Use Sitting at Home to Travel on a Budget
With Airbnb’s ridiculous fees these days, most travelers are eager to find some sort of alternative for their next homestay. The most underrated option, if you are ready to make a living for yourself, is to stay at home . But how do you find someone who needs a housekeeper in your dream location? Here’s what you need to know about getting a job as a babysitter so you can get free accommodation while you travel.
How does sitting at home work?
It would be great if we all had rich friends who would trust us to live in their fancy lake houses for free. Until then, your best bet is to go to trusted sites that will let you choose a place to stay and then match you with someone who needs a housekeeper for that time. The fact is that for your free housing, the landlord gets a free house and a pet sitter.
This part of a pet should not be glossed over: most pet sittings include pet sitting. If you are unwilling or unable to take care of animals, your choices for finding a home are much more limited.
The best site for this exchange (a.k.a. Airbnb’s counterpart to babysitters) seems to be Trusted Housesitters . There’s an option to create a free account first, but to actually start sitting, you’ll need to purchase a plan that costs between $129 and $259 per year. The most popular option costs $169 per year and includes unlimited home hangouts around the world, free background checks (mandatory), notifications about your ideal locations, insurance, and extra support when you’re there.
Stay at home restrictions
Compared to simply booking a room on Airbnb or a hotel, working from home requires a profile that selects you for a gig. After you submit your listing application, the pet’s parent or homeowner will review your character profile and characteristics. They will then schedule a video interview or phone call to talk more about the meeting and get to know you better. It’s part travel hack, part side job, which means it can be like looking for a job.
Even after you’ve been chosen by a landlord, staying at home is much less secure than booking a more traditional form of accommodation. Your travel plans must match the dates in the ad and your vacation must be related to household chores and pet care responsibilities. This could mean changing plans for caring for a sick pet, or being prepared for your owner to suddenly abandon you.
Tips for getting a job at home
Create a profile that stands out from the crowd and allows you to express your personality with lots of photos, personable details and nanny testimonials. It’s like trying to get swipes on a dating app – so easy , right?
Reviews and recommendations are also your best friends. If you’ve ever helped friends with their home or pets in the past, call them for a quick quote.
As mentioned above, pet sitting is something of a misnomer given how many listings are looking for pet sitters in the first place. Any animal experience you can highlight will help you stand out as a potential nanny.
Don’t give up if you don’t get people willing right away. It often takes a first bite (and a solid recall after the fact) to get them going in the future.