house sitter
Hiring a House Sitter
If you’re going to be out of town for more than a week, you may want to look into hiring a house sitter. He or she will stay at your house while you’re away making it look like you are still at home to dissuade thieves. A house sitter can also take care of your pets and water your plants, although you may have to pay extra for these services. If you’re thinking of hiring a house sitter, here are some things to keep in mind.
Make certain the person you hire is someone you trust. Often, your house sitter is a relative or a friend. You probably won’t be comfortable paying a complete stranger to stay in your home for a week or more, although professional house sitting services are available in some areas. If you do decide to hire someone you don’t know, be certain to ask for references and check up on him or her before you leave just to be safe. Be sure to get his/her full name, address, and contact information as well.
Once you have a house sitter, you’ll want to make out a detailed list of what he or she needs to do while you’re away. It may be easier to break it down day by day so your house sitter knows exactly what must be done. Chores you may need to list out include feeding your pets, taking out the rubbish, taking care of your plants, and getting your mail.
Don’t forget that your house sitter may not be at your home all the time. You may want to ask him or her to be at your house at a certain time each evening. The entire point of having a house sitter, after all, is to make it look like someone is home. If your house sitter is out all night, you won’t be getting that benefit.