The Process

We were so lucky to have found the website Trusted Housesitters.  Trusted Housesitters is a UK based organization that matches vetted individuals/couples with homeowners who need someone to take care of their pets and home while they are away.  It’s a win-win situation for both parties.  The homeowner is able to find through the registry members who will pet/housesit for free, knowing that their pets get stay at home because the members are vetted through ID verifications and criminal background checks.  The pet/housesitters get free lodging in exchange in caring for pets, become familiar with the local area, can choose housesits that range from a weekend to a year worldwide and feel confident when choosing an assignment because the homeowners are vetted as well.  What could be better!

I’m going to post the message that we constructed for our profile.  You might even find out something about us you didn’t already know.  It must be okay because we have 12 confirmed housesits.  Here’s the message:

Hi!  We are Chuck and Terry, who enjoy traveling and new adventures.  Chuck is a retired US Army helicopter pilot and we are both retired elementary school teachers.  We are planning an extended stay in Europe, primarily in Great Britain after a transatlantic cruise that disembarks in Southampton May 14, 2017. We're a young at heart retired couple, energetic non-smokers and always excited about new experiences. We are homeowners in the US (Georgia) and understand the need to feel confident that your pets and home are in good hands. Our youngest son (28) has graciously volunteered to pet/housesit (at present, we have one very spoiled cat named Smokey) for us while we are immersing ourselves in the culture of the UK.  We hope that we can be of assistance to you while you enjoy a holiday. We have lived in Germany for 7 years (tours of duty with the US Army) and have traveled in Europe. We are animal lovers and have had many beloved pets, particularly the first pet we owned as a newly married couple, Jack, our German shepherd. It’s hard to believe that was 35 years ago.  He certainly has a special place in our hearts. We are quite capable of managing all types of situations.  We know how to roll with the punches and face new challenges. We will have access to our own transportation during our stay in the UK.  We would feel privileged to have the opportunity to keep your pets company and make new memories with them while you are on holiday. 

This is the basis of the message we used to apply for assignments.  We tailored it by personalizing the message to the homeowners.  For example, if the homeowners have a dog named Oliver, we made sure to mention the dog’s name in the message.  So far, it’s worked.  I’m going to post a link to Trusted Housesitters for those who are interested.  There is a fee associated with the membership, but we have already recovered that cost with our first housesit and the savings on lodging. I am adding a link to the Trusted Housesitters website:  www.trustedhousesitters.com

Well, it’s time to start dinner.  Barbeque chicken sandwiches, baked beans, and French fries:  what could be better?