House sitting—caring for someone’s home and/or pets while the owners are away—literally means looking after a property and/or animals during the owners’ absence, typically on holiday or staying at another residence. It’s a classic exchange economy: no money changes hands between owners and sitters. Homeowners gain free security for their property and dedicated care for their pets, while sitters (house sitters) enjoy free accommodation in return. Typical sits last one or two weeks, but they can be as short as a couple of days or, occasionally, stretch to several months or even a full year.
House sitting is an excellent option for longer-term travelers, such as digital nomads or anyone working remotely while on the road. It’s less ideal for short holidays, especially if pets are involved, as it requires the sitter to spend significant time at the home rather than out exploring sights or wandering the city most of the day.
Inviting a house sitter into your home naturally requires trust in their honesty, reliability, and competence—to ensure your belongings and beloved pets are safe and well cared for. While some sits are arranged informally (e.g., via Facebook groups), the most common and secure option is using dedicated platforms where sitters have verified profiles and reviews from previous assignments.
We do a lot of house sitting because it lets us stay longer in fascinating locations and immerse ourselves in local life more deeply than typical tourism. As sitters, we save on accommodation costs and get to live in well-equipped homes—often with great kitchens for cooking proper meals. The comforts of a “real home” usually far surpass those of short-term rentals (like many Airbnb properties), where kitchens are often under-equipped and overall comfort can feel makeshift.
Of course, a major draw is the pets themselves. We’re both huge animal lovers, so it’s wonderful to spend time petting dogs, taking them for walks, or bonding with cats during sits. Many homeowners are expats living abroad, and their homes are often quite impressive. We’re happy in ordinary places too, but some sits come with extras like a private pool, gym, or even a luxurious guest house. We’ve seen listings for French chateaus and luxury boats, so the variety is huge. Some sits are very relaxed (mainly just being present), while others—with multiple pets and a garden—require several hours of daily effort. Always clarify the exact responsibilities, routines, and any special needs of the pets before committing.
So far, we’ve house sat in Portugal, Cyprus, Germany, France, Spain, Mexico, the USA, and more. We recently launched our own website dedicated to house sitting. The practice has become very popular globally, and competition is fierce—especially for longer sits or spots in desirable locations. It’s important to market yourself well and, of course, perform every sit so excellently that owners, pets, garden, and houseplants are all thriving when the owners return. A great sit often brings glowing reviews, possibly repeat invitations if schedules align, and—in the best cases—new two- and four-legged friends around the world!
Interested in becoming a house sitter? Join TrustedHousesitters (using this link gets you a discount on your first annual membership, and we receive credit too) and browse the opportunities. You can view open sits without membership, but full details are visible only to members.
Also check out our tips checklist for beginner house sitters—how to compete effectively and land the house sitting assignments you want!