|
Homeowner Postings |
|
Percent |
|
Dogs only |
|
31.63% |
|
Dogs and Cats |
|
17.91% |
|
Dogs Cats and other Pets * |
|
13.49% |
|
Dogs + other non-cat Pets * |
|
12.33% |
|
Cats only |
|
16.98% |
|
Cats + other non-dog pets * |
|
5.12% |
|
|
||
|
Other |
|
2.56% |
|
|
Can we say a big 'thank you' to all the people that answered our advert at very short notice.
We've had quite a stressful year and the kindness of people that house-sit has restored our faith in the kindness of human beings.
I'm just off to the UK for my yearly visit to our lovely family and friends and hope that our sitters will find the place to their liking.
Many thanks to HouseCarers.com and their amazing band of 'sitters'. Keep up the good work! you're doing an amazing job! and a big 'Thank You' to all the people that replied.
I have found your site very helpful and have just completed a house sit very successfully for 6 weeks in Napier New Zealand ...thank you ...I am now looking for my next house sit ...
Great news about the housesit. It is always good to hear stories like yours. Where are you from? and what are your main reasons for housesitting?
I have my own house just outside of Dunedin new Zealand, and my reasons for house sitting was I list my partner in an accident and then my small dog died , so I felt without any ties, now was the time to do house sitting, and its a great way to catch up with my friends without the hassle of staying with them, so I pick places where I know people and then have a holiday without the accommodation expense. I think I will work my way to an overseas house sit away from new Zealand and Australia.......Cheers JenniView house sitters profile for Jenni ... (maddie40)
Thanks for your great website. We are going overseas for a month and need a sitter. We put a free ad up on your website, and within the week we now have a sitter that we are comfortable with! Thanks again. You just saved us $600.00 in kennel boarding fees, and peace of mind having the house occupied while we are gone... bobmandyView dog sitters found profile for bobmandybobmandy, Bribane QLD Australia
Megan & Marty (Happy2B1) looked after our house and dog in France for a week while we visited the UK. They were a delightful, interesting couple and made a great job of their assignment with us - the garden was tended, the house immaculate, and the dog well and happy - they even cooked dinner for us the night we returned. Anyone booking them for a similar assignment will be lucky!!What a treat for dog-lovers ... large house, with swimming pool, on a hill 7/8 minutes walk from the village of Lourmarin, which is designated as one of the most beautiful villages in France, with a strong cafe society and many shops and galleries. Lourmarin is in the Luberon, and we are surrounded by hills and woods, with spectacular views. It is also convenient for a visit to Apt, Isle- sur-le-Sorgue, and Aix-en-Provence. The weekly market is on Friday... View ad for dog-sitter Lourmarin France
This will be our third time with House Carers. Our first two sitters were excellent and we anticipate our current sitter will be too.....Large, comfortable house in shady neighborhood on bus line and walking distance to grocery store, Starbucks, bank and library... ... view Housesit filled for Baltimore housesit new Strabucks
Thank you for this great service. We have successfully found a house sitter for the required time and found it all simple and easy to use.... We live on 20 acres in the Nambucca Valley within 5 minutes of wondrous beaches and surf.
I wanted to let you know that it has been a pleasure being a part of Housecarers. I live on a small island (Queen Charlotte Islands) about 100 kms of the northwest coast of British Columbia tucked under Alaska and as beautiful as it is I need to get off the island occasionally. I housesit twice a year for several months each time and I love the opportunity housesitting offers to spend the time to learn about the culture and people of the area I am visiting with these extended housesits. I have never had a problem with a housesit(and to my knowledge no one has had a problem with me)from your site and I have several repeat clients. I do due diligence as do my homeowners so there are rarely any surprises. Thanks for the service and your great customer service! Smiles Carolyn (Wanderbird)View housesitter profile for Canadian Wanderbird from Queen Charlotte Islands
Your service has helped us find a perfect match within a month of signing up. Thank you! Celeste& George, House and Pet Sitters - House Sitters, Username PlanetCeleste
Housecarers: Great news about the housesit. It is always good to hear stories like yours. Where is the housesit? And what are your main reasons for housesitting? Where are you from?
Celeste: It's in a small town about 90 minutes from Seattle, Washington which is the city my husband and I lived in before we set out to travel (three years ago). This house sitting job allows us to be back near family and friends at a time when our family is growing (my niece and her husband are adopting a baby), and in a way that gives us time to think about where we want to travel next. (The assignment is for a full year.) We're thrilled!
Yes I am very pleased to have found such lovely people. I have been a member of HouseCarers for about 6 years and have had four very good couples over the years through your service. The people has become good friends and I still keep in touch with them. Your service is excellent, reliable, and safe and has put me in touch with people I would never have met otherwise. Thank you once again, ...Thank you for your help in posting my advt. I have found a great couple to housesit through your advt.View housesitter found - Housesit In Albany WA, Australia for old but healthy Jack Russell Dog
I just want to thank you for your efforts at Housecarers.com. We have two wonderful furkids that need companionship when we travel, and we always find top notch folks thru your website. It is a godsend for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you... Kay (Rustygal) Bainbridge Island, Near Seattle, WA, USAHousesit Barinbridge Island Our waterfront home on Bainbridge Island is a delightful home on a no bank, sandy Northwest beach. We are only a 35 minute ferry ride away from Seattle. Our home is an architect designed Northwest contemporary with lots of light and wonderful gardens, a gourmet kitchen and an entertainment center. We have two 10 month old Norwegian Forest Cats, Annie and Zeke who love companionship and give as much love as they get. They are not only beautiful, but intelligent and entertaining....
Happy to say we're now in Spain to soon start a sit in Barcelona, then several in England and one in Zurich. Looking forward to an interesting summer.
Great news about the housesits. It is always good to hear stories like yours. What are you main reasonse for housesitting? Where are you from?
Thank you for your e-mail I have been successful in finding found a House sitter. This will be the second time I have used this site and it has been a life saver for us... Christy - username Chasing
.... We have excellent forested views from our balcony overlooking The Gap itself. Close to 2 shopping centers a gym and indoor pool at the end of our the street. House located at the end of a quiet culdesac..
This is a great site! We found a house sitter within a few days and had several good applicants to chose from. Thank you for an excellent service.... fun6644
Great news about the house sit. Where is the housesit? Out of interest what is your main reason/s for housesitting?and where are you from?Freedom7ssanz
I am in the housesit in Sydney's lower North Shore and still enjoying it. It was the first time my homeowners had used your site, and they interviewed someone else as well as me. I am housesitting because I am homeless, on a government pension, and in need of accommodation. I am on my way to achieving continuous accommodation, with the help of your website, although I do have a gap after this one and before my next one, which my family may or may not be able to fill for me. I have been living in the Far North Coast of NSW for over a decade, and have moved down here to the Sydney area to be nearer to most of my family. Ideally, I would love to have four or five long-term housesits throughout the year, Sydney in the warmer months, up north (maybe even Queensland) in the winter, with only short breaks of a week or so in between. I am on my way to that, I'm sure!
A quick note of appreciation for this wonderful service. I found the applicants for my house/dog sit to be of a high calibre, making the choice difficult. Now that I have accepted one application, I wanted to tell you what a boon this site has been for me.,,, ... Mt Tamborine's climate is subtropical, with temperatures cooler than those ofthe surrounding lowlands. With its fertile red volcanic soil and high rainfall, the plateau produces rich crops of avocados, kiwifruit, passionfruit, rhubarb, apples and mangoes. With its cool climate and spectacular scenery, as well as its proximity to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise Many thanks ... Delle (vita66)
I would just like you to know I used this site and it is FANTASTIC, thank you so much, last year we left our home vacant and someone broke in we lost !00,000.00 in equipment, by the time we finished up with insurance we were out of pocket $40,000.00. When I am away I am working and I found the perfect person to watch out home, once again THANK YOU Jacqui
Hi, and thank you - great service, this is our second year, and we had wonderful people contact re our house sit, and found a house sitter within a few days. Thank you John & Lyn - Kerikeri New Zealand
.... If you are looking for a relaxing break away from the hassle and bustle this will be ideal.... Local walks, private garden, lemon, orange and mandarin in abundance
'House Sitting in France' by Hilary Chase, will be available free to download for 2 days on Amazon.com, Kindle books, on 13 and 14 April 2012.
If you think it appropriate perhaps you would be kind enough to put a notice to this effect on your blog or web site. The book does contain a link to your web site which I hope you approve.
'House Sitting in France- ebook'
On Safari book:
http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0078DIGSA
(This one needs to be typed in the browser)
'On Safari', by Evangeline Auld will also be available, with my compliments, for free download on the same two days, 13 and 14 April 2012. This is an interactive game book for older children.
Hope some of your visitors will enjoy these.
(Books are available for free download only from the Amazon site serving the country in which you are based. Amazon uploads them as free from 12.00 a.m. US time).
Many thanks
Evangeline Auld
I am writing to thank you for your wonderful web site, and to say that it made it a breeze to find someone compatible for our home. I will definitively reuse the site in the future as we travel often. Best, Anne G...(2catsandagarden)
Dear Ian: Finally getting around to dropping a note to say how much I enjoyed a 6 week housesit in Melbourne through Housecarers and to thank you for providing this website.
I live in Calgary, Alberta and guess I'd say my main reason for housesitting is to get out of the cold weather in winter.
Getting to know 'the locals' wherever you go is an added bonus . . . hopefully you'll 'click' (have enough 'common
ground') to make it a very enjoyable experience . . . which happened with Carmel in Melbourne.
Am thinking that I'm interested in applying for housesits required in California which would be closer to get to from Canada, but haven't got around to updating my housecarers site as yet.
Thanks again for providing the website and look forward to more enjoyable 'sits'.
We have had housesits in Idaho, Colorado, Las Vegas, Arizona, Oregon a couple of years ago. This year we are in Tennessee, and again in Arizona for the same couple. We have also had sits in New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Territory in Australia, and some in the North Island of New Zealand. We live in Auckland.
When we retired from running our own business, found life rather mundane and boring, so really enjoyed organising the pet sits. We had just moved into an apartment and could not have a pet of our own, so another reason as it allowed us to look after other peoples animals. And we enjoy travelling the world and meeting new people and the costs are kept down by staying in people's homes.
We have recently organised a good pet sit in the US and we are returning to a previous pet sit we did three years ago. So it is going really well. We do enjoy meeting the people and their pets. And it seems they are equally as pleased with us as we are with them.... forrys
I recently used your service and found a very nice couple who will dog-sit for me for two weeks in April. I received very positive responses to my ad and thank you for your service... Viva123
Suit mature age ( preferably retired) active couple who are looking for a nice relaxed break in the big smoke, plenty of time to see the sights and enjoy the unique village atmosphere of cafes & boutique shopping that Balmain has to offer cl to ferry, lots of pretty parks & local walks - all along waterfront areas. The house has all mod cons / immaculate condition. One woofa to look after...
I have been successful through applying for two house-sits so far on this site.
The housesits have been in Calliope near Gladstone, Qld and one coming up in Elliott heads for 5 months near Bundaberg. We were chosen out of 28 applicants for that one and 10 for the other one.
We are housesitting as we couldn't sell our house and have rented it out and wanted to live near the coast for awhile for health reasons as I had pneumonia last year. We also want to save some money when we get to Bundaberg for further travels and housesitting will help a lot in that regard.Kate ... Bala10
What an awesome awesome service!
We came home after 3 weeks in Europe to animals that were in better condition than we left them! Our house was in better shape than we left it! Dinner in the oven and a bottle of wine from our sitters.
Our holiday was the first stress free in 15 years! I am recommending this site to friends ALL over the world. Job well done - thank you Barbara & Bill! (Jobella)
I did what you suggested and responded to all, letting them know I selected the first responders. Then I cancelled the ad. This is such a wonderful service. Just want you to know how much it is appreciated! Thank you so much.... Pgray1
We are doing a house-sit in January 2013 for 17 days. Did a house-sit in Mornington, Melbourne in middle of last year for 3 weeks and really enjoyed.
Our next housesit is located in Giru, on a small farm in Queensland. We are city people but are really looking forward to looking after the farm and animals. It is quite rural. Being city people we asked if the bus stops near to the house/farm and they wrote back and told us they were rural andthe bus didn't stop nearby. Of course not. Lesson number one. But - they are letting us use their car! It's looking after geese, chooks, dogs, cats, and a small bird that likes to sit on your shoulder. On a mango farm.Regards,
The main reasons for house-sitting are:
No. 1 - Being given holiday options that we would never even normally contemplate, or as above, you cannot find that in a travel book. But housecarers - yes.
We would never have gone to lovely Mornington only for housecarers, and met such a nice lady who owns the house. Plus we were near our grandchildren.
No. 2 - And of course it is not an expensive holiday. We do have to pay to get from Perth to over East, but we do have an option of house-sitting in WA, such as Bunbury, Geraldton, etc. which we might do some time. We would have transport then.
We love your services! Very honest people and great services! Thanks so much and we will be back again!
wendylyn... Suffolk, Long Island NY
We had a great house sit for 2 months in Australia from one of our applications and had to turn down 2 others that came at the same time. We love reading the notifications and hopefully will have more house sits in the future. We have also recommended HouseCarers.com to many of our friends.
The house sit was in a suburb of Brisbane, Australia called Manly West. It was a very nice house with a pool. We looked after the house and their lovely female dalmatian.
We spent a few days with the family before they left on an extended tour of Europe. During that time, they introduced us to their neighbours. Everyone was friendly and we made new friends. At the end of our stay, the owners even arranged for us to visit their parents.....a great place to go out to the Great Barrier Reef.
My husband and I primarily live in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, however, since my mother passed away three years ago, my father chooses to also live here. That necessitates us going to just outside of Victoria, British Columbia to look after his property in the summer (not a hardship!).
We look at house sits wherever....however prefer those outside of Canada and the US. Why do we like house sits.....adventure, new places, having a 'home' to live in rather than a hotel, to immerse ourselves in the local culture and to make new friends. We do not own any pets (although we both have done so), so get our 'pet fix' sometimes through house sits. Who could ask for more!..... Margaret, 2iscompany2
Ian and staff, I just wanted to thank you for your valuable service.
You might like to know that of the team of housesitters I chose, one of the women turned out to be (though this was not known when I chose them) a friend I had not seen in over 20 years, who is moving to the same apartment building as my friend who I usually ask to watch my pets when I'm away on short trips.
How ironic that an internet site based in Australia would reunite me with my old friend.
Anita (OrcasLeigh - Washington - housesitter required profile)
Many thanks for passing on the query from Glen McPhee, a distant relative who was trying to reconnect with me. You found the right Wendy Mills.
I am still wandering the world housesitting. I have just done sits in Scotland, Yorkshire, Wales, and now in Sweden for three months. I still love this after ten years.
I have not been able to find a publisher for my 'How To' book on Housesitting, which is disappointing, becausd I tell at least three people every day about what I do, and pass on your web site. If you have any bright ideas about publishing, I'd love to hear from you.
Thank you for your help,... AussieWendy
I would like to leave feedback for house sitter username Woodvale.
"I’ve recently selected House sitter, username Woodvale to look after my house and four cats while I was on holiday and I was extremely pleased with the quality of service received. Woodvale is reliable, professional and extremely tidy.
I have used www.housecarers.com several times as I travel frequently and Woodvale has proved to be the best housesitter so far Upon my return home I was delighted with the condition of my house: it was a pleasure to return from vacation and find a spotless house and 4 happy cats. Woodvale is a keen animal lover and took great care of my pets.
Letting someone you don't know into your home to look after can be unsettling and I highly recommend Woodvale for providing me with peace of mind."
Thanks again and best wishes,
Silvia (username silviam)
Thankyou so much for this fabulous service!!!!
We have now arranged our ... 4th! ... sitter through this service. All have been fantastic and we look forward to our newest sitter caring for our house and animals.How wonderful to be able to go on a trip and know your home is safe and in good hands and your pets are getting the love and attention they are used to receiving. and its all so simple to do.
THANKYOU.... username Setabnor
I have found your site incredibly effective. Your automatic notifications are excellent. It has changed our lives and given us a new freedom through house sitting. We never were materialistic people and this allows us to live a nomadic lifestyle as well as contributing through caring for someone else's possessions and pets.
The housesits include - 2 in Canberra for 7 weeks, 2 out near Wagga for a total of 9 months (on beautiful properties)We had other choices also.
Thanks again, your site is very well designed
Thanks Colin
PS Please have a look at my main site and be very tempted
Some of Colin's Work
This is a wonderful service. My husband and I have used it twice and have had excellent results. Most recently we hadTom & Judy - House sitters' Username Handynhearty stay in our home in St. Augustine, Fl. for two weeks.
They were fabulous and loved St. Augustine so much they are thinking of moving here. They left before we arrived back home but left the house in immaculate shape and also left a wonderful note. I would highly recommend them as house sitters.
We hope we see them again in St. Augustine, possibly as neighbors. Thanks so much Tom & Judy!
... Judith
My House-sits have been the best experience & I have made new friends as a result. My first was at Glenugie NSW near Grafton on 25 acres for 2 months, next Kooralbyn on the Scenic Rim there for 5 weeks, after that Townsville for 3.5 weeks, Kingscliffe for 1 week, then Blackbutt, Newcastle coming up. During May, June & part of July I'm house-sitting for friends in NZ. So nothing planned after that, I don't want to commit too far ahead.
My reasons for wanting this experience are.... I am now retired, so free to get about & see other places which are of interest to me, also I do a bit of writing so I'm not bothered by all the distractions of being at home.
The great thing for me is that I don't need to do this for financial reasons ., therefore I go when & where I choose, & really appreciate my home more when I return.
I find the home owners are so grateful & accommodating which in itself is rewarding & I feel I'm providing a service, to me it is a reciprocal arrangement that benefits both parties.
Ruth (NiftyNanna)
Thank you so much for your service.... Fluffydowns - Rotorua NZ
I had House sitters Jocelyn - J552712 (retired New Zealand couple) Stay and take care of my home which included my 3 cats and 3 gold fish.
What a wonderful lady so caring and spotless. I cant say enought about Jocelyn.
If anyone is wanting a house sitter Jocelyn is the one to have.
This was my first time using a house sitter and would gladly use her again.
I came home after being away for nearly a month to find a spotless home cats all happy and extra plants in the garden. I can see she puts a lot of care into her work.
Once again thanks so much Jocelyn I would be very happy to give this lady a glowing reference anytime.
On my first house sit(that I found through housecarers) in the Northern cascades! Having a blast and can't wait for the second one at the end of January!
Great news. What a great way to see this part of the country rent-free. Where is you next housesit?
Idaho for 2 months. And already speaking with homeowners about this coming summer. Thanks for creating such a great opportunity!
Just including the link to your housecarers profile:
.. I am a non-smoking, cheerful, independent and responsible single person th...See More..
HI there - just thought I'd let you know that I've done two house sits since November. One in Penticton and one in Calgary thanks to this website.
I am about to do one on Pender Island for 3 weeks in February and then one in March-April in Naramata BC for friends.
I am on CPP Disability and this is getting me out of the house and allowing me some adventure.
Thank you. Mary-jane
I joined housecarers.com two years ago. Since then I have house sat twice - for the same people - once for six weeks, once for two years. I am now responding to other housesits (as this one comes to a close).
This experience has been great and I've had really nice feedback from the home owners of recent housesits I've applied to - I haven't been able to make a match yet re. dates and location but I will keep looking - even if it is just for 'holiday' house sits rather than being main place of living.
I do it for a number of reasons:
1. I was looking for ways to be able to make the time and
space to do part time study - by house sitting I could continue to work part time plus I had a lot of peace and quiet to study - it has been invaluable for that.
2. But I also did it because I have an
interest in alternative ways of living. I grew a vege garden, joined a vegie swap, took public transport or bike as often as possible, I picked and preserved the produce from the garden trees on the property I looked after... None of these I did 100%, or particularly well (re.vege garden), but the idea was to try and see what is possible - how you can approach work differently - ie. when I had dry patches of work (because I'm a casual) I put time into the property or preserving
something for the home owners. This isn't a a plug for a fantasy hippy lifestyle (it could start reading like that) - I am always aware that I wouldn't be able to do this if other people weren't working in the system fulltime with a house and a mortgage as a result - I just wanted to explore what is possible.