Pet sitting and house sitting services have been growing rapidly. The sitters ensure the ultimate form of security and help provide the best care to pets, and take care of the house as the homeowners can be away for any amount of time, ranging from a few weeks to even a year. These services offer the homeowners some peace of mind while they are away. Read further to know more about pet sitters and house sitters.

House sitting and pet sitting – How does it work?
In the case of house sitting, a person, couple, or a family will move into the house and look after it while the homeowners are away. Furthermore, if the homeowners have pets, the house sitter also cares for them. Moreover, the house sitter is also responsible for ensuring the gardens and plants are kept well, protecting the house against theft, and being there in case of an emergency. In return, the house sitter often receives free boarding, a bed, and the utilities of the house. In rare cases, the house sitter might also be allowed to use the car. In addition to the above, the best house sitters in the field may also be paid for their services.

On the other hand, pet sitting is caring for a pet in the pet’s own house while the owner is away. Furthermore, dog walking is also considered a form of pet sitting as the act involves the pet sitter coming to the house and providing exercise and companionship. Some pet sitters and dog walkers may provide additional services like in-home boarding. However, these services are separate and cannot be regarded as pet sitting.

How to find the best house sitter/ pet sitter?
Pet sitter
While there are multiple services available for pet care, such as dog-boarding kennels, the number of professional pet sitter services has tremendously increased. These professional pet sitters offer a plethora of services ranging from dog walking to overnight stays at the owner’s house. Further, they offer the comfort of the house, peace of mind, and reliability. However, some of the aspects to consider before hiring a pet sitter are:
Knowledge of pet CPR and first aid
Business license, insurance, and other client references
Availability of a contract that entails terms of payment, cancellation, etc.

Furthermore, one can ask for an in-home consultation to better understand the pet sitter’s experience, education, methods, training, and communication skills. One can also enquire about the rates and cancellation fees. Moreover, it allows the prospective pet sitter to meet the pets, know their routines, and interact with them.

Multiple owners find pet sitters through friends, family, neighbors, groomers, veterinarians, and dog training facilities. Additionally, multiple organizations and websites provide pet sitter locators to help one find a professional pet sitter.

House-sitting
When one has multiple pets, the boarding services cost can add up quickly. Further, if there are plants in the house, leaving the house locked might lead to their death. At times like these, one can consider house-sitting services to not only ensure the security of the house but also provide care for pets and plants. However, one must also consider a few factors before hiring a pet sitter. These include:
Past job experience
References
Proof of identification
Social media profile

Trustworthy house sitters can often be found by consulting friends and family. Furthermore, if one needs more, they can also turn to other trustworthy people, such as dog walkers, for any references they might have.

In addition, one can also choose to go through home-sitting websites, which can make the process incredibly easy. These websites verify the house sitters to ensure there are no chances of theft. Some websites also require a driver’s license and one personal reference as a minimum. If one needs a more vetted home sitter, they can hire one through a thorough identity and background check.

Best home-sitting websites
TrustedHousesitters
Established in 2010, TrustedHousesitters is one of the country’s largest, most well-known home-sitting websites. Their businesses span across the country, and they have even introduced a 3-tier membership plan with new features such as sit cancellation insurance.

MindMyHouse
Another popular house sit platform, MindMyHouse, is quite budget friendly for $20 a year. The website has a user-friendly messaging system and a helpful map locator to aid the home-sitter search.