This article is all about costly mistakes to avoid when applying for a house sit. Combined with my experience of missing out on house sitting opportunities and the firsthand knowledge from some of my previous house sitting hosts, these are the things you should avoid doing or saying when you apply.
I have been house sitting around the world for almost 3 straight years and have learned so much. I chat regularly with the homeowners whose homes and pets I’ve cared for. This has given me great insider knowledge about what they look for in a house sitter and what turns them off.
Applying for a House Sit
At any one time, there could be as many as 10,000 active house sitting listings globally accepting applications. Despite these staggering numbers, the competition for these listings can be fierce. It’s rarely a case of sending a quick email and getting the gig.
Sites like Trusted Housesitters will withdraw each listing after 5 applicants have thrown their hats in the ring. However, if the host rejects an applicant or the applicant withdraws, it will automatically relist until the number of applicants hits the magic number 5 again. So, as well as being on the ball with applying, having a strong written application is also very important.
Here are the top costly mistakes to avoid when applying for a house sit.
Mistake 1- Sending a Generic Application
It might be tempting when applying for a bulk number of house sits to have a saved template ready to go, and just use it time and time again. Sure, this may help with being one of the first applications in the running but it could identify you as an applicant who has no real intention of securing the listing if something better comes along.
Receiving a generic application is a big no-no with a lot of the former hosts I have spoken to. I’ve heard stories about names, locations, and even the country where the sit is being incorrect. In these instances, applicants have just copied and pasted previous applications and made stupid errors that make them look disinterested and unreliable.
Take the time to write a personalized application for each listing you approach. Over time you will find patterns in how you write them and the message will practically write itself. Starting fresh with every listing will ensure vital details and personal touches are not missing when you make first contact.
Mistake 2 – Following Up Straight After Applying
It can be disheartening when a homeowner doesn’t immediately accept, especially if you feel well-qualified for the house sit. It can be even worse when they turn you down in favor of someone else.
No matter how strong your application is, avoid immediately following up with status-check emails. Some homeowners wait for multiple applications and take weeks to review them. It’s an important decision they are making after all – choosing someone to care for their beloved animals.
Show eagerness in your initial application, not through follow-up chasing messages shortly after. I usually wait a week, then politely mention I’m considering other opportunities but prefer their listing. This way, you should find out if you are in the running.
Mistake 3 – Having No Wiggle Room with Your Dates
About 50% of the 30+ house sits Hannah and I have completed began with unconfirmed dates. This is despite all listings initially showing a precise start and end date.
Generally, this is because hosts either slightly change their plans or don’t have them fully set in stone when they post their listing. This is especially true with listings way off in the future. We’ve had dates change by as much as a week either side.
Having flexibility in your dates, usually only by a day or two, is a real positive when applying. As full-time travelers, getting invited days earlier helps our budget a lot. If you can avoid being rigid with your dates you’ll be in a strong position to be offered the sit.
Mistake 4 – Applying for Dates That Are Not Listed
I am guilty of this one for sure. When we first signed up with Trusted Housesitters, we aimed to get back to California for another long stint. Without any reviews, I immediately started blanket-applying hosts that didn’t have active dates. I got zero responses!
Most platforms now don’t let sitters contact homeowners unless they have dates posted. Still, people continue to apply for a sit, ignore the dates listed, but in their application offer different dates that better suit their own travel plans. Not only does this waste the homeowner’s time, but it also takes up one of the 5 application spots – possibly pushing out an ideal sitter.
I have never heard of a homeowner recording a sitter’s details and travel plans for future reference if an applicant offers different dates than are listed. It likely damages your chances with the host too, making future house sit offers less likely.
Mistake 5 – Not Reading the Listing Properly
Some listings are straightforward and to the point, while others provide detailed and thorough information. Regardless of how informative the listing is, read it thoroughly. Be sure it’s something you are happy taking on and understand all the responsibilities involved.
I heard from one of our former hosts in the USA whose lovely dog needed 2 long walks a day. The need for an active sitter was clear in the listing but they had received applicants saying they weren’t overly mobile, so will the dog be able to just ‘go’ in the garden?
It’s also not out of the realm of possibility for homeowners to leave a little test in there to see if you read a listing fully. Examples I’ve seen include requests to begin the application with the dog’s name and breed and list all the responsibilities as bullet points with the word ‘confirmed’ to show acknowledgment. These are very rare but I’ve seen them!
Mistake 6 – Not Having a Complete and Verified House Sitting Account
This should be a no-brainer for anyone considering house sitting. Your profile is your shop window and every house sitting platform allows you to decorate your shop window with things like referrals, photos, videos, social media links, and lots of relevant information about you.
Importantly, complete all the verification processes available to you. Usually, this just requires uploading a photo ID to show you are who you say you are. Think like a host and consider whether you would take on a sitter with limited-to-no information or verifications.
It’s also important to keep your profile up-to-date. Time flies when you are having fun house sitting around the world so be sure to show your future hosts all the recent photos and details of where you have been.
Mistake 7 – Dodging A Video Call
Even with the most fabulous profile on the market and dates that line up perfectly, it still might not be enough to get you over the line. Remember I said that certain listings can have fierce competition, so be prepared to go to the next stage and have a video call.
I know that some applicants don’t like the interview process because it feels too pressurized, like applying for a job. It can cause a lot of stress for those who don’t cope well with one-on-one situations like this. Unfortunately saying no to a video call is probably the quickest way to get your application booted.
The key is to try not to think of it as a job interview and get too worked up. No matter how badly you want the listing think of it as an interview for the homeowner too and don’t be afraid to ask questions or clear up any listing uncertainties. All of our phone interviews have been like friendly chats.
Mistake 8 – Presuming You’ve Got the Sit
So, you’ve sent the perfect application, your profile is fully loaded and up-to-date, and you’ve just nailed the video call, you should book your travel, right? Wrong! Don’t count your chickens, hosts can rightly be fickle about who cares for their homes and pets. Wait until you have the actual confirmation through the official house sitting platform.
On at least 3 separate occasions, Hannah and I have had the sit in the bag only for it to be snatched away by someone else. Now, 2 of those hosts came groveling back when their chosen sitter canceled at late notice, but sadly we were already booked elsewhere. Regardless of this, wait for confirmation.
Referring back to ‘point ‘mistake 2’ about not following up on your application too quickly, I was told by one of our former hosts in Singapore that they had previously received applications immediately followed by screenshots of flight details with the applicant demanding confirmation so they could book. Don’t do this! Putting urgent demands on a host will get your application immediately binned.
Mistake 9 – Being Clueless About Visas
House sitting has true international reach and global appeal. I have seen listings in some of the most far-off corners of the world. But, managing your visa application time frames and time limits is key if you plan to travel long term using house sitting.
Every country has different rules about how long you can stay. Your nationality generally dictates how long you can remain in a country. For example, being British, I can only stay in the USA for 90 days. A recent sit we applied for in New Zealand had their chosen sitter cancel after realizing they would be over their allotted days dictated by their visa.
Before applying for an international house sit, be aware of your time constraints and the associated costs involved in gaining access to the country you hope to visit. Some are more complex and restrictive than others. Demonstrating that you are clued up on this information to a potential host will go a long way to showing you’re invested in the house sit.
Mistake 10 – Not Having a Handle on Travel Logistics and Costs
Continuing from point 9, being realistic about travel logistics and the costs involved is another important point. During the video call stage, we are routinely quizzed by international hosts about our travel plans. Be prepared for these questions and answer with confident responses or risk being pushed down the preference order of applicants.
Flight costs can vary massively depending on dates. Thinking that a flight to LA costs $500 and being able to book it for that price are two separate things. Don’t apply for any house sits until you have fully researched the details and costs of the travel involved.
A quick search on Skyscanner is usually enough to give me the information I need before applying. But there is also the issue of arriving in good time and allowing for any travel delays, so factoring in a night or two in a hotel on arrival is another financial and logistical consideration. Be informed before you apply!
BONUS Mistake To Avoid – Presuming There’s Not a Car To Use
I wanted to throw this one in as a bonus because it’s something that crops up a lot with house sits we apply for and it’s a nice positive one to end on. Having a car can be a game changer with certain house sit listings. Many even go as far as to advertise that the sitter needs to have a car.
From my experience, this doesn’t always mean you have to own a car or hire one to be accepted for the sit. Sure, you might need a car, but there also might be one left behind to use. It’s always worth asking because many hosts take it for granted that sitters come with a car, but if not, are happy to lend one.
The car situation is generally easier outside of the UK as car insurance works differently in most other countries. In the USA, the car is insured as opposed to the driver, so anyone with an appropriate license can drive it. Always be sure to ask this question and don’t write off a listing you like just because it states that you must have a vehicle, and you don’t have one.
Further Information About House Sitting
If you are interested in becoming a house sitter explore our website where you’ll find a library of articles filled with all the information you’ll need. I recommend getting started with a free Trusted Housesitters account. You can sign up in seconds with just an email address and start exploring the thousands of international listings – click here to sign up.
To submit a house sitting application you will need to be a paying member, but annual memberships start at just $129. Use our unique referral code BEACHES25 at checkout to receive 25% off any membership option – click here to get started today.
For further reading about Trusted Housesitters read my full breakdown – Everything You Need to Know About Trusted Housesitters.
Conclusion
I hope this article has highlighted some critical things to avoid when applying for a house sit. It will give you a great framework for the application process and put you in good stead for any listings that take your fancy.
For further assistance with the application process read my previous articles including The Informative Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for a House Sit.
Good luck with your applications!
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