Home sitting is a unbelievable strategy to journey with out the hefty lodging expense. In fact, there’s at all times the likelihood that one thing may go flawed. I’ve had many superb experiences house sitting however on this put up, I’m going to let you know about my 6 greatest home sitting disasters that will help you keep away from them throughout your personal adventures.
6 Home Sitting Disasters and How one can Keep away from Them
Taking up the accountability of somebody’s residence and pets is a severe dedication, and it comes with nice accountability. An excellent trait for any house sitter is to have the ability to assume on their ft to allow them to cope with challenges, massive or small. Bear in mind, home sitting disasters can be overcome! Listed here are some examples and recommendations on how one can keep away from encountering them your self.
1. The Home 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 pictures confirmed just a few room angles in suspiciously well-positioned and favorable lights, and it regarded a bit 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 giant canines was an actual mess, with inch-thick mud and hair all over the place. There was junk on high of junk, week-old dishes within the sink, and rotten meals within the fridge.
Regardless of having simply bought off a flight I couldn’t unpack a factor till I had tackled the cleansing. I attacked the kitchen, toilet, and bed room with each cleansing product I may discover. The hosts, whom I by no means met, appeared genuinely content material with their residence so what may I say? My recommendation? Belief your intestine and ask questions in case you have considerations earlier than making use of.
2. A Very Sick Canine – Texas, USA 2022
One of many greatest fears when pet sitting is that one thing will occur to an animal in your care. Pets get sick, it occurs, however hosts often depart detailed directions of what to do on this case. Taking up quite a few home sits will increase the probability of ultimately experiencing an sudden pet sickness.
I taken care of a ravishing residence and a stunning Giant Schnauzer referred to as Trix within the Autumn of 2023. She was an awesome canine, pleasant, easygoing, and loving. While mendacity subsequent to me on the couch one night time she barfed up everything of her abdomen contents – on my lap, (this isn’t completely uncommon and might occur with canines sometimes).
I bought cleaned up and went to mattress, however bought up at 1 am to examine she was okay. Poor Trix had proceeded to be sick a dozen instances 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 needs to be wonderful. I then spent the following 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 rooster.
It was nice to have the proprietor’s contact particulars handy – regardless of them being on a cruise on the opposite facet of the world – so we may focus on 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 assume, 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 had 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 critically injured. I needed to assemble an isolation sales space, administer every day oral antibiotics, and gown her wounds as per the host’s directions.
My entire keep was spent taking good care of one rooster and making certain the others didn’t kill her. Silky has since handed on, however she was alive once 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 able to go above and past to assist keep away from home sitting disasters.
4. Dangerous WiFi – France, 2023
It’s absolutely one in all many individuals’s high 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 important.
I at all times ask in regards to the web scenario, however greater than as soon as I haven’t been given the reality in regards to the WiFi velocity. Shakey connections, speeds too gradual 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 information SIM as a backup. Working is one factor however having no connection to the surface world in a rural location is difficult. I ended up going old style and watching DVDs for per week at one home sit, as a result of no web means no Netflix!
SEE ALSO: How to Become a House Sitter in France (Free Accommodation!)
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. A number of days after Christmas, and straight after leaving the soiled Tennesee home from level no. 1, I used to be as a consequence of 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 as a consequence of 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 had been by the roof, and no different home sitting listings had been out there at quick discover.
I checked with Trusted Housesitters, my go-to home sitting web site, and since I’ve their premium membership I used to be fully lined for the scenario. They’d cowl my lodging bills as much as $1500 a month, I used to be so relieved. Fortunately the pipe was wonderful, the hosts had been occurring trip it doesn’t matter what, and I had an awesome 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 entire life within the UK, home sitting world wide has been considerably of an eye-opener for me. I’ve discovered hosts aren’t so fast to say of their listings a few of the critters and creepy crawlies you’ll have to deal with.
From big cockroaches and iguanas the scale of surfboards in Costa Rica to tarantulas and a pack of untamed boars in Arizona, I’ve seen lots in the previous few years. On arriving in Tucson I used to be advised by the hosts to contact pest management once I noticed rattlesnakes within the yard. That’s when, not if! Watch out of toxic toads, I used to be later advised by one other host in Texas.
Another gems tacked on after accepting a sit have been – don’t depart the canine unattended exterior, there are massive owls on this space, and should you’re attacked by a mountain lion, don’t run, combat again! Fortunately I’ve by no means had an encounter by which 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 robust instances, and some 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 completely different international locations.
I, on no account, wish to deter anybody from home sitting with this text, however reasonably provide you with a heads up on the few bumps and challenges which will come alongside the best way. Home 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!
