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Benefits of Having a House Sitter

It can sometimes feel a little uncomfortable to leave your home unattended, especially if you are travelingfor a setperiod of time.

While you might live in a nice neighborhood, there is always a chance that opportunists may strike. A house sitter is someone who either stays in your home when it would otherwise be emptyor checks on it daily. If you are planning your next businesstrip, here are some benefits ofhaving a house sitter while you are away.

 

Prevent Burglary

Having someone in your home while you are away is a great way to prevent burglary or vandalism. Your home will be occupied, the lights will be turned on and off regularly, and the house sitter’s vehicle will be outside, putting off any opportunist.

Not only that but if your home were to get burgled while empty, your insurance might not cover it, especially if you are away for 30 days or more. Your insurance premiums may also rise after a burglary, so having a house sitter can also be a sensible option financially as well as giving you peace of mind your home is being lookedafter.

Someone to Look After Pets

If you go away on a business trip or vacation, usually you would have to find somewhere for your pets to stay. Having a house sitter means that you don’t have to ask family or friends to look after pets, or put dogs or cats in boarding kennels or catteries.

Home Maintenance

Hiring a house sitter means that your home and garden run like clockwork while you are away. A house sitter will sort your post, rather than it being left to accumulate on your doormat, your lawn will be mowed, and trash collected. It saves you having a long list of chores to do when you get home!

It also gives you the opportunity to call your house sitter to ask them how things are or ask them to do any particular jobs while you are away, such as mailing an urgent parcel.

House sitter will also be able to call you should the need arise, or simplysend you messages or photos of your home,soyou know that everything is fine.

Damage to your Home

A house sitter will be there to sort out any emergencies that may occur in your home while you are away. For example, a burst water pipe or flood could go unnoticed for days and cause damage that could cost a fortune to fix. A house sitter would be able tosortout any problems, such as hiring plumbing contractors or basement water damage cleanup services, to get to the issue quickly.

Home Alarms

How often have you heard house alarms going off, without anyone being there to turn them off? Often, alarms can go off without being triggered by an intruder. Bad weather, electrical surges and power cuts can play havoc with alarm systems. Having a house sitter to turn alarms off should they begin for no reason will keep your neighbors happy!

How do I find a House Sitter?

To find a house sitter, you might first try asking people you know if they would like the job. Otherwise, there are websites which havehouse sitters listed that you can hire, and many of them have reviews of their services. While it might seem a little awkward to have a stranger look after your home, it is fine to meet them in advance soyou can get to know them a little better. Always ask for references, soyou have a genuine record that they will do a good job.

You can also find out more about what it is like to be a house sitter, and knowing their day-to-day routines gives you a good insight as to what will be happening in your home while you are away.

Having a house sitter benefits both homeownersand house sitters. As the homeowner, you have a trusted, reliable person to watch your home while you are away, giving you peace of mind, allowing you to relax and enjoy your trip. House sitters, on the other hand, get to experience what it is like to live in a new areaand live rent-free. Often, homeownersand house sitters have long-lastingrelationships, and it is good to have someone you can depend upon to stay in your home every time you need to travel. So, next time you plan to leave your home for a period of time, try hiring a house sitter to keep your home running smoothly, as well as keeping it protected.