Why you should use a house sitter is a matter of practicality and common sense. When you need to leave your home, you have a limited number of options. You can just turn off the utilities and lock up the place, informing the police to look in once in a while. This, however, is not an option if you have a pet that needs regular feeding and care, or if you have a lawn or garden that needs tending. If you plan to be away for a while, you’ll also need to make special arrangements with the utility companies and devise ways to have your mail forwarded to you.
Another option is to ask relatives or close friends to drop by regularly and take care of all these tasks for you. If they have jobs or other duties, this might be an imposition. If you don’t have any relatives or friends nearby, a good alternative is to get a house sitter. Using a house sitter to take care of your home while you’re away has very distinct advantages.
First of all, you can specify the qualifications you need from your house sitter. A house sitting service will let you choose a male or female house sitter, one of a certain age and with certain house sitting experience especially in areas like pet care. You can avail of the services of a house sitter only for as long as you need one.
A house sitter can handle a variety of tasks depending upon your needs. These tasks can be as simple as keeping your home clean and secure. It can also entail more complicated duties like taking care of your pet, tending your garden, arranging for home repairs, forwarding your mail and paying your utility bills.
Fees charged by house sitters vary depending on the person, the tasks required and the length of time. Some house sitters will charge almost nothing in exchange for the opportunity to live in a different state or country or enjoy a new environment. Another area where a house sitter can save you money is in insurance premiums. If a home is left unoccupied for a certain period of time, insurance companies will either invalidate the policy or impose surcharges.
Most important of all, however, is the peace of mind you get knowing that your home is in good hands while you are away. Even in neighborhoods that are well-guarded, leaving a home unattended for a long period of time has certain risks. Natural disasters and accidents can always happen in your absence and having a house sitter ensures that your home gets the attention it requires.
Your home is probably the largest investment you will ever make in your lifetime. It’s only common sense to make sure that you keep it safe and secure whenever you have to leave it for a while. Making use of a house sitter is one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to do so.