Homesitter reviews

Here are a selection of testimonials from our homesitters.

"We love that we can see different parts of the country without the expense of hotels or rentals. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy retirement without breaking the bank. Homesitting has helped us live a life in retirement that blends the joy of animals, the excitement of travel, and the satisfaction of taking on meaningful responsibilities. "
Mr & Mrs Jackson, Oxfordshire, homesitters since July 2016. Testimonial received 20th February 2025

"Now we’re retired, we can go away whenever we want, and homesitting makes that possible. It’s the perfect way to travel without the high costs of accommodation while also enjoying the company of pets. Every homesit is a new adventure. We also love the variety of homes we stay in, and each assignment feels like a mini holiday, and it keeps us active and engaged. We have reduced our energy bills as we’re away more often and this is a great bonus. One of the best parts is building relationships with the homeowners and their pets. We’ve made so many friends through homesitting, and it’s always great to be asked back to care for animals we’ve grown attached to. "
Mr & Mrs Mountain, Yorkshire, homesitters since March 2021. Testimonial received 20th February 2025

"After Max died, I was looking into dog walking as a profession and then came across home and pet sitting. It just seemed like the perfect fit—it had the whole package. We love travelling around the UK, and this job allowed us to combine our love for dogs and walking with the opportunity to explore new places. It was almost too good to be true. It's not just about looking after homes; it's about making sure the pets are happy and well-exercised. It’s been a fantastic way for us to stay connected with our love for dogs while helping others and getting to spend so much time together. We love staying active and busy and homesitting allows us to put our skills to use while taking care of pets and properties. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that we’re making a difference in both the homes we look after and the lives of the pets we care for. We were quite surprised at how much we've saved on our own bills. It's an unexpected perk of homesitting and adds to the already rewarding experience. It's been a win-win for us."
Mr & Mrs S, homesitting since July 2023. Testimonial received 25th September 2024

"There have been many memorable assignments. One highlight was looking after a giant African snail, specifically an Achatina achatina. Homesitting is more than just a job; it’s a lifestyle that keeps me very active. I really enjoy the variety assignments and the opportunity to explore different parts of the country. With almost two years spent away from home on homesits, I have made significant savings on her water and electricity bills. This reduction in household expenses, combined with the earnings from homesitting, is making my retirement more financially comfortable. It is an amazing experience, and I would recommend it to anyone."
Miss S V F, Warwickshire, homesitting since September 2008. Testimonial received 13th June 2024

"Homesitting is more than just a job; it’s a lifestyle that keeps me very active. I really enjoy the variety assignments and the opportunity to explore different parts of the country. With almost two years spent away from home on homesits, I have made significant savings on her water and electricity bills. This reduction in household expenses, combined with the earnings from homesitting, is making my retirement more financially comfortable. It is an amazing experience, and I would recommend it to anyone."
Mrs S F, Warwickshire, homesitting since September 2008. Testimonial received 13th June 2024

"As previous dog owners, we know the stress that comes with going on holiday and having to leave your beloved pets behind. By homesitting, we know we are helping people, giving them peace of mind that their pets are happy, and their home is safe and secure. Our clients have become friends, and the greetings we get from the pets we look after make it all the more rewarding and enjoyable. Whether it’s for two days or two weeks, it is a privilege and pleasure to be the guardian of animals of all shapes and sizes."
Mr P S, Derbyshire, homesitter since October 2014. Testimonial received 11th June 2024

"Homesitting offers the perfect blend of adventure, animal companionship, and the chance to escape the monotony of daily life after retirement. Being on assignment is like going on a mini holiday, where after I have done my duties with the pets I can just relax and chill out in the garden or sitting room. At home I would constantly be thinking of jobs that need to be done such as ironing or cleaning out a cupboard! On assignments we enjoy visiting local attractions, pub lunches, and taking walks, making it a fulfilling experience beyond the primary responsibility of caring for animals. It is what I call a paid hobby, a slice of joy in our retirement. While homesitting for me is not primarily about financial gain, it does provide a modest income to supplement my pension, or as I like to say a bit of jam on my bread and butter! As well as the remuneration we get a small food allowance and travel expenses. Being away on regular assignments also means that I make savings on my energy and water bills, particularly during the winter. I would recommend it without hesitation. I have enjoyed every homesit I have been on and met lovely pets and their owners. Even after losing my husband, it gave me a real sense of purpose to carry on and do something useful. I love the challenge and I am up for anything. It is fantastic to work through such a professional company. The interview and vetting process is meticulous, and from an assignment perspective nothing is left to chance. The brief taken from clients about their home and pet is extremely thorough and we always meet up with clients beforehand to ensure we all get on and that we are fully prepared for the assignment. Homesitters Ltd has your back, and as a solo sitter for a long time and even sometimes now, this has been vital in encouraging me to continue in a role that I get so much enjoyment from."
Mrs A H, Warwickshire, homesitter since September 2013. Testimonial received January 2024

"We love dogs, but we were approaching retirement and did not want the commitment of having another dog, but homesitting seemed like the ideal way for us to get our animal fix without the long-term commitment. We do around ten sits a year – ranging from a weekend stay to a couple of weeks. We could do more, but we like to do other things now we are retired and have the time. The main reason we homesit is because of our love of animals, but it can be an incredibly good way to boost a state pension and make savings on utility bills too – particularly during the winter months. Over the past eighteen months, we have done more homesits in the winter as we worked out, we save around £50 a week on our energy bills, as we turn our thermostat down when we are away - which is a big saving! On a typical assignment when we are looking after a couple of dogs, and factoring in the daily food allowance and travel to and from an assignment, we can earn around £25-£30 a day, which is roughly the same as the current state pension and a welcome boost to our retirement income. There is the opportunity to earn more depending on the number of assignments you do, and the number of pets you take care of on the job. We love looking after dogs, but we have looked after horses, cats, geese, and Koi carp during our homesitting career! It’s a fantastic way to relax and is like a mini escape from our daily lives. One of the best things about homesitting is spending the evening having a dog on your knee or by your feet to stroke while you are reading; it gives us a great feeling of contentment – and the dog too! Home and pet sitters can use the opportunity to get out exploring new areas, which we really enjoy. We like to do homesits within a 50 to 60 mile radius of where we live in the Midlands, just to cut down on travelling time, but we have ventured further afield to Norfolk, Suffolk and Yorkshire. We have loved discovering new areas and meeting new people. We have become good friends with many of our clients and all our assignments now tend to be with regulars. This is great as we are met like family friends when we turn up, with the dogs bounding up to us in excitement! We really enjoy the homesitting lifestyle. We are just ordinary people doing ordinary things and getting the maximum benefit from our retirement. You would be surprised how many people are not aware that home and pet sitting is a job, and we’d recommend it to anyone who’s retired. Where else would you get the opportunity to stay in different homes in new places and experience other people’s pets and lifestyles and not have to pay lots of money to do it?"
Mr M & K B, Nottinghamshire, homesitters since September 2016. Testimonial received January 2024

"When I got made redundant and Rosey was working part-time as a child minder, we were looking for something to fill our time and allow us to retire together," shares Tim. "Our friends, who are also homesitters, spoke highly of it, and we were sold right away. It just ticked so many boxes for us. We miss having our own pets, but doing this job means we still can enjoy taking care of animals, which we love. It’s a really great way to get the best of both worlds. We have stayed in some beautiful places, from Grade II listed properties to new and modern homes, and looked after some incredible pets and had lots of fun doing it. We are employed by Homesitters and they check in with us when we are on assignment and arrange very helpful preliminary meetings with clients so we can find out exactly how the house works and the pets’ routines before we start. We make savings working as homesitters and have seen lower bills due to our time away on assignments."
Mr T & Mrs R M, Derbyshire, homesitters since July 2021. Testimonial received November 2023

"On of our biggest passions is to travel and go abroad as much as financially possible. We have a boat in France so during the summer we spend our time there or travelling in other countries and we spend the winter months in the UK home and pet sitting. We’re both very active and wanted something to occupy us in the winter. We didn’t want to be sat twiddling our thumbs. Since becoming homesitters, we get our ‘dog fix’ every winter and all the assignments we do involve looking after dogs. We’ve looked after German Shepherds, Labradors and three Italian Spinoni, one of which who was a former show dog. We have also cared for some elderly and poorly dogs and on one sit, we were having to administer chemotherapy. We have one client who won’t go on holiday unless she knows we are available to look after her dogs. We have stayed in some fantastic homes. These have included multi-million-pound mansions with swimming pools and gyms and Grade 1 listed houses dating back to the 12th century, as well as typical family homes. Being a policeman comes with a high degree of responsibility and trust and it’s the same job requirements needed for home and pet sitting. Clients trust their homes and beloved pets to you, and they need to have faith that you will look after both responsibly. As most of our sits are during the colder winter months, we have also noticed slightly lower energy bills which is just another added bonus of home and pet sitting. We love every aspect of the job which has made retirement life even more enjoyable and rewarding. We still get to travel as much as we like but also get to be around our favourite animals which allows other people to get away with real peace of mind that their pets are being well looked after."
Mr M & Mrs S H, Essex, homesitters since May 2013. Testimonial received October 2023

"I absolutely love homesitting which is why I’ve done it for so many years. It slots in nicely around my voluntary work and commitments and I do as many assignments as I can. I really notice the energy savings, especially in the winter months and the money I earn is a welcome boost to my pension. I usually take food with me for the start of the assignment, but then can just top it up with the food allowance I get on the assignment, meaning I can save a little here each time, plus the mileage is handy. It all adds up! Home sitting is the perfect job for me, I love to visit new places and meet new people and I find that dog walking is very sociable! One of my favourite things is to go for long walks in the countryside so I enjoy rural homesits with dogs that I can take for a walk. I’m a fit and healthy 81-year-old and I’ve got itchy feet, so like to be out and about exploring new places. I enjoy the variation, meeting new people and all the different pets I’ve looked after. I’m very lucky in that I many regular clients, including one family I’ve known for over 10 years based in Hertfordshire. They have an older Border collie, and have recently just got a puppy. I usually homesit every year for a month for them and I’ve got to know the family and dog really well. Next month I’m going to see a family in Rochester who have three dachshunds for the preliminary meeting, which I’m looking forward to meeting. I usually drive or travel by train if I go up to London. I’ve met some lovely people and pets over the years, and stayed in some great properties. I have every intention continuing homesitting for as long as I can, and highly recommend it as a role for retirees. If you like animals and travelling, and want to earn a bit of money it’s fantastic. I’d thoroughly recommend joining Homesitters – I can’t speak highly enough of them and they are the only company I have worked through. They are lovely people and I find it very reassuring that there is 24 hour support – although I’ve never had to use it – and I like the security of having to check in with them every morning, especially as I’m on my own."
Mrs M M, Essex, homesitter since September 2002. Testimonial received September 2023

"We have our family Christmas a few days before we leave for our homesitting adventure and then really enjoy spending Christmas away from home as it is a lovely break and the opportunity to spend time with pets. We've enjoyed Christmas assignments in different towns and homes. New Year is also a great time to home and pet sit, and we always make sure we, and the pets get plenty of exercise over the festive period! We can also make some savings on our own electricity costs as we don’t have to have the heating on for as many hours."
Mr G & Mrs P R, Dorset, homesitters since October 2012. Testimonial received July 2023

"We wanted a lifestyle change - we were keen to visit different parts of the country and meet new people and we researched different ways in which we could do this. Then we discovered homesitting and it sounded perfect. We love animals and are keen walkers, and the role incorporated the travel and new experiences that we wanted."
Mrs P R, Dorset, homesitter since October 2012. Testimonial received July 2023

"I’ve always loved to travel and when I turned 40 I made a promise to myself to visit a new country every year. As a homesitter, I will still get to travel around the UK visiting lots of new places and different counties rather than different countries, having adventures and meeting new people and their pets. Homesitting really offers the opportunity to truly switch off from ones day to day usual routine. When you are home, you can never really relax, as there’s always things going on and something to do. Whereas when you are home and pet sitting, there lots of time outside of the duties of caring for the home and pets, if present. I’ve time to catch up on reading, enjoy lovely walks and wandering around a new area."
Ms J W, Kent, homesitter since September 2022. Testimonial received 10th January 2023

"This Christmas we will have been homesitting for 23 years. We love it and in fact wish we had started sooner. We are passionate about travelling and love to explore different places. It also really helps us financially as we are on a basic pension. We’ve stayed in lovely places in Dorset, Southport, Cheshire and recently in Malvern in Worcestershire. There we looked after a huge old property with 25 different rooms – we had to keep the place secure, regularly check the rooms, turn on the heating and run the showers to prevent legionnaires disease and to keep the place in good working order."
Mr S & Mrs M A, Lancashire, homesitters since October 2001. Testimonial received 3rd January 2023

"I love to travel and really enjoy staying in the country getting lots of fresh air and taking long walks – it’s like a free Airbnb, but with a dog! I’ve stayed in some lovely homes and all the clients have been delightful and very accommodating, always making sure I have everything I need."
Miss P W, Middlesex, homesitter since October 2018. Testimonial received 26th March 2020

"In our early days of homesitting while out on a morning walk in fields with dogs cavorting in the sunshine, I would often think of my former work colleagues attending a team meeting in a windowless conference room, probably thinking of the many tasks awaiting them. I knew exactly where I preferred to be. Seeing the dogs and cats happy in their familiar environment is really pleasing. Sometimes they can be nervous when their owners first leave but they soon relax with us and seem to remember us when we go back for another homesit. We like tending to the needs of the pets, making sure they are well cared for, fed the correct food at appropriate times and, in the case of dogs, that they have their walks. These regular walks provide us with welcome exercise and fresh air and I believe we are more fit and healthy as a result than we might otherwise be after nearly 16 years of retirement. We also really enjoy the sense of responsibility and purpose we get when we are left in charge of someone’s home and pets, and the satisfaction in knowing we are doing a good job which enables the client to have a stress-free break. We have visited and stayed in more parts of the Home Counties in the past 16 years than we did in the previous 40 years. Homesitting has been for us like having lots of small holidays; up to 20 times each year we pack our bags, load the car and set off on a new adventure. For us the payment we receive isn’t a strong motivation, but it is nice to have. It means we can enjoy occasional pub lunches during our stays in different areas while not putting a strain on the budget. An unexpected additional bonus has been the significant reduction in our home heating bill too."
Mr B & Mrs B K, Hertfordshire, homesitters since August 2014. Testimonial received February 2020

"The company is very professional and caring. They carefully match clients and homesitters so the right people are assigned to the right assignments. They arrange preliminary meetings for homesitters and clients so they can meet and discuss the brief and they also call homesitters while they are on assignment to check everything is running smoothly. As I home sit alone, I was very reassured by these processes. I stayed in a beautiful old house in a small village where I looked after two dogs – and 35 tortoises! The owner had had a few pet tortoises and someone wanting to rehome a tortoise heard she liked them and took it to her and it snowballed from there! I really enjoyed looking after them, although I had to keep going to the local shop for more salad as they eat a kilo of salad every day between them! They are quite low maintenance and mostly put themselves to bed at night although I did have to check they were all in their beds and look for any stragglers! "
Ms S P, Buckinghamshire, homesitter since August 2018. Testimonial received September 2019

"It can be like going on a mini break. I often stay are in great locations and very glamorous homes, with swimming pools and tennis courts. I took up playing the piano again a few years ago so if there’s a piano I enjoy playing in the evenings. I also enjoy spending time with the animals, particularly dogs. I’ve owned dogs in the past, but now that I live in a flat it isn’t practical to have one and they are rather a tie. Homesitting gives me the opportunity to look after dogs and take them for walks, but I can then hand them back to their owners – rather like having grandchildren! I also enjoy taking on assignments in London. I lived there for a time and still have lots of friends I can meet for lunch. My favourite assignment is for a regular client who has a Whippet puppy. I stay there four times a year and usually arrive the night before the client goes away so that we can all have supper together – I almost feel like one of the family. The company is very professional, and I particularly appreciate the way they stay in touch while I’m on assignment. Because I home sit on my own I have to check in with the company every morning. The procedure is very efficient, I once forgot to check in and they called me straight away to check I was alright. I also find the preliminary meetings with new clients useful and reassuring. My advice to anyone considering the role is to be as open to new things as you possibly can and really make the most of it."
Mr J C, Devon, homesitter since April 2015. Testimonial received April 2019

"The pets are everything to us. We love staying in grand houses and we have some fabulous clients who are really interesting and lovely. Home sitting provides a real break from the routine and a chance to get fit walking the dogs. We’re very careful to be strict about the pets’ routines – no client wants to come home to an overfed dog. Home sitting is really fun but it is also purposeful. We can do it as much or as little as we like, combining all our interests together and the animals are the best part of all"
Mr J & Mrs R S, Sussex, homesitters since January 2012. Testimonial received March 2019

"Home sitting is the perfect job for me, I love to visit new places and meet new people and I find that dog walking is very sociable! One of my favourite things is to go for long walks in the countryside so I enjoy rural homesits with dogs that I can take for a walk. If you like animals and travelling I’d thoroughly recommend joining Homesitters – I can’t speak highly enough of them. They are lovely people and I find it very reassuring that there is 24 hour support – although I’ve never had to use it – and I like the security of having to check in with them every morning, especially as I’m on my own."
Mrs M M, Essex, homesitter since September 2002. Testimonial received March 2019

"We are an adventurous couple. For our holidays, we like to travel to places like Cambodia or Costa Rica and during my career in international sales and marketing, we were lucky enough to live in South Africa and America. When I retired at 55, one of our main plans was to explore as much as possible. I spotted an advertisement for Homesitters and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to combine our love of animals and nature. Homesitters is a very professional, caring and supportive company - unlike any other company I have worked for. They have a true ‘heart’ and really look after their clients and sitters. We have looked after many different breeds of dogs now which has been fascinating – we love playing with dogs. We’ve also looked after race horses, emus and even a pig that lived in the kitchen that we had to tuck up in a blanket before bed. We’ve really had some great experiences."
Mr T & Mrs J C, Gloucestershire, homesitters since January 2003. Testimonial received March 2019

"Since we were taken on by Homesitters we haven’t looked back! We’ve done a lot of homesits in London, as Banbury has good transport links to London. When we get to London we have no difficulty getting around – in fact in many parts of town it’s an advantage not having a car as it can be difficult to park. With the home owner’s permission we usually order our food shopping online to be delivered like we do at home which is very convenient. We’ve stayed in some fantastic places from a beautiful modern townhouse in Richmond right next to the river where we looked after five cats who were such fun to look after, to a large period house full of antique furniture, old master paintings and suits of armour where we cared for a dog. Homesitters is always supportive and calls us regularly when we’re on assignment to check that we’re ok. The company is very flexible and doesn’t pressurise us to take on assignments that aren’t right for us. They are extremely efficient, right down to sending us our payslips and payment on time – and they’re very nice to deal with, we’d thoroughly recommend them to anyone else considering home and pet sitting. We often join the local library wherever we’re staying which is very easy, it’s a good way of finding out what’s going on in the local area such as walks and museums, and we borrow audio books which we enjoy listening to together in the evenings. I also enjoy knitting and sewing so tend to take portable projects with me like quilting to keep me busy. We love going to new places and exploring interesting areas; in fact not having a car keeps us fit and gets us off the beaten track. We also really enjoy spending time with the animals, on one memorable occasion the dog we were looking after suddenly jumped onto the children’s trampoline in the garden and started jumping up and down just like in the John Lewis advert, it did make us laugh! "
Mr J & Mrs S J, Oxfordshire, homesitters since July 2016. Testimonial received March 2019

"We like the fact that we’re employed by Homesitters – rather than being contracted out by an agency. We wouldn’t want to work through an agency where you just see a picture of the place you’re going on a website and have no support. We know that we can contact Homesitters at any time as they have a 24/7 support service. We find it reassuring that if there was an emergency, Homesitters could find someone else to take over the assignment and there’s insurance cover should anything go wrong. We were homesitting in a very rural location when Storm Doris hit and the power went off for 12 hours! One of the dogs we were looking after is very elderly with poor eyesight and usually the lights are all set on a timer for him so he can wander around without bumping into anything. In the absence of electricity we found as many torches as we could so that the dog could see where he was going! Everything in the house ran on electricity so we had no cooking facilities but the next door neighbour kindly brought round a thermos of hot water so that we could make a cup of tea – it was quite an adventure! The best way of spending the evening is having a dog on your knee or by your feet to stroke while you’re reading, it gives us a great feeling of contentment – and the dog too! "
Mr M & Mrs K B, Nottinghamshire, homesitters since September 2016. Testimonial received March 2019

"There is never a dull moment and I enjoy every minute. This job takes you everywhere. I often get to visit somewhere new. I am interested in historical places and find all sorts of interesting places to visit - particularly through my National Trust membership. Even after 10 years, I still get surprised by some of the grand places I stay in. I home sit regularly at a palatial property with grounds and its own lake right next door to one of King Henry VIII’s hunting lodges. One of the advantages of the job is the flexibility. I can pick and choose when I work and how much work I take on and fit it around spending time with my family and friends. I am so enthusiastic about the experiences I have had that my sister has become a homesitter too. I think the ideal homesitter needs to love animals, come with an open mind and be confident. However, once you have done one assignment, it all comes quite naturally.”"
Mr G, Surrey, homesitter since February 2007. Testimonial received 7th March 2019

"I wanted to find a role that would be challenging and responsible. Having been a police officer I am use to dealing with people and situations. I also wanted to do something that would take me out and about exploring new places too. I love the variety the role offers. I have stayed in lots of different types of homes including farmhouses in the Surrey and Sussex countryside, multi-million pound homes in London, as well as average semi-detached homes."
Mr H, Sussex, homesitter since January 2013. Testimonial received 5th February 2019

"I enjoy the flexibility of home and pet sitting, I can work when I choose rather than committing to a permanent job and it provides a nice supplement to my pension. It gives me my animal fix without the responsibility of owning a dog. It is also a flexible role which makes it much easier to take holidays and to visit my grandchildren. When I am home sitting I am completely focused on looking after the animals and the home in my care, but when I’m not on assignment my time is my own. I like being able to dip in and out."
Mrs H, Cornwall, homesitter since June 2014. Testimonial received 2nd January 2019

"Home and pet sitting is an amazing experience and we get so much out of it. We enjoy our regular assignments but we also love the buzz of receiving a call offering us a new assignment. It’s exciting every time we go to a new home and get to look after new animals and explore new areas. The clients are so welcoming and we find that they want us to enjoy their home and make use of all the facilities, it’s almost as if we’re on holiday. People sometimes ask us why we don’t homesit privately but we like to have the back up of Homesitters Ltd, it’s good to know that they’re there should something go wrong. The staff in the head office are lovely and very accommodating. Homesitters is a very nice company to work for and we would thoroughly recommend them."
Mr & Mrs G, Kent, homesitters since June 2012. Testimonial received 22nd November 2018

"We feel very well looked after with Homesitters Ltd, they take a genuine interest in us, the clients and the clients’ pets. We are supported by them and if we ever had a problem on an assignment they would be there to help. One of our most memorable assignments was in Devon. We stayed in a gorgeous big country house near the sea and looked after two Deerhounds who were lots of fun. We took our bikes and often cycled to the beach for lunch and took the dogs for long walks – we got a lot of exercise and the house and area were so picturesque, it was idyllic."
Mr & Mrs R, Wiltshire, homesitters since December 2012. Testimonial received 3rd September 2018

"Home sitting is such a rewarding job and I have full confidence in the Homesitters team – they know me well and my preferences and skills so always give me assignments I enjoy. I hope to continue working with the company for a good many more years."
Mr N, Lancashire, homesitter since September 2000. Testimonial received 15th August 2018

"It is with sadness that I have to resign from Homesitters as a homesitter, but due to *circumstances* it is not possible for me to carry on being a sitter. I just want to thank you all for the time I have been with you for all the help and support you gave me while I was employed by you. The staff have always been very friendly keeping in touch and support whenever needed. You are a great company to work for and I wish you all the best for the future. Thank you"
Mrs P, Kent, homesitter from September 2008 to July 2016. Testimonial received 12th July 2018

"Home and pet sitting is a fantastic hobby, we receive a remuneration and expenses which is useful, but the main benefit is having the chance to visit different places, spend time with dogs and cats and the exercise we get taking the dogs for walks. We also get to stay in some very special places. We recently did an assignment in a huge old rectory in the Cotswold countryside with stunning views. Sitting on the sofa with a dog either side of me resting their heads in my lap was just idyllic. Most of the houses we stay in have beautiful gardens which are usually maintained by professional gardeners so we’re able to appreciate them without doing any of the work! Some of the homes also have swimming pools or cinema rooms which can be a real treat."
Mr & Mrs L, Oxfordshire, homesitters since August 2010. Testimonial received 4th June 2018

"The best way of spending the evening is having a dog on your knee or by your feet to stroke while you’re reading, it gives us a great feeling of contentment – and the dog too!” We’re just ordinary people doing ordinary things and getting the maximum benefit from our retirement. You’d be surprised how many people aren’t aware that home and pet sitting is a job and we’d recommend it to anyone who’s retired. Where else would you get the opportunity to stay in different homes in new places and experience other people’s pets and lifestyles and not have to pay lots of money to do it? We like the fact that we’re employed by Homesitters – rather than being contracted out by an agency. We wouldn’t want to work through an agency where you just see a picture of the place you’re going on a website and have no support. We know that we can contact Homesitters at any time as they have a 24/7 support service. We find it reassuring that if there was an emergency, Homesitters could find someone else to take over the assignment and there’s insurance cover should anything go wrong. "
Mr & Mrs B, Nottinghamshire, homesitters since September 2016. Testimonial received 16th April 2018

"Most people that use Homesitters are proud homeowners with beautiful homes and for us, it was the chance to visit new parts of the country and stay in delightful surroundings. It suited us perfectly and kept us busy and active."
Mr B, Kent, homesitter since September 2003. Testimonial received 9th March 2018

"Last week of our three week sit. Found a mouse in the kitchen last night, badgers have torn up the lawn, electricity keeps cutting out and the decorators have washed out their brushes in an upstairs sink which has caused an overflow of white liquid to settle on the outside patio. But so far this morning I've seen a muntjac, green woodpecker and two foxes feeding. The ups and downs of home-sitting ...."
Mrs L A, Kent, homesitter since October 2010. Testimonial received 5th March 2018

"I have visited so many beautiful places that I wouldn’t have even considered. There are wonderful rural villages throughout the UK. I love walking and when I am on assignments I often take the dogs out for long walks. If there aren’t any dogs, I just walk myself. I’m a member of the National Trust and English Heritage so there’s always somewhere special to visit. Clients often leave me information about interesting places to visit and great walks too so I’m never short of things to do. If I am in London I try to see all the latest exhibitions. I’m a big exercise freak – I take a Pilates class once a week as well as horse riding. When I go on assignment I take my yoga mat and do a Pilates routine every morning, which fascinates the dogs. They always come to see what I’m doing and on a recent homesit I did my ‘rolldown’ and got my face licked at the bottom!"
Mrs S C, Leicestershire, homesitter since April 2008. Testimonial received March 2018

"I’m currently on a sit in idyllic rural Oxfordshire. When I retired I needed to find part time employment, work that was varied, interesting and at a time and hours to suit. I also like dogs, having had 2 myself at one stage. Working for Homesitters enables me to meet different people, care for their pets and home whist they are away. It is a responsible position and a trusted one, made all the more easier with the support and advice that Homesitters Head Office give. It is reassuring, when on a sit, to know that help and support is there, just a phone call away, 24hrs a day, every day. The occasional phone call from Head Office checking that everything is ok whilst I’m homesitting is also appreciated. I stay in some very nice properties and get to look after a variety of pets in some idyllic locations. Home and pet sitting gives me the option and flexibility to choose when and where I work, at a time to suit myself, and it gives me a position of responsibility and trust. I would certainly recommend working for Homesitters Ltd to anyone who is retired and looking for part time work."
Mr R U, Wiltshire, homesitter since October 2014. Testimonial received 14th February 2018

"We would love a dog of our own, but we travel too much. However, since becoming homesitters, we get our ‘dog fix’ every winter and all the assignments we do involve looking after dogs. "
Mr & Mrs H, Essex, homesitters since May 2013. Testimonial received 27th January 2018

"Home and pet sitting is really fun but it is also purposeful. It provides a real break from the routine and a chance to get fit walking the dogs. We can do it as much or as little as we like, combining all our interests together and the animals are the best part of all."
Mr and Mrs S, West Sussex, homesitters since January 2012. Testimonial received 9th January 2018

"Our favourite thing about home and pet sitting is the animals – we get all of the joy without any of the long-term responsibility! I did wonder whether the dogs might pine for their owners when they leave, but once they realise that we know where their food is they’re happy!"
Mrs S, Lincolnshire, homesitter since July 2016. Testimonial received 16th October 2017

"One of the things we love about home and pet sitting is that we do it together. At home we tend to do our own thing, but on assignments we work as a team and spend quality time taking the dogs for walks. We go to church on Sundays and when we are home and pet sitting on weekends we find a local church to attend. We’ve made new friends at churches across the country. Recently, we went to a small local church and were invited to stay for their community dinner which we thoroughly enjoyed. "
Mr G & Mrs S H, Bedfordshire, homesitters since January 2011. Testimonial received March 2016

"Homesitters offer a wonderful service and it was very nice knowing that while we were away fellow homesitters were there looking after everything. Being a homesitter myself I know that they have an extremely thorough vetting service, so knew they were someone really trustworthy."
Mrs K, Kent, homesitter since November 1996.

"Homesitters has added another dimension to my life, giving purpose, variety, as well as helping out financially…it is an ethical, well run company."
Mrs P W, Berks

"I wish I’d started doing this when I first retired a few years ago…"
Mrs N B, Herts

"We have looked after many different breeds of dogs now which has been fascinating – we love playing with dogs. We’ve also looked after race horses, emus and even a pig that lived in the kitchen that we had to tuck up in a blanket before bed. We’ve really had some great experiences."
Mr and Mrs C, Gloucestershire, homesitters since January 2003

"We wish we’d become homesitters earlier than we did! We’ve loved every minute!"
Mr and Mrs J C, W. Sussex

"When carrying out assignments for Homesitters, I have a sense of adventure in finding the clients location. Once there discovering new walks and footpaths never travelled before, with the bonus of having dogs in my keep, romping along with me is very satisfying experience indeed!"
Mr R H, Kent, homesitter since February 1997