Travel the World as a Housesitter

Traveling on a budget, but don’t want to stay somewhere ugly and cheap? If you’d like to keep your travel costs down without sacrificing a pleasant place to stay, there’s a perfect solution for you: become a housesitter.

Housesitters are regular people just like you who apply to watch properties while the owners are out of town. Housesitters live in the homes, keeping them occupied, safe and clean while enjoying a stay in a new location. Housesitting stays can last anywhere from a few days to several months.

Homeowners hire housesitters for a number of reasons. Some may have pets or gardens that need regular care. Others don’t like the idea of leaving their property unattended and vulnerable to burglary. Some hosts simply love travel themselves and want to share the place they live with others.

There are dozens of sites that connect homeowners with housesitters. Some are for specific states or towns, others accept members from all over the world. An online search for “housesitter + location” will help you find sites that match your interests.

To become a housesitter, select a site and apply to become a member. The company will generally run a quick background check on you, check references or work history and make sure you don’t have a criminal record.

Once you’ve been approved, you can search for positions that interest you. You’ll generally exchange several message with potential hosts so they can get to know you before inviting you to come watch their home.