When it comes to choosing a house sitter, is it best to look locally or better to look further afield? In this article, I will give you the benefit of my experiences house sitting globally and discussing this issue with homeowners over the years.
Selecting the right house sitter can be a stressful experience. Especially if it’s the first time you are opening your home to strangers. But it doesn’t have to be! We have loads of tools to help, so be sure to check out our dedicated Homeowners and Hosts Page.
But for now, let’s answer that one question. Is it best to keep it local, or is it, in fact, better to look further afield?
Benefits of Choosing a Local Sitter
Selecting a local sitter comes with lots of benefits. For starters, you will very likely be able to meet them beforehand and give them a tour of your home. You will then be able to detail the duties required of them during the stay. Perhaps most importantly, you can introduce them to your pets.
Choosing a house sitter within your region can also mean repeat bookings with the same person. This is ideal for creating familiarity with your pets while providing more comfort for you. You can leave safe in the knowledge that an experienced person is taking care of your home.
Someone living close by will be familiar with the local area and almost certainly be unhindered by serious travel delays. These benefits can not be understated, but let’s also consider any potential downsides.
Cons of Choosing a Local Sitter
One of the biggest negatives of deciding to choose a local sitter is that your options may be limited. Depending on where you live, there simply may not be that many choices available to you.
In my experience, local sitters tend to expect payment, however modest, for their services. Rather than using house sitting to explore, local sitters often see it as an income source. This is, of course, fine, but the financial factor is something hosts need to consider.
Another consideration is that some local sitters may lack experience or have limited reviews. We encourage new sitters to always start local and secure house sits close to home to build their profiles. You may get eager applicants, but some may lack the experience you are looking for.
Benefits of Choosing a House Sitter from Further Away
One of the biggest benefits of choosing a house sitter from a different city or even another country is that your options increase exponentially. Websites like Trusted Housesitters have thousands of active users. People from all over the world may be looking for a sit just like yours.
International or long-distance house sitting requires a lot of planning. Subsequently, you will easily be able to identify house sitters who are informed of the task they are applying for and experienced in the house sitting environment.
Securing house sits from far away is not easy. You generally need a strong profile to secure international sits and stand out from the crowd. An added bonus is that you may make friends with people from around the world. We regularly offer reciprocal visits to hosts we meet to visit us for free.
Cons of Choosing a House Sitter from Further Away
Let’s address the biggest concern first: long distances mean a greater chance of complications occurring. I agree to this point to a certain extent, but also would argue that any decent international house sitting applicant is aware of potential travel issues and will plan accordingly.
For example, in the 50+ exchanges we have done over the years, we have rarely started a house sit on the same day we arrive in a new country. We always plan a few days to recover and get used to the time difference before starting a posting. This creates a buffer of at least a few days to avoid any complications.
I would, in fact, argue that a long-distance house sitter is as likely to arrive as planned. If I spend $2000 on flights to the USA, you can be certain I will be doing everything in my power to be on those flights and arriving at my destination as close to the scheduled time as possible.
Additional Cons for Consideration
Another concern may be the fact that you won’t be able to meet a potential sitter in person before making a selection. Video calling has made this issue much less of a problem, but I know many people would still prefer a face-to-face interview of sorts.
Out-of-towners will have limited knowledge of the local area, but are likely to brush up beforehand. Many use it as a means to explore new towns, cities, and countries. Be aware that some sitters may seek to just use your home as a base, so be clear about the duties involved, especially with pets.
We are often asked, ‘But what if something happens and you cancel?’. My answer is always the same, even if you book your neighbor, something could come up. Whether we are down the street or 5000 miles away, it would need to be something very serious, and those issues could impact any sitter anywhere.
House Sitting Without a Visa
House sitting in certain countries without a visa is a grey area, but ultimately, the answer is yes, you can house sit without a work visa. As long as there is no financial exchange between the two parties, it is simply one friend helping out another, and is perfectly legal in the majority of places.
Having said this, it’s always smart to be vigilant when you have house sitters entering from a foreign country. For example, advise them not to offer up to border agents that they are there to house sit, but rather that they are coming to stay with friends. Ensure they have your phone number and address to hand.
Trusted Housesitters provides users with a template letter that can be given to border agents in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. It outlines the purpose of a house sitting visit and explains that it is permissible without a working visa. Your house sitters should have this to hand if required.
Final Thoughts on House Sitting Without a Visa
The majority of our house sitting placements have been in foreign countries, and we have experienced zero issues. We have always arrived as scheduled and with no problems at the border. By being aware of the potential problems, international house sitters can mitigate most of the issues.
Final Thoughts on Choosing a House Sitter
If you were hoping for a definitive answer, I am sorry to disappoint. I feel that whether you opt for the comfort of a local sitter or want the increased options that come with an international visitor, the result will be the same.
There are, of course, pros and cons to be considered for both options, but ultimately, the situation balances itself out in the majority of cases. It all comes down to the quality of the sitter you choose. My advice is to open yourself up to a larger number of applicants by joining a large house sitting platform.
More Information About Trusted Housesitters
The biggest house sitting platform on the market is Trusted Housesitters. With over 9000 listings, don’t be put off as a homeowner thinking that yours will get lost in the mire. The more listings the platform has, the more potential sitters come into the mix, possibly looking for a sit just like yours.
A hosting/pet parent membership starts at $149 a year – now compare that to the cost of a few days of kenneling your furry friends! Best of all, our readers get 25% off when they use the code BEACHES25 at checkout. Click here to start browsing the site today.
For more information about THS, check out my previous article, Everything You Need to Know About Trusted Housesitters, which will give you all the information you require.
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