Visiting people’s homes and taking care of their plants and pets might seem unusual, but, when a house sitting business is marketed and managed correctly, you can turn it into a stable business.
If you’re exploring ways to make income through a small business, and you’re considering house sitting, you need to find out if it’s truly the best business for you.
To help you do this, we’ll look at a number of factors; what kind of person should go into this business, the benefits and disadvantages of being a house sitter, as well as understanding what house sitting entails.
What is House Sitting?
House sitting is the act of being in someone else’s house while they are away. One of the primary intentions behind house sitting is to allow the owner of the house to be at ease while they are away.
In many cases, house sitting and pet sitting tends to be a package deal, so depending on how you set up your business, you might be required to take care of pets or plants while you house sit. You may also be required to keep the house clean while you are there.
It’s important to have a clear idea of what the house owner expects from you while they are away.
What Should You Charge as a House Sitter?
There are different house sitting arrangements, some are paid, while others consider your free stay in their property as a payment.
If you’re approaching it as a business idea to make extra money, a non-payment arrangement is not profitable. You need to establish a daily rate, depending on the type of work you’d need to do while you’re house sitting.
House sitters in South Africa charge between R 400 and R 800 for a day of house sitting. If you’re doing minimal work and just started out as a house sitter, you can start off with a lower daily rate and increase it as you gain authority and traction.
Who is Most Suitable for this Business?
House sitting is great for people who love moving around and can adjust easily to new environments. Since many house sitting arrangements might require you to take care of pets or/and plants, you should probably be an animal lover with some experience caring for animals, and have knowledge on how to properly take care of plants.
Benefits of Being a House Sitter
There are many benefits that come with being a house sitter, especially if you run it efficiently, like it’s a business. These benefits are:
1. Free accommodation: House sitting serves as a form of alternative accommodation. This is especially beneficial for nomadic house sitters.
2. Get paid to travel: If you’re someone who loves to hit the road, you could avail yourself to house sit out of your city. If you’re considering this option, you should include a travel fee in your overall charge.
3. Make new friends, or pet pals: If you’re in an arrangement that includes pet sitting, you get to enjoy building bonds with new furry friends. Additionally, you can acquaint yourself with neighbours nearby.
Disadvantages of Being a House Sitter
While there are many benefits to running a house sitting business, there are quite a few disadvantages as well. These include:
1. Safety concerns: When you’re staying in someone else’s house, especially if it’s your first time there, you might feel unsafe and uneasy.
2. House sitting is a huge responsibility: House sitting involves more than just staying in someone’s home; it demands responsible behaviour. This includes following the homeowner’s security measures, as overlooking something as simple as locking all the doors could lead to a burglary.
3. Loneliness: Being in an unfamiliar environment can bring the challenge of feeling lonely, especially if it’s your first time in that location.
How to Run a Successful House Sitting Business
House sitting does sound like something you can casually arrange and run informally, but, to increase your chances of succeeding, it’s best to have a plan in place. Here are 3 ways to help your house sitting business succeed:
1. Have a business plan: No matter how small your business may be, it’s never too small for a thorough business plan. Among other things, outline your business description, your marketing strategy, and the specific services you offer to avoid overlapping roles.
2. Collect reviews: Find ways to collect and share customer success stories from your previous clients. This will help you build trust among your current customers and any new potential customers.
3. Consider diversifying your services: If you can highlight other strengths you have, such as pet sitting, cleaning or perhaps, you’ve got gardening experience. You can even go the extra mile and offer to shop their groceries closer to the time the owners will be back home.
