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How available do I need to be?

We do like our Homesitters to be generally available throughout the year. This is because (a) we are busy all year round, and (b) a client may want the same Homesitter at different times of the year.

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How will you choose the homesits to offer me?

Before you join us you will have an opportunity to discuss homesitting in great detail.
At this interview, you tell us about your skills and experience and your likes and dislikes so that we can be sure to match you to assignments you will enjoy.
We take very comprehensive briefs from clients about their homes and pets, and we give you full details when offering you a sit.

You are free to choose both the number and type of homesits you undertake – and you meet the client before the homesit takes place, to ensure that this is the right sit for you.

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Do I need particular skills and experience?

Yes - you must be experienced in running your own home. Our employees are “surrogate homeowners” which means that they must be able to apply their domestic skills to the needs of the client.

A liking for dogs and/or cats and some hands-on experience is also a great attribute as many homesits include the care of pets.

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Will I be working all day?

Certainly not! Homesitting is a serious responsibility but it is meant to be enjoyable. Normally the average working time does not exceed 1.75 hours per day. When you’re not carrying out your duties, you are free to remain on the client’s premises or to explore the local area. Any period away from the property must not exceed 3 consecutive hours during daylight or one hour after dark, but you may leave the premises on more than one occasion each day.

Our Sitters tell us that they enjoy their trips out visiting local towns, beauty spots, National Trust properties or taking healthy country walks. Shops, museums and galleries are among the varied attractions of city homesits.

When in the client’s home, Sitters seize the opportunity to catch up on letter-writing, reading, crosswords, cataloguing photographs, embroidery, painting etc, whilst also enjoying the amenities of the client’s property and the company of their pets.

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How long are homesits?

The average length of an assignment is about 10 days, but there are lots of opportunities to sit for weekends – or considerably longer periods: you choose!

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How far afield will I travel?

Sitters’ travel expenses to and from homesits and preliminary meetings are reimbursed by our clients. To keep these costs to a minimum we try to select Sitters who live within 80 miles of an assignment.

If the assignment is very specialised, or booked at short notice, we may well have to bring a Sitter from a greater distance. In these circumstances, the client would be expected to reimburse full mileage at the standard rate.

Some Sitters like to be offered homesits in their local area rather than going further afield. They feel more comfortable on home territory - they know where the best shops are and are familiar with local travelling conditions etc. For other Sitters a major attraction of homesitting is the chance to travel further afield, combining homesits with visits to family or friends. We like to accommodate Sitters’ preferences in this respect – but not by disadvantaging clients. Whilst the opportunities to travel far afield are limited, you can increase your chances by

• nominating other base(s) – close relations’ homes perhaps – from where you would set off for assignments
• sharing costs to travel beyond the nominal 80 mile radius i.e. putting yourself on a level playing field with more local Sitters

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May I homesit alone – or do you only accept couples?

We have many Sitters who homesit very successfully on their own, and they tell us that staying in a client’s home is much more welcoming than being alone in a hotel or guesthouse! This is particularly the case when a ‘solo’ Sitter is making a return visit to a regular client: both parties enjoy the continuity and familiarity.

Those sitting as couples, on the other hand, often say how much they enjoy one of the few occupations which permits them to take their partner with them.

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Will I be insured?

Yes, we provide employers’ and personal accident insurance which covers you (and your partner, if applicable) as soon as you set off from home on our behalf, and whilst you are working for us.

We also carry public liability and professional indemnity cover.

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Do I have to stay at the house all day?

Not unless you want to! But the aim of homesitting is to look after the client’s property and animals, so our absence periods have to be limited.
We aim to achieve a sensible balance between taking proper responsibility for our clients’ homes and allowing you the chance to explore new areas.

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Am I allowed visitors?

No; we prefer that you meet your friends or family away from the clients’ properties, during your permitted absence periods. This may seem rather restrictive, but understandably clients like to know the people who will be in their home.

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Homesitting is clearly a serious responsibility; what support do you give me?

As employees, our Sitters operate under our direction and they benefit from the company’s 25+ years of experience. You enjoy your homesits knowing that nothing is left to chance; we ensure that you and the client have a clear understanding of each other’s requirements, and our guidelines are designed to be in everybody’s best interests.

We provide individual support for each of our Sitters from the date that they join us. One administrator (whom you will have met at interview) will take personal responsibility for you: keeping in touch regularly, looking after your interests, and ensuring that we place you most appropriately. From her/him you will receive detailed guidance notes on homesitting which are updated with regular newsletters.

We provide 24 hour support for our Homesitters (this is a human, not a telephone answering machine!), so if you have a problem on a homesit you have only to call us. In the event of a Homesitter becoming ill or having a personal crisis which results in your needing to leave a homesit, we provide a replacement Homesitter very speedily.

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Will homesitting really suit me?

Homesitting appeals to people from a wide range of backgrounds who enjoy a break and a bit of an adventure – but who want the security of a professional company backing them.

Many Sitters miss the company of pets and welcome the opportunity to “borrow” our clients’ pets; other Sitters do not have pet experience – but want to utilise their many years’ experience of running their homes.

Whatever your skills and situation, it is attitude which is key: respect for other people’s homes and possessions and a desire to provide a good service are the star qualities. Ideal Sitters are adaptable, sensitive people who take their lead from the clients – and put themselves in the clients’ shoes. With these attributes, and a sense of humour, you should find homesitting rewarding and fun!

Our recruitment process is, of necessity, lengthy and detailed. Because of the nature of the service we provide, it is essential that our clients and our Homesitters have complete trust in us, and a clear understanding of what homesitting involves. So - please - before putting pen to paper, consider carefully whether

• you will be comfortable being away from your own home, social life and interests - you can, of course, limit the length of homesits that you accept. It is particularly important that applicants who plan to sit alone have their own hobbies and interests to occupy their time on sits
• you and your partner are equally interested in the idea of homesitting; it does not work if one partner is reluctant.

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