Is House Sitting Your Ticket to Cheap Summer Travel?

House sitting gigs let you travel while eliminating your nightly accommodation costs. Just be sure you have a clear agreement and understand any visa requirements.

If your desire to travel to the U.S. shrinks with every presidential tweet, your summer getaway options probably involve exploring Canada or heading further afield.

Neither option may seem possible if you’re on a budget or have a debt load that’s heavy enough as-is. But the math changes if you can eliminate your nightly accommodation costs.

House sitting might allow you to do just that: Find a homeowner in need of a house (and often pet) sitter. Agree on the duties you’ll be expected to fulfill. Book your ticket. Do your thing. No hotels, hostels or Airbnbs required.

It’s a simple enough concept, but there’s plenty to keep in mind before taking on your first house sitting gig.

🤓 Nerdy Tip: This story describes house sitting arrangements that don’t involve payment and therefore may not require special visa considerations, even when travelling internationally. But there are exceptions. It’s essential that you research and adhere to all relevant travel guidelines. Before accepting any house sitting arrangement abroad, be sure you understand and follow the appropriate visa requirements.

Where to find house sitting opportunities

Several platforms exist to connect homeowners with house sitters. Some of the most well known are:

House Sitters Canada.
Nomador.
Trusted House Sitters.
MindMyHouse.
House Carers.

Each site provides a similar process for getting started — register, set up a profile, connect with homeowners — but House Sitters Canada, Nomador and House Carers provide a little more in the way of information, FAQs and blog posts that might benefit first-time sitters.

At time of writing, House Sitters Canada had around 100 house sitting opportunities in Canada. MindMyHouse offered over 200 worldwide listings, while Trusted House Sitters had thousands.

Using a house sitting site is generally free, but you’ll have to pay a membership fee to create a profile and contact homeowners. Among the sites we checked, prices for basic annual memberships range from $40 to $169.

How to stand out from the crowd

Depending on what platform you use, you could be competing for gigs with thousands of other house sitters. It’s up to you to convince homeowners you’re the right person for the job.

“A friendly photo, a complete profile, identity verification, and sharing past experiences all help homeowners picture what it would be like to welcome you into their home,” Pauline Hamel, communications manager at Nomador, said in an email.

Don’t skimp on the details regarding your animal care experience, either. Pet owners will want to know what animals you’ve previously tended to, especially if they required special attention. If your pet care experience is limited, be honest about that, and consider looking for pet-less opportunities.

Other helpful additions to your profile can be a list of hobbies or skills, or a section on what’s motivating your foray into house sitting.

“This is where homeowners get to understand why you want to house-sit and what you’re hoping for from the experience,” Hamel said. A strong “why” could act as a differentiator if homeowners are choosing between you and a similarly qualified sitter.

Your profile should be a living document of your house sitting experience. Be sure to bolster it with reviews you receive.

“This is a great way for owners to feel reassured they are choosing a dedicated sitter who has positive reviews from previous house sits,” Kylie Fuad, co-owner of House Sitters Canada, said in an email.

Creating a house sitting agreement

Once they choose you as their sitter, you and the homeowner will work together to establish the duties you’ll be expected to fulfill.

“A thorough conversation beforehand helps set shared expectations,” Hamel said.

The end product of these discussions will be your house sitting agreement, which should be put into writing for future reference or be turned into a checklist.

A proper house sitting agreement spells out more than just basic responsibilities. It should also include:

Detailed pet care instructions, if necessary.
Whether you’ll be expected to provide general security for the property, and what that might entail.
What costs will be covered by the homeowner.
Lawn and garden care instructions.
Items or areas of the house that are not intended for use.
Guidelines around having guests in the home.
What to do in the event of an emergency.

Misalignment at this stage is the most common issue associated with house sitting, Fuad said.

“This is why it is really important for both parties to have clear communication upfront before the sit. It is important to get enough information to make sure it is the right fit for you as a sitter,” she said.

Maximizing your house sitting experience

Depending on the location and duration of your sit, you could save thousands of dollars in accommodation costs.

But if cheap lodging is your only motivation, you might not have the best house sitting experience. For that, Hamel believes you have to buy into the overall concept of house sitting.

“House sitting is first and foremost built on mutual trust. It’s not just about enjoying free accommodation — it’s about caring for someone’s home and, very often, their beloved pets. It’s a concept based on helpfulness, respect, and a shared sense of responsibility,” she said.

While location might be another top priority, Fuad says the home itself should be a consideration. Look for properties that align with your interests, skills and personality.

“If you love dogs, then take on a house sit with gorgeous dogs to look after. If you have a green thumb, pick a house sit where you can enjoy being out in their garden. Finding the right house sit for you is really important as it increases your chances of a successful house sitting experience.”

Finally, keep an open mind regarding where you’re willing to sit. Not everyone will find a condo in Paris or lakeside palace in Muskoka to look after, but there’s adventure to be found all over the map.

“Be flexible,” Hamel advises. “Some of the most rewarding sits are off the beaten path.”