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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think I can start a house sitting business?

71 replies

Scotschic · 04/04/2018 20:38

I came up with what I think of as a brainwave of an idea! I want my dp and I to start a home sitting service, what do I need in order to do this business? The background story is that just now I’m in a job I absolutely fucking hate, I’ve just applied to go back to college & if I’m successful then I would be starting in August/September of this year, it’s a full time course that finishes June 2019, my dp has been unemployed for 4 months so no income from him anymore Angry and dunno how long it will go on for. Confused

It’s obviously only an idea at this stage but any knowledge of house sitting services from anybody would be great, I’m in Central Scotland btw.

OP posts:
sportyfool · 05/04/2018 07:41

We have a ring doorbell and cctv on every corner of the house which didn't cost much to install . We can see every movement on our phones wherever we are . ( not that I do often but it's there if I need it )
I would say unless you were animal sitting it's a pretty defunct job now just watching a house .
I use to house sit and look after horses and dogs when I was younger and lived at home but it didn't pay well at all. 😬😬...

Original poster
Scotschic · 05/04/2018 13:24

Well my DD is 15 and 16 this June so I would bring her with me or let her stay at home and ask my sister to check on her, she lives near by.

OP posts:
specialsubject · 05/04/2018 13:50

there are loads of people doing it for free, plus some businesses providing vetted house sitters at a high charge.

sorry - non starter.

Original poster
Scotschic · 05/04/2018 13:53

Specialsubject it certainly looks this way Sad so I’ll have to go back to the drawing board, thanks though to all that replied.

OP posts:
elastamum · 05/04/2018 14:08

I use house sitters for my holidays. But we have a big rural house with dogs and horses. The sitters are there right now mucking out every day whilst we are away. They charge a lot, but it is worth it. I get them through animal aunts so they are insured and have back up. I would imagine the market is pretty limited unless you look after animals.

Original poster
Scotschic · 05/04/2018 14:40

I’ll have to look after them then! I’ve still to look at the house sitting websites though so I’m not totally against the idea, yet!

OP posts:
sunshinesupermum · 05/04/2018 14:47

Personally I wouldn't have a house sitter who brought their child with them. If your daughter is still at school how do you propose staying overnight in the house anyway (which will be part of any normal housesitting contract)?

Original poster
Scotschic · 05/04/2018 14:56

She’s not really a child though, how would they know anyway? I would make provisions for her if I had to stay away, my sister lives 5 mins from me and her kids go to same high school as my daughter, and it’s nearly the summer holidays anyway, and she’s going to be off for her exams in May/June.

OP posts:
Original poster
Scotschic · 05/04/2018 15:01

Anyway I haven’t researched it all yet so I’m getting ahead of myself with what I’d do with my daughter, who will be 16 in June therefore she will be more than able to spend the night at home alone, she’s very responsible and my sister has a key to mine and a car, plus lives 5 mins away so she can pop down anytime and check on my daughter.

I’ll reserve my judgment until I’ve researched it.

OP posts:
notacooldad · 05/04/2018 15:09

This house sitting reminds me of my friend.
My friends daughter house sat for a very wealthy couple in our area. They weren't happy with the ( loads of ) previous house sitters and no one knew why, The couple had a long list of dos and don'ts which the daughter followed to the letter even though some seemed a bit odd. They paid her an extremely generous amount of money. A few days later they told her that they were really pleased with her and would she do it again. It turned out they had hidden cameras in the living areas so they checked if she had followed their instructions. She was the only one that obeyed the rules. My friend mentioned about privacy and they said there was warning notices up around the house. Anyway she had a contract that lasted over 10 years until the couple moved to France and they came up for the birth of the birth of DD first child and are still good friends. Some people might think it was controlling of the couple but they had been let down and taken advantage of so they were protecting themselves.

SilverySurfer · 05/04/2018 15:37

It sounds like you haven't thought about this very seriously. Firstly, it's likely that the majority of customers will have pets and if they are dogs, you can't just go off to work all day when they are expecting their dogs to be walked, say, three times a day, not to mention it's wrong to leave dogs alone for a whole day.

You can't just turn up with your DD, however old she is - the homeowners are entitled to have control over who has access to their property. I'm sure your Sister will be thrilled to be given responsibility for your DD while you are living away. Hmm You will also need good insurance and references.

good luck with your research.

Tainbri · 05/04/2018 16:00

I get house sitters when we go away but I wouldn't if we didn't have dogs & cats. It's them I want looked after more than the house. I don't expect the house sitter to be a cleaner though but would expect the house in good order and not dirtier than when we left. I found the lady we use now by word and mouth as obviously references are essential as if you're letting someone in your home you want to know they're trustworthy etc.

hibbledibble · 05/04/2018 16:14

If you're not willing to look after animals I can't imagine you would get much interest.

Looking after animals is pretty much the only reason most people would get a house sitter. Otherwise you are just paying a randomer to live in your house Hmm

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 05/04/2018 18:47

If you are the type who would bring your kid on a "how will they know" basis, you are too dishonest to be a successful house sitter!

xkatie27x · 05/04/2018 18:52

I’m sure that a lot of house sitters don’t get paid, they look after the house/ pets and in return don’t pay any living expenses and get to see new places. 🤔 not sure you’d be able to make a business out of it very easily Sad

StopHammerTime · 05/04/2018 19:09

×how would they know anyway×

Wow!! You have just demonstrated that you are completely unsuitable to be a housesitter. What a terrible attitude towards clients who would be placing their trust in you. Stop doing research on this as it's clearly not an appropriate job for you.

Motoko · 05/04/2018 20:32

And to answer the "How would they know" question, the neighbours will probably have been asked to keep an eye on the place and house sitter, or at least told there would be a sitter, in case they saw a stranger going in and out of the house.

MargaretCavendish · 05/04/2018 23:12

Anyway I haven’t researched it all yet so I’m getting ahead of myself with what I’d do with my daughter, who will be 16 in June therefore she will be more than able to spend the night at home alone, she’s very responsible and my sister has a key to mine and a car, plus lives 5 mins away so she can pop down anytime and check on my daughter.

This makes it sound like you're imagining it would be the occasional night? I think most people who use house-sitters/pet-sitters are going away for longer than that - people tend to worry about leaving the house for weeks on end, not the odd weekend. I think you'd have to be prepared to be away from home for more than a night or two when you got a job.

Moneyissue2 · 05/04/2018 23:27

Am I the only one who would worry about hidden cameras and/or pre arranged murderes turning up?
I am a coward, but I’d never do that job Grin

Motoko · 06/04/2018 00:21

Am I the only one who would worry about hidden cameras and/or pre arranged murderes turning up?

Hidden cameras, possibly, but prearranged murderers? Grin

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 06/04/2018 00:24

Fab idea as long as the people whose house you'll be minding are not Simon and LizGrin

RedMugMadeLocally · 06/04/2018 06:42

If you are the type who would bring your kid on a "how will they know" basis, you are too dishonest to be a successful house sitter!.

^^ This! You'd be a nightmare. I'd hate to think I had entrusted someone with that attitude.

HarryLovesDraco · 06/04/2018 06:51

how would they know are you serious?!
And obviously you would be taking care of animals. Probably dogs who need a lot of company and walks. That is 90% the reason people would pay you!

Alienspaceship · 06/04/2018 06:59

How would they know?
You are completely unsuitable for house sitting.

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 06/04/2018 07:09

We are on a website called Trusted Housesitters - it might be worth you taking a look OP. Mostly the housesitters do it for free but there are a few who charge.
People advertise their home and what needs looking after: cats, dogs, horses etc. And those looking for housesits advertise their credentials: what animals they’ve taken care of in the past, previous jobs, previous house sits etc.
We have a retired police officer coming in July. We use the non- charging housesitters so the only cost to us is the annual registration to the site.
We’ve been doing this for years now - we’ve had a young couple from Australia, a retired couple from NZ, a single retired woman from Scotland, a couple of teachers from Portugal and a retired couple from the Midlands. The house is always immaculate when we get back and we have remained friends with many of the people who have stayed here.
The site might give you clues as to what housitters are looking for and what credentials the sitters have that make them suitable.

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