Practical advice

Guides

The questions worth asking. Practical advice for hosts and sitters — not rules, just things to consider.

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For Hosts

How Much to Pay a Housesitter

Current rates across different regions and what affects pricing.

For Hosts

Vetting a Housesitter

How to evaluate experience and trustworthiness.

For Hosts

Why Housesitters Cancel

Understanding cancellations and how to reduce your risk.

For Hosts

What 'Verified' Really Means

When a sitter says they're verified, what does that actually prove? Understanding credentials and what to look for.

For Hosts

Housesitter vs Kennel

Comparing costs, stress levels, and what's best for your pet.

For Hosts

Preparing Your Home for a Housesitter

A practical checklist for a smooth handover.

For Hosts

Free vs Paid Housesitting

Understanding both models and which suits your needs.

For Hosts

Finding a Housesitter Directly

Options beyond the big platforms.

For Sitters

Your Reviews Belong to You

How to own your housesitting reputation across platforms.

For Sitters

Why Experienced Sitters Go Paid

The shift from free-exchange to paid housesitting.

For Sitters

Before Accepting a Housesit

Questions to ask yourself and the homeowner.

For Sitters

Building Repeat Clients

How to turn one-time sits into ongoing relationships.

For Sitters

Housesitting as a Digital Nomad

The unfiltered truth about combining remote work with housesitting. WiFi disasters, impossible schedules, and why some sits destroy your productivity.

For Sitters

Housesitting in Retirement

The unfiltered truth about housesitting in retirement. Health emergencies abroad, family who don't understand, and whether the lifestyle actually works.

For Sitters

The Full-Time Housesitting Lifestyle

What nobody tells you about nomadic housesitting.

For Sitters

Packing for Long-Term Housesitting

The essential packing guide for nomadic sitters.

For Sitters

When a Pet Dies During Your Housesit

A sensitive, practical guide for a difficult situation.

For Sitters

Handling Undisclosed Pet Behaviour

What to do when the listing didn't tell the truth.

For Sitters

When Things Go Wrong: A Sitter's Guide

Misleading listings, undisclosed issues, and untenable situations. How to handle problems and protect yourself.

For Hosts

Creating a Welcome Guide

How to create a guide that actually gets read.

For Hosts

When Things Go Wrong

How to handle bad housesitting experiences.

For Everyone

The Video Call Guide

Making the most of your pre-sit video call.

For Everyone

Housesitting Red Flags

Warning signs for both hosts and sitters.

For Everyone

Handling Pet Emergencies

What to do when things go wrong.

For Everyone

The Insurance Gap

What housesitting platforms don't cover.

For Everyone

Do You Need a Housesitting Agreement?

A practical guide to housesitting contracts.

For Everyone

Honest Reviews: Why They're Hard

The review problem in housesitting and what we can do.

For Everyone

What Platforms Won't Tell You

The real issues: cameras, micromanagement, dirty homes, and more. An honest guide.

For Everyone

The TrustedHousesitters Booking Fee

TrustedHousesitters introduced per-sit fees in December 2024. Here's what changed and what your options are.

For Everyone

The Cleaning Expectation

The unspoken conflict: what 'clean' means to hosts vs sitters, and why this simple topic causes so many problems.

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