House Sitting

House sitting jobs involve living in somebody's house while they are away, whether they are on business, on holiday or it is simply their second home that needs minding.

As well as living in the property, a house sitting job could also involve taking care of the garden or the pets. As part of the house sitting job you get free accommodation as well as a fee but you must keep the propery clean and tidy. The house then looks lived in and so should provide a deterrent to potential burglars.

There are house sitting jobs that only involve visiting daily - perhaps to take care of a pet, water the plants and remove the post from the front door and make the house looked 'lived in'.

There are agencies that you can join to find house sitting jobs. It might be advisable to obtain a police check first (visit your local police station for this) as well as some references from professional people.

For full-time house sitting jobs you are usually expected to remain in the property most of the time - you would not be expected to leave the property empty for more than 3 hours at a time. This work therefore could be ideal for retired people, students or writers looking for peace and quiet!

Although not a high paying job, it is easy, relaxing and provides a change of scenary away from your day-to-day life while getting paid. However, it is a responsibility to be taken seriously as you can't leave the premises for more than a few hours.