parties. You and the property owner might want to include the starting and ending dates of the assignment, list of duties and responsibilities, details of the housing and compensation provided, and a list of emergency contacts.