Category: House Sitters

House Sitting: Top Tips on picking the service that’s right for you

optionsYou’ve decided to try your hand at house and pet sitting?

Great idea! It’s a fantastic way to visit new locations while saving lots of money on one of the biggest travel expenses of all: accommodation.

No doubt you’ve already searched the web to find house and pet sitting services that can put you into contact with home and pet owners looking for sitters right across Australia.

But if you’ve done your homework, you may also have noticed that terms and conditions vary quite considerably from service to service. Continue reading “House Sitting: Top Tips on picking the service that’s right for you”

Loving and Leaving: The Pet Sitter’s Guide to a Healthy Goodbye

man-and-dog2The results are in – Australia is one of the most prolific pet-owning nations in the world! Almost two thirds of Australian homes include at least one pet, and our furry, feathered or finned friends offer their owners an amazing array of psychological and physiological benefits.

Of course, along with the bonuses of pet ownership comes a significant level of responsibility. Among other considerations, pets should enjoy a safe, loving environment, a good diet, and be given regular health checks.

They should also be suitably cared for when their owners are away on holiday. While a reputable kennel or cattery can provide a solution, many owners dislike the idea of consigning their pets to an alien environment in which they may experience a considerable degree of insecurity and anxiety. Continue reading “Loving and Leaving: The Pet Sitter’s Guide to a Healthy Goodbye”

A New Lease on Life: You’ll Love Our Rising Rent Quick Fix

piggybank2Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more expensive, your rent goes up … again!

While Sydney and Melbourne are generally at the top of the leader board, demand for rental properties has pushed prices up right around Australia.

Now commanding a weekly rental starting at around $400 (that’s $20,800 for 12 months) in less popular areas, to over $1,000 (we won’t frighten you with the math) in on-trend suburbs, the days of the readily affordable two bedroom unit in Sydney are long gone.

Add your annual utilities bill  – gas, electricity and sometimes water – to those super-sized rent payments, and the chances of saving your hard earned dollars for any big ticket items, let alone a deposit on that dream home of your own, quickly shrink from slim to very, very skinny.

So, why not hop off the rental roundabout and join the growing ranks of house and pet sitters who are loving their rent-free life?

You’re thinking that there must be a catch, right? Understandable – but no, absolutely no catch! Continue reading “A New Lease on Life: You’ll Love Our Rising Rent Quick Fix”

Making Cents of Your Savings: 5 Surprisingly Easy Steps to a Wealthier You

cat1aDoes it feel like your hard earned dollars are disappearing into a bottomless black hole? Well, now is an excellent time to fight your way out of the money mire by creating a personalised savings plan that includes some exciting goals. And surprisingly, that’s not as hard as you might think.

Planning ahead by following these five suggestions, could make all the difference to your financial future:

  1. Write it Down: Written goals are clear, measurable and motivational – and statistically, that makes you far more likely to succeed. So, take pen to paper and list your financial goals. Do you want to clear your credit card debt? Save for a house deposit? Buy a new car? Travel around the world? Enjoy the process of listing your goals, because setting this plan is the start of creating a great new life for yourself. When you’re done, calculate the amount required to achieve each goal … and yes, write it down.

Continue reading “Making Cents of Your Savings: 5 Surprisingly Easy Steps to a Wealthier You”

Do you pass the pet test?

Just like us, every pet and animal is unique. 99% of Mindahome house and pet sits involve the care of an animal, so a love and fondness for all types of pets will be an advantage for any position you choose to take.

Many of our house and pet sitters have owned and grown up with pets, so pet sitting allows them to reconnect with the animals they love.

But considering the personality of each pet, understanding their needs and approaching them thoughtfully may help you connect more easily for a stress free pet sit.

Research has found that around 30% of dog lovers hug their pets more than their human family members. Continue reading “Do you pass the pet test?”

What motivates a house sitter?

When you think of a ‘typical’ house sitter, you don’t instantly have a picture in your mind of a person of a particular age, occupation or background, but rather consider their motivations.

We know that many house and pet sitters are self motivated, educated, go-getter people with friendly and nurturing dispositions and everyone has different reasons for choosing house and pet sitting as a long or short term lifestyle. Continue reading “What motivates a house sitter?”

5 reasons house and pet sitters win positions

Many of our house and pet sitting members comment that they often get called back for return sits. They’ve developed a rapport and even a friendship with the home owners that they sit for, that they get booked out months and even years in advance.

Being successful at house and pet sitting does take organisation and a professional approach, but it is some of the personal touches that that make can you a stand out house sitter. Continue reading “5 reasons house and pet sitters win positions”

7 answers to the most frequently asked questions about house and pet sitting

We get many of the same questions about house and pet sitting. So we thought we would tackle the questions head on to give you a clear idea of what is involved in being a house and pet sitter or being the home and pet owner.

1. How do I get started as a house and pet sitter?

Start by registering with a reputable house and pet sitting service. Be sure that you look at the costs associated with registering and compare with others to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Next, you have to create a profile. List some of the things you can do for the home and pet owner, such as garden maintenance and administering medication to pets.

Home owners also appreciate sitters who are flexible. They may want you to visit them before the sit to get used to the quirks of the home or pets. Continue reading “7 answers to the most frequently asked questions about house and pet sitting”

House and Pet Sitting: A Simple Definition

Knowing what house and pet sitting involves is the key to being successful at it.

As a general definition, house and pet sitting is…

…caring for the home, property and pets or animals of others in a respectful manner that is considerate of the values and lifestyle of the owner, while benefiting from free accommodation and flexible living arrangements.

To be a house and pet sitter, you have to have a love of animals. Pet owners entrust their treasured pets to you while they are away and expect that you will give them one-on-one attention and care, especially if they require medication or special treatment. Continue reading “House and Pet Sitting: A Simple Definition”