More on Housesitting and Property Caretaking in the Current Economic Climate

I received quite a few email messages in response to my last blog post http://caretakergazette.blogspot.com/2008/10/housesitting-and-property-caretaking-in.html about property caretaking and housesitting in the current global recession. A few of the readers who wrote to me said that they have not yet noticed if or how the economic downturn has affected caretaking and housesitting. Several other readers, however, indicated that their lives have been impacted by the current economic conditions and that played a role in their decision to either continue caretaking or to begin caretaking or housesitting. In most cases, readers said that a combination of factors - including unemployment, high cost of housing and fuel, and food led to their decision. In addition to those factors, for those who are retired or near retirement, the sharp decline in the value of their retirement savings and/or the elimination of their pensions, made housesitting or caretaking a necessary choice. All of the readers who contacted me said that they have not noticed any decline in the number of property owners who are seeking caretakers or housesitters. Here is a letter that I received from Joy, one of our subscribers:


Hi Gary, I really enjoyed reading your recent blog post about the economy and caretaking. So much of what you wrote about this economic crisis that we're in right now really hit home for me. It is because of this economy that I finally decided that after years of being one of your "armchair" caretakers I would actually take the leap and become a caretaker. The choice was really an easy one for me because I looked at how my home value had gone way down while my property taxes hadn't gone down, they were still very high. I had a long commute so the rising cost of gas really affected me. To make matters worse, at work, there were layoffs and for those of use who were spared, our hours and benefits were cut - and now the company is ready to make more layoffs. I just decided that I would get out of rat race, at least until things turned around and maybe ride out economic downturn while housesitting or caretaking in some peaceful place. Thanks to your publication, the situation wanted ad I ran was answered by a wonderful couple who were in need of a caretaker for their home in Panama. Turns out that they had built the home and expected to be retired and living down there full time. Unfortunately for them, the economic crisis made it impossible for them to retire at this time and they both had to go back to work. Rather than let their dream home sit empty or sell it, they decided to bring in a caretaker/housesitter. The experience has been great and the arrangement has benefited them and me. As far as my life, I am so relaxed and happy now. While I am confident that things will eventually turn around for the better as far as the economy goes, I am loving this caretaking lifestyle so much that I might just make this a lifelong career. Regards, Joy M., Michigan AND Panama