Common Challenges for House Sitters and How to Overcome Them
House sitting can be a fun and rewarding experience. You make money or help a friend or family by periodically cleaning the house, monitoring surveillance footage, and collecting and organizing mail while the homeowner is away.
While it may seem easy to do, the job also has its own downsides. This article highlights common challenges house sitters face and how to overcome them.
Handling Difficult Pets
Your duties as a home sitter may sometimes involve taking care of pets while the homeowner is away. Unfortunately, some pets, particularly those with medical conditions or behavioral issues, may be challenging to handle.
The best way to avoid this problem is by ensuring you understand everything before the pet owner leaves. These include the pet's favorite toys and games, how much and how often they eat, what to do in case of a medical emergency, and everything else about the pet.
Setting Off the Home Security Accidentally
Setting off the home security accidentally is another common challenge that homesitters face.
While many things can trigger home security systems, it is pretty common for home sitters to forget that home security is armed and set off the alarm by banging a window or opening a door.
Triggering the home security system by accident can be startling and cause a lot of confusion, especially if you are unsure what to do. The good news is that most home security systems are easy to reset without professional help.
For example, you can quickly reset a LiftMaster garage door by pressing the learn button on the control panel, so it'd be convenient if you learned how to reset it before the homeowner leaves.
Also, ensure you get the access codes or passes as well as know where the home security control panel is beforehand.
Adjusting to a New Environment
Housesitters often have to adjust to a new home, neighborhood, and even climate. Feeling comfortable and settled in a new space can take some time.
In other instances, you may even develop medical issues, mainly if you are not used to such weather or what the environment has to offer.
So before accepting a housekeeping role, ensure you ask the homeowner and do a bit of research on what to expect. Know the size of the home, its location, and the weather, so you know what to bring along.
Dealing with Boredom
Housesitting can be a solitary experience. You may not know what to do or who to interact with, especially in a new environment with no neighbors, friends, or family nearby.
For that reason, you must find ways to stay connected with others, such as by exploring the community or joining local groups.
You may also want to engage in pastimes such as playing with the pet, listening to music, exercising, watching TV, or playing video games to avoid or overcome boredom.
Endless Tasks
House Sitters are often responsible for home maintenance activities, such as watering plants, mowing the lawn, or cleaning the house. Your duties may be much more taxing, and time-consuming, especially if the property is large.
Therefore, ensure you understand your duties and the homeowner's expectations. Also, let the homeowner know your expectations and limits to avoid misunderstanding and have a successful house sitting experience.
Wrapping up
While housesitting has its share of challenges, it is a rewarding experience that can help you get a place to stay or earn a sustainable livelihood.
However, you will want to know how to avoid the most common challenges, especially those that can put you in a dangerous or embarrassing situation.
