After a brilliant week staying in Raetihi, I’m now on to my next property, and this is my current abode. It’s a nice new house in a newish part of the suburb of Fitzroy, in Hamilton. They’re all modern homes around this area, and it’s surprisingly super quiet. You can hardly hear the cars going…
House Sitting In Raetihi
For the past several days I’ve been in Raetihi, a small town located about 12kms south west of Ohakune, in the Ruapehu district. My current assignment is not so much a house sit, but more of a lodge sit. 🙂 Where I’m currently staying is Snowy Waters Lodge, which is an old nurses home. Not…
The Exit Handover
As a house sitter, your last day on a property is just as important (if not more so) than your first day. Absolutely, first impressions matter — but final impressions endure. A successful handover of the house (and pets) back to the homeowners is the quiet, often underestimated, finale of any house sit. And it’s…
When House Sitters Get Rejected
When applying for house sits, rejection is going to be an unavoidable part of the house sitting lifestyle. For every successful application, there will be several others that won’t go your way — especially if you’re competing with dozens of other sitters for the same appealing property. Even with all my 20 odd years of…
Soft Skills And How To Use Them
When it comes to house sitting, reliability, honesty, and a love of animals are the traits most often mentioned — and rightly so. But there’s another side to successful sitting that rarely makes it into the checklists and how-to guides. It’s the “soft skills” — the quiet, human abilities that determine whether an arrangement feels…
When Family Share The Same Property
In most house sits, the arrangement is nice and simple — the homeowners are away, and the sitter lives in the home, caring for it and any pets as agreed. But sometimes there’s a twist: a family member of the homeowner is living on the same property, albeit in separate accommodation, such as a tiny…
House Sitting In Ohiwa
My seven week stay at Rongotea has come to an end. Everything went really well and the owners have already booked me in for two more sits next year so I’m looking forward to going back there, it’s a nice area. Anyway, I’ve gone from there straight onto a new house and farm sit. This…
Microwave Manners
Who doesn’t like using a microwave that is nice and clean on the inside? This isn’t just about appearances — it’s simple hygiene. The interior of a microwave can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria if splattered food is left to harden and rot. When food particles are reheated time and again, they can…
Should House Sitters Supply Their Own Linen?
When preparing for a house sit, one detail that often gets overlooked is bedding and linen. Should house sitters bring their own, or rely on what the homeowner provides? There’s no single right answer, but understanding the pros and cons of each option will help you decide — and, more importantly, make sure expectations are…
Caring For The Vehicles
When you take on a house sit, especially an extended one, your responsibilities will often go beyond caring for pets, plants, and the property itself. One important duty that is sometimes overlooked is the care of the homeowner’s vehicle. Even if the car isn’t being used regularly, it still needs occasional attention to keep it…