What does a House Sitter do?

House Sitters provide homeowners with peace of mind that their home is safe during a vacation or being away from home for an extended period. They ensure travelers return to a well-cared-for, functional house.

House Sitter skills and qualifications

You may look for candidates with strong attention to detail and excellent communication skills, which can be critical to successfully handling house-sitting tasks. Other skills relevant to a House Sitter job description may include:

• Reliability, as people prefer to leave their property and pets with someone they feel is honest and trustworthy

• Problem-solving skills to make decisions in the best interest of the homeowner without having explicit instructions about the scenario

• Pet care experience, if homeowners are unable to travel with their pets and prefer they are cared for in their home

• Security awareness to manage home security systems and understand when and how to report issues to the appropriate agencies and authorities

• Housekeeping skills to leave the home in excellent condition

House Sitter experience requirements

House Sitters don’t typically need formal experience, though you may want to look for candidates with previous experience babysitting, pet sitting or housekeeping. These jobs generally require skills that would be valuable in a house sitting position. Otherwise, you may consider whether an applicant’s previous experience helps demonstrate trustworthiness and an ability to use critical thinking skills independently.

House Sitter education and training requirements

House sitting positions do not require formal education. However, depending on what type of house sitting position you’re hiring for, you might look for candidates with a cat and dog first aid certification, which is offered through the American Red Cross.

Job description samples for similar positions

If you aren’t looking for information about house sitting job descriptions but are interested in how to write job descriptions for similar positions, you might consider starting with the following job descriptions:

• Babysitter

• Pet Sitter

• Housekeeper

• Nanny

House Sitter job description FAQs

Is a House Sitter a full-time or part-time job?

As an employer, you can decide whether the position is full- or part-time. If you’re hiring a House Sitter for your home, you may want to hire on a contract basis so you only pay for the services used. An agency that staffs House Sitters for others may hire full-time, part-time or pro re nata (PRN) positions.

Does a House Sitter need a background check?

It’s common for employers to run background checks on House Sitters, as they generally enter clients’ homes on their own. You might coordinate any background checks with your human resources and legal teams.

What’s the difference between a House Sitter and a Pet Sitter?

A Pet Sitter cares for a person’s pet when they go away. Some House Sitters also care for pets in their owners’ homes. However, not all House Sitters provide this service, and not all house sitting involve pet care.

Do House Sitters stay in the home overnight?

While some homeowners may prefer the House Sitter to visit one or more times during the day, others may prefer the House Sitter to temporarily stay until they return.