House sitting is a implausible approach to journey with out the hefty lodging expense. After all, there’s at all times the likelihood that one thing might go mistaken. I’ve had many superb experiences home sitting however on this publish, I’m going to let you know about my 6 largest home sitting disasters to make it easier to keep away from them throughout your personal adventures.
6 House Sitting Disasters and How to Avoid Them
Taking over the duty of somebody’s dwelling and pets is a severe dedication, and it comes with nice duty. A fantastic trait for any home sitter is to have the ability to suppose on their ft to allow them to take care of challenges, large or small. Bear in mind, home sitting disasters can be overcome! Listed below are some examples and recommendations on how one can keep away from encountering them your self.
1. The House is Disgusting – Tennessee, USA 2022
Images on a bunch’s itemizing profile are one of many few insights you’ll get into the house or animals you’re going to be caring for. I ought to have trusted my intestine on one itemizing I utilized for in late 2023. The photographs confirmed just a few room angles in suspiciously well-positioned and favorable lights, and it appeared slightly messy. I felt one thing wasn’t fairly proper, however utilized for it anyway.
I’m not tremendous OCD, however I’ll admit to liking issues clear and tidy. On arriving on the home sit in Tennessee I knew inside a second that I’d tousled. The tiny home, that got here with 2 massive canine was an actual mess, with inch-thick mud and hair in all places. There was junk on prime of junk, week-old dishes within the sink, and rotten meals within the fridge.
Regardless of having simply received off a flight I couldn’t unpack a factor till I had tackled the cleansing. I attacked the kitchen, rest room, and bed room with each cleansing product I might discover. The hosts, whom I by no means met, appeared genuinely content material with their dwelling so what might I say? My recommendation? Belief your intestine and ask questions you probably have considerations earlier than making use of.
2. A Very Sick Canine – Texas, USA 2022
One of many largest fears when pet sitting is that one thing will occur to an animal in your care. Pets get sick, it occurs, however hosts normally go away detailed directions of what to do on this case. Taking over quite a few home sits will increase the probability of ultimately experiencing an sudden pet sickness.
I sorted a gorgeous dwelling and a stunning Large Schnauzer known as Trix within the Autumn of 2023. She was an excellent canine, pleasant, easygoing, and loving. While mendacity subsequent to me on the couch one night time she barfed up the whole thing of her abdomen contents – on my lap, (this isn’t fully uncommon and can occur with canine from time to time).
I received cleaned up and went to mattress, however received up at 1 am to examine she was okay. Poor Trix had proceeded to be sick a dozen occasions round the home – beds, carpets, rugs – she actually was not feeling nicely! I settled her down and spoke to the house owners who assured me she ought to be advantageous. I then spent the subsequent two hours scrubbing the home prefer it was a criminal offense scene. Trix made a full restoration after a day or so after a strict food regimen of plain rice and hen.
It was nice to have the proprietor’s contact particulars to hand – regardless of them being on a cruise on the opposite aspect of the world – so we might talk about what was greatest for Trix throughout her sickness.
3. Hen Insanity – Montenegro, 2022
Chickens are one of many simpler animals to look after, or so that you’d suppose, proper? Allow them to out, examine their meals and water, shut them up, and get some scrumptious free eggs. Easy. Upon arriving at a Montenegro home sit with 12 chickens to look after, my illusions have been swiftly shattered.
Chickens will assault different chickens within the coop in the event that they sense weak point – enjoyable reality – that is the place we get the phrase “the pecking order”. The day earlier than I arrived a stray canine had attacked the chickens and one named Silky was severely injured. I had to assemble an isolation sales space, administer every day oral antibiotics, and gown her wounds as per the host’s directions.
My complete keep was spent caring for one hen and guaranteeing the others didn’t kill her. Silky has since handed on, however she was alive after I completed the home sit! The recommendation right here is don’t take the benefit of any home sit as a right. All the time be prepared to go above and past to assist keep away from home sitting disasters.
4. Unhealthy WiFi – France, 2023
It’s certainly one in all many individuals’s prime home sitting disasters. Accepting a rural home sit worldwide means being prepared for WiFi that falls wanting metropolis requirements. As a digital nomad who works on-line, WiFi is fairly very important.
I at all times ask in regards to the web state of affairs, however greater than as soon as I haven’t been given the reality in regards to the WiFi velocity. Shakey connections, speeds too sluggish for calls or downloading attachments, and even a 2-day web blackout are all issues I’ve encountered lately.
Typically you’ll discover cafes, co-working areas, and the like someplace shut by, however my recommendation is to at all times decide up a neighborhood knowledge SIM as a backup. Working is one factor however having no connection to the skin world in a rural location is difficult. I ended up going old skool and watching DVDs for every week at one home sit, as a result of no web means no Netflix!
SEE ALSO: How to Turn into a House Sitter in France (Free Lodging!)
5. Host Cancels – Nashville, 2022
I’d by no means had any points with hosts canceling, and it had by no means even entered my thoughts till Christmas 2022. Just a few days after Christmas, and straight after leaving the soiled Tennesee home from level no. 1, I used to be due to begin a month-long home sit simply exterior Nashville, TN. The hosts appeared pretty and I used to be excited.
The day earlier than I used to be due to begin the sit, I obtained a textual content from the hosts saying merely – ‘Pipe damaged, don’t know what’s going to occur’. My thoughts went into panic mode, Airbnb prices have been via the roof, and no different home sitting listings have been obtainable at quick discover.
I checked with Trusted Housesitters, my go-to home sitting website, and as a result of I’ve their premium membership I used to be utterly lined for the state of affairs. They might cowl my lodging bills up to $1500 a month, I used to be so relieved. Fortunately the pipe was advantageous, the hosts have been happening trip it doesn’t matter what, and I had an excellent month in Nashville, however unexpected circumstances can come up, and it’s best to at all times be ready for a last-minute change of plan.
6. Snakes, Spiders, and Different Wild Beasts – Costa Rica, 2022
Having lived my complete life within the UK, home sitting around the globe has been considerably of an eye-opener for me. I’ve discovered hosts aren’t so fast to point out of their listings a number of the critters and creepy crawlies you could have to take care of.
From large cockroaches and iguanas the scale of surfboards in Costa Rica to tarantulas and a pack of untamed boars in Arizona, I’ve seen loads in the previous few years. On arriving in Tucson I used to be instructed by the hosts to contact pest management after I noticed rattlesnakes within the yard. That’s when, not if! Watch out of toxic toads, I used to be later instructed by one other host in Texas.
Another gems tacked on after accepting a sit have been – don’t go away the canine unattended exterior, there are large owls on this space, and should you’re attacked by a mountain lion, don’t run, battle again! Fortunately I’ve by no means had an encounter wherein I’ve felt remotely threatened and it’s all a part of exploring the world by way of home sitting.
In Conclusion
I wouldn’t change a factor about my experiences home sitting. There have been some powerful occasions, and a number of bushy moments for positive. However even home sitting disasters are a part of the expertise that comes with immersing your self in new cultures and totally different nations.
I, under no circumstances, need to deter anybody from home sitting with this text, however reasonably offer you a heads up on the few bumps and challenges that will come alongside the way in which. House sitting has been a sport changer in my life and permits me to journey completely. I look again on even my least favorable sits as being an expertise I’ll always remember – or change!