How to Get FREE Accommodation While Traveling: A Beginner’s Guide to Housesitting
With the rise of online marketplaces, housesitting has become an increasingly popular way for travelers to save money on accommodations.
Simply explained, housesitting is an exchange between two parties — homeowners that are looking for home and/or pet-care in their absence, and travelers looking to save on accommodations while traveling.
Housesitting while traveling is a great alternative to hostels, hotels, or vacation rentals.
It offers a more personal and homely experience, while allowing travelers to experience life as a local.
I have house sat in several cities including Quebec City, London, Brussels, Dubai, and more.
Thanks to housesitting, I have saved ~$4000 from 7 sits since I joined the platform in 2023!
Top Benefits of Housesitting While Traveling
Save BIG
Accommodations are often the biggest expense travelers incur.
Getting free accommodation means you free up funds for more activities, food, unique experiences, or to travel to more destinations, use for your next trip, grow your savings, and more!
Housesitting can allow travelers to save not only on direct accommodation costs, but also other travel costs such as baggage costs.
You don’t need to carry many clothes since you can easily do laundry.
You also save on food, since many homes provide access to a kitchen stocked with pots, pans, utensils — and often pantry items.
The Local Experience
Housesitting allows travelers to experience their destination like a local. You live in local neighborhoods and interact with local homeowners, which can expand your cultural understanding.
This type of immersive experience is often not found in hostels or hotels.
Pet Companionship
Traveling can get lonely. If you’re an animal lover, introvert or just looking for a break from human interaction, housesitting is perfect for having some furry company while being in an unfamiliar place.
Home Comfort and Safety
Most homes provide access to amenities not always found in typical accommodations, like kitchens, laundry rooms, and more.
As well, solo travelers can benefit from local emergency contacts.
Plus, since hosts want their pets to be well taken care of, house sitters have the benefit of having someone looking out for their safety and well-being in an unfamiliar city.
Where to find housesitting opportunities
There are several ways to find your first house sit — travelers can use popular websites and apps, Facebook groups, and word of mouth.
Best Housesitting Websites 2024
TrustedHousesitters
TrustedHousesitters (THS) is one of the leading platforms in the house-sitting space, known for its extensive global network of listings.
Whether you’re looking for a house sit in bustling cities or remote countryside locations, THS has a high volume of opportunities available worldwide.
The platform offers multiple membership tiers to suit different needs.
The basic membership provides access to the platform’s house-sitting listings, while higher-tier options unlock additional perks like accidental damage coverage, third-party liability insurance, and sit cancellation protection.
Premium plans ensure peace of mind for both sitters and homeowners, making THS a go-to option for many frequent travelers.
Membership plans for house sitters:
- Basic US$129/year
- Standard US$169/year
- Premium US$259/year
You can get 25% off using a referral code like the one below, and 2 months free if someone uses your referral code to register as well.
Nomador
Nomador is a well-established house-sitting platform, particularly popular among travelers seeking opportunities in Europe, with a strong focus on France.
What sets Nomador apart is its emphasis on building a global community through cultural exchange.
Nomador now offers Nomador Stopovers, giving travelers free, short-term stays during their stopovers with welcoming locals without the need to housesit.
Essentially, its similar to Couchsurfing but with more vetting, and travelers need to be paid members to apply.
In addition to its highly community-driven approach, Nomador offers flexible membership options, including a free trial, making it an appealing choice for first-time sitters.
The free trial is for the “Discovery Option,” which allows users to sign up and contact up to three homeowners before needing to pay for a full subscription.
Membership plans for house sitters:
- Discovery US$99/year (or US$39/quarter)
- Standard US$159/year
- Premium US$199/year
MindMyHouse
MindMyHouse is a trusted, budget-friendly house-sitting platform with a global reach.
It offers a straightforward and easy-to-use interface for both homeowners and sitters, making it ideal for those new to house-sitting.
With a low annual membership fee, sitters gain access to an extensive list of house-sitting opportunities around the world.
While it doesn’t offer as many premium features as other platforms, MindMyHouse is perfect for those seeking affordable options without sacrificing quality.
Its simplicity and affordability make it a great choice for house sitters who want access to a wide range of listings without breaking the bank.
Membership plans for house sitters:
- US$29/year
Regional House Sitters sites
The House Sitters Network consists of several regional platforms, including House Sitters UK, House Sitters Canada, House Sitters America, Aussie House Sitters, and Kiwi House Sitters.
These sites provide a broad range of house-sitting opportunities tailored to specific countries, offering a localized experience for both sitters and homeowners.
Each platform operates under a similar structure, with affordable annual membership fees and access to a wide variety of listings in their respective regions.
Membership allows you to apply for sits within that specific country, making it easy for sitters to find opportunities that suit their location or travel plans.
Membership plans for house sitters:
- House Sitters UK
- Basic Membership: ~US$50/year
- Premium Membership: ~US$80/year
- House Sitters Canada
- Standard Membership: ~US$55/year
- Premium Membership: ~US$85/year
- House Sitters America
- Basic Membership: ~US$49/year
- Premium Membership: ~US$99/year
- Aussie House Sitters
- Standard Membership: ~US$50/year
- Premium Membership: ~US$85/year
- Kiwi House Sitters
- Basic Membership: ~US$45/year
- Premium Membership: ~US$75/year
Platform Comparison
| Platform | Pricing (USD) | Trustpilot Rating | Regions | Additional Features |
| Trusted Housesitters (THS) | ~$119/year (annual) | 4.8/5 | Global | ID verification, 24/7 support, pet insurance |
| Nomador | ~$99 (Standard)~$119 (Premium) | 4.5/5 | Global | No membership for homeowners, travel insurance, community features |
| House Sitters UK | ~$50 (Basic)~$80 (Premium) | 4.5/5 | UK | Vetting process, reviews, mobile app |
| House Sitters Canada | ~$55 (Standard)~$85 (Premium) | 4.6/5 | Canada | Dedicated support, insurance options |
| House Sitters America | ~$49 (Basic)~$99 (Premium) | 4.4/5 | USA | Background checks, mobile app |
| Aussie House Sitters | ~$50 (Standard)~$85 (Premium) | 4.5/5 | Australia | Community forums, vetting, insurance options |
| Kiwi House Sitters | ~$45 (Basic)~$75 (Premium) | 4.3/5 | New Zealand | Mobile app, community support |
How to become a house sitter with no experience
Think about housesitting like a job.
You are a candidate seeking employment, the home owners are your employers, and the listings are job openings.
You have to market yourself as the best possible candidate for each job.
The platform you select is like LinkedIn, where you browse job listings, and ensure your profile is up-to-date and enticing for hiring managers.
Landing a house sit is competitive, especially depending on the season and location, however, just like a job interview process, there are some best practices you can follow to stand out from the crowd.
Create a good profile
Start with a compelling bio. Your bio should include your relevant experience pertaining to housesitting and pet care.
Have you had any pets of your own, or walked your friends’ dogs? Include all of that in your description.
You should also mention good habits, such as how you value cleanliness and communication.
Write about your love for animals and travel.
Home owners would like to see your background as well.
This includes what you do for a living and what your schedule is like while you take care of their pets.
If the platform allows, have some folks from your network leave you references that speak to your house and pet sitting capabilities.
As well, be sure to include good photos (not AI generated) showcasing you with pets.
Apply for multiple low-competition sits
Apply for house sits that have lower competition as you start your housesitting journey.
These can be short, local, last-minute sits, sits in areas that are unpopular with low applications, or sits during less than ideal weather.
Apply for multiple sits and don’t put all your eggs in one basket. This increases your likelihood of landing your first sit.
Write a compelling application highlighting your relevant experiences and a brief overview of your plans.
Prioritize getting a sit as soon as possible so you can start building your housesitting experience and gather positive reviews to build credibility.
Ensure you set up a video call with the host and have a few questions ready, such as how often they would like updates.
Once you land your first sit
Follow the host’s instructions and communicate well during your stay, leave their home clean and tidy, and leave them a thank you card and/or gift.
Go above and beyond to ensure you get a positive review, especially on your first sit.
Follow up with the homeowner after the sit to leave you a review if they haven’t done so already, and thank them once they have.
Your first review is the most important, and impacts your ability to land any future house sits.
Housesitting tips for beginners
Communicate well
Stay in touch with homeowners before, during, and after the sit. Many homeowners love having previous sitters come back because there is already established trust and rapport between the pets and the sitter.
Be positive and friendly throughout the process — when you set up your profile, apply, and interact with homeowners before, during, and after sits.
Act swiftly
Sits can go away very quickly—stay on top of listings daily and apply right away, especially to popular destinations. Have an application template ready and tweak it for each listing so you can apply right away.
Be Responsible with Pets and Property
Follow all instructions for pet care and house maintenance.
Prepare a good list of questions to ask during the initial video call. This demonstrates your attention to their listing and your conscientiousness.
Many homeowners also provide a welcome guide. Make sure you understand the instructions well.
Avoid Red Flags
Keep an eye out for red flags like several empty reviews, homeowners asking for payment and more.
Get tips from experienced house sitters
Learn more about the art of housesitting from Facebook groups or Reddit.
I’m currently working on an in-depth Housesitting guide, where you can get access to profile and application tips and templates, red flags to look out for, questions to ask homeowners before confirming the sit, and more.
Subscribe to my email list to be notified when its live!
Conclusion
Housesitting offers a unique and cost-effective way to explore new destinations while enjoying the comforts of a home.
By becoming a housesitter, you not only save on accommodation costs but also immerse yourself in local cultures and build meaningful connections with homeowners and their pets.
Get started as a housesitter by following best practices and stretch your budget longer — trust me, it’s sooo worth it (and so fun)!
