Why do people house sit for free?

The past couple of years has seen a dramatic shift in the way we live, work and travel and many of us have started questioning the old way of doing things, and rightly so.

With this there has been a notable increase in people discovering house sitting for the first time and a common question we now get asked is, “Why do people house sit for free”? 

At Aussie House Sitters, we believe the true spirit of house sitting is a free exchange of services that benefits both parties – The house sitters receive free accommodation in exchange for the loving care of the home, pets and garden. 

There are so many different reasons people choose to house sit, so here is our take on why house sitting is the best free form of exchange. 

Saving Money

One of the main reasons people choose to house sit is as a way to live more affordably. With mortgages and rent being one of our biggest financial outlays, house sitting is a way to take a break and live rent free while still enjoying the comforts of living in a home. Some sitters even use house sitting as a way to work and save money - money that can be used for other opportunities such as saving for a house deposit or that big overseas trip.

Free Accommodation

One of, if not the biggest expense when travelling is accommodation. Sure, you can travel on a budget and couch surf or stay in backpacker hostels, but these options come with a complete lack privacy and can get pretty wearing after a while. House sitting gives you the opportunity to travel for free with all the convenience, privacy and comforts of a home base. 

Life often involves change and plenty of people like to house sit for comfortable and convenient temporary accommodation. Whether it’s travellers wanting a break from life on the road, a couple building their dream home, or a place to stay while deciding on your new life direction, house sitting offers a relaxing, enjoyable and free respite from hotels, caravan parks or the in-laws place.

The Pets!

If you’re an avid traveller or don’t currently have a permanent home base it can mean having pets of your own isn’t always a possibility. Of course, that doesn’t mean you don’t love pets or miss your previous furry companion. House sitting nearly always includes looking after animals providing the perfect ‘pet fix’ with all of the benefits of a furry friend but without any of the responsibilities that come with pet ownership.

Being an animal lover is really a prerequisite for becoming a house sitter and taking care of someone else’s pets is one of the most rewarding experiences that comes with house sitting. When you’re feeding, playing with and walking pets there’s usually a bond that develops very quickly. More often than not, your new companion will adopt you in a matter of days and the reward of love and trust makes it a beneficial experience for both you and the pets.

Live like a local and Make new friends

Lots of full time travellers, retirees and grey nomads have discovered that house sitting allows you to travel at a more leisurely pace and one of the greatest benefits that brings is the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the local community and culture. You get to meet the neighbours on your daily walks, or friendly locals at the café around the corner. On longer-term house sits you also have the chance to volunteer in the community, attended workshops, and join local groups and meet likeminded people. 

House sitting means you often get to know the owners before you start the sit and homeowners are usually the best form of information for local knowledge about the area you’re in. Many owners and sitters also find they have a lot in common and end up becoming lifelong friends.

So why do Aussie House Sitters believe house sitting is the best free exchange of services? The pets are happy, the home is secure & the sitters stay for free - and that’s a win-win for everyone.