Sitter guide

How to become a house sitter

Everything it takes to go from your first favour for a neighbour to paid, repeat bookings - and how to keep the trust you build instead of leaving it behind on someone else's platform.

1. 1 -

   Decide what kind of sitting you want to do

   House sitting, pet sitting, and live-in care are related but not identical. Live-in sits with animals pay the most and ask the most: overnight stays, medication schedules, and daily updates. Short drop-in visits are easier to fit around other work but pay per visit. Pick the shape that matches your life before you start pitching yourself.

2. 2 -

   Get your first sits from people who already know you

   Almost every professional sitter started with friends, neighbours, and colleagues. Offer two or three sits at a low rate or free in exchange for a written reference and permission to name the animals and the length of stay. That first handful of sits is what makes the next paid booking possible.

3. 3 -

   Learn the care basics that homeowners worry about

   Pet first aid, medication handling for older animals, safe walking practice, and simple home tasks like plant watering, mail, and bin days. A short certified pet first aid course is inexpensive and is one of the few credentials a nervous homeowner will actually recognise.

4. 4 -

   Set a rate you can defend

   Rates vary by city, length of stay, and number of animals. Look at what local sitters and agencies charge, then price against your experience rather than undercutting everyone. Quote a nightly rate for live-in sits and a per-visit rate for drop-ins, and say clearly what is included.

5. 5 -

   Collect references as you go, not later

   Ask for a short written reference at the end of every sit, while the homeowner is still relieved and grateful. Two or three sentences plus a way for a future client to contact them is enough. References gathered months afterwards are vaguer and harder to get.

6. 6 -

   Sort out identity, background check, and insurance

   Serious clients ask about all three. A government photo ID, a current criminal background check with the date it was run, and pet care or liability insurance with the policy dates are the standard set. Getting these in place early means you never lose a booking while you scramble to organise them.

7. 7 -

   Make your track record portable

   If your reviews live only inside one marketplace, you start from zero when you leave it, and a homeowner who found you privately cannot see any of it. A Trusts It profile puts your verified identity, checks, insurance dates, references, and sit history on one link you own and share anywhere.

8. 8 -

   Handle the first booking like a professional

   Offer a meet and greet in the home. Take notes on feeding, medication, walk routes, vet details, and a trusted neighbour. Agree how often you will send updates, then send them. The habits that get you rebooked are the same habits that get you referred.