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…
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…
Happy Neighbours – Happy House Sit
When stepping into the role of a house sitter, your responsibility extends beyond the four walls of the home you’re looking after. The surrounding community, and particularly the immediate neighbours, plays an important part in ensuring a smooth and successful sit. While many homeowners emphasise caring for pets, gardens, and property, they may not mention…
House Sitting – A Cost of Living Lifeline
The cost of living has risen sharply in recent years, and many people are searching for creative ways to make their money stretch further. One increasingly popular solution is full-time house sitting. While many people think of house sitting as a casual arrangement – helping out friends or neighbours, or taking on occasional part-time jobs…
Arriving On Time
When it comes to house sitting in New Zealand, punctuality isn’t just polite — it’s essential. Arriving on time for a house sit, or even for an interview, is one of the first and most important signals to a homeowner that you’re responsible, trustworthy, and respectful of their time and property. While house sitting may…
Where Do House Sitters Stay Between Sits?
Full-time house sitting around New Zealand offers freedom, variety, and the chance to experience new parts of the motu while keeping accommodation and utility costs down to a bare minimum. But along with this comes a particular challenge that is common to every Kiwi house sitter, whether they be newbies or professionals: where do you…
How You Show Up Matters
When it comes to house sitting, first impressions can count — and not just a little. Whether you’re turning up for a house sit interview or arriving to begin the sit itself, how you present yourself to the homeowners will leave a lasting impact with them. You may have glowing references and a thoughtful profile,…