When your house is their house
A house-sitter can bring you peace of mind, finds Shabnam Dastgheib
Summer holidays are a dream come true. Long, lazy days at the beach, barbecues, the family bach. But wouldn’t it be more fun if you knew your house was being looked after in your absence?
While there are a few potential pitfalls to be aware of when choosing a house-sitter, the practice is increasing in popularity.
Some people are turning house-sitting into a way of life and the industry is growing, mostly in Auckland.
Let neighbours, relatives and friends know if you are going away and getting a housesitter to take care of your property.
Why get a house-sitter?
The House-sitting Company owner Quentin van Heerden said in places like Auckland, where the cost of putting pets into care was almost prohibitively expensive, house-sitting was becoming a growth industry.
Leaving a house empty might also invite potential intruders.
A house-sitter could provide peace of mind for a homeowner by providing regular feedback, plus photographs and updates of pets.
How to choose
The House-sitting Company’s customer care spokeswoman Lyn Strong said going through a reputable agency so that sitters were handpicked and trustworthy was important.
She advised people to be wary of sitters who did not have a police check and to take the time to contact a sitter’s references personally.
Strong said that when placing an advertisement, full addresses should be kept hidden for security reasons.
A spokeswoman from Kiwi House Sitters Team said it was important to be well-prepared in advance.
‘‘This way you can spend the time needed making sure you have found the right person for the job. Give enough detail but not too much. If there are any specific pet needs then write these in as it will ensure only suitably experienced sitters apply for your job.’’
She recommended talking with potential sitters in person or by video call to get a feel for who they are.
‘‘Much of the success is in finding the ‘perfect match’ not the ‘perfect sitter’,’’ she said. ‘‘If you are an animal lover then try to find an animal lover. If you are a clean freak then try to find a sitter who is also a clean freak.’’
Documentation of everything was key to success, the spokeswoman said. ‘‘Have a list of what you need the sitter to do, what they have to pay for, what they are responsible for, and what perishables or pantry items they can use.’’
She also said it might suit some people to have their house-sitter arrive the night before, or just a few hours before they were left to it, to make sure they were comfortable with the house.
Let neighbours, relatives and friends know if you are going away and getting a house-sitter to take care of your property. If you have a friend or a relative close by, it is a good idea to ask them to be a contact for the house-sitter.
Insure, insure, insure
Van Heerden said insurance was vital in case something went wrong: ‘‘If a sitter is not insured and, for example, the house burns down, the home owner could be liable for any associated costs and may not have cover under their own insurance policy.’’
He advised homeowners to read the terms and conditions of their insurance thoroughly.
It’s also wise to check first with your insurer to make sure an existing policy will cover any damage or loss claims made while a house-sitter was in place.
Insurance Council chief executive Tim Grafton said homeowners thinking about having a sitter should consider the potential insurance fish hooks.
‘‘Accidental loss and damage are covered as standard but all insurers will have exclusions for deliberate damage and theft caused by people lawfully on the property, including house-sitters and their guests,
‘‘So be aware who you are getting to house sit,’’ he said. Van Heerden said he personally knew of a case where a family friend had stayed at a house where major damage had occurred.
Unfortunately, the homeowners weren’t insured due to exclusions in their policy.
House-sitting need-to-know
❚ The demand for sitters is growing, make sure you leave plenty of time to find the right person.
❚ Sitters can give you peace of mind but also provide updates and photos of pets left at home.
❚ Agencies vet sitters and police checks are a useful tool in making the right choice.
❚ Don’t advertise your address in full when seeking a sitter – it gives burglars an opportunity.
❚ Document everything you expect your sitter to do so there’s no ambiguity.
❚ Check your insurance carefully.