Retirement reimagined: Tim and Rosey's home and pet sitting adventures.

Posted on 11 January, 2024

Image by Jennifer Regnier Photography from Pixabay

Tim and Rosey Mackervoy, both 60 years old, were introduced to the world of home and pet sitting two years ago, and they couldn't be happier with their decision to embrace this flexible job.

After Tim's 40-year career as a commercial manager in the construction industry came to an end in 2021, and Rosey, a former child minder, decided to step back from work as well, they were excited by the prospect of starting a new chapter homesitting to keep busy in retirement.

"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 contacted Homesitters, a national home and pet sitting company, and following an interview and references checks, we were all set to do our first assignment.

Both Tim and Rosey are avid animal lovers who have owned two border collies and two cats in the past, however, as they were retiring they felt it wasn’t the right time to commit to owning more pets.

Rosey explains, "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."

On average, Tim and Rosey take on seven assignments each year, which means they are away around from home around 10 weeks of the year.

Tim says, "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."

As an active couple who enjoys Zumba, Yoga, and walking, being homesitters allows them to continue with all their activities. They even participate in online fitness sessions when they are away, making homesitting feel like their home away from home.

Discussing the perks of homesitting, Tim says, "We make savings working as homesitters and have seen lower bills due to our time away on assignments."

He calls their homesitting earnings their 'pocket money,' emphasising that all the money they make goes towards paying for their annual holiday. He adds that Homesitting is a great way to enjoy a ‘cost-neutral living’ as they not only make savings working as Homesitters but have seen lower bills due to their time away on assignments.

For Tim and Rosey, homesitting isn't just a way to fill their time; it's a lifestyle that combines adventure, animal companionship, and financial benefits, making their retirement truly extraordinary.

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