Want to travel the world and ride bikes on the cheap?
One of the ways I’m able to travel so much is because I housesit. No, I don’t get paid for housesitting (more on that below), but I do get to stay in some pretty cool places for free. I’ve housesat in Bentonville, Bellingham, the Kingdom Trails, Knoxville, Phoenix, and many other places that offer great riding opportunities.
Housesitting has opened up some many doors for you and I think it will for you as well!
Welcome to The world of Housesitting
I did my first housesit way back in 2017. It was to the beautiful green hills of Marin County north of San Francisco. I loved it! I loved taking care of the pets (two dogs, and a cat), I loved the solitude, and I loved exploring a new area.
Since then, I’ve done dozens of housesits around the US and one even abroad – three glorious months in southwest England.
I truly think housesitting is one of the best ways to travel. Not just because it saves my money, but also because it allows me to see the world like a local and ride my bikes in some pretty cool places.
Ready to change your travel game?
3 Reasons to Try Housesitting
Not sure it’s for you? Here are my top 3 reasons to try it
Travel more. Because I don’t often pay for hotels or accommodations, I can do trips really cheaply. Often, my only expenses are getting there and maybe renting a car. That’s it!
Live like a local. Instead of staying in a touristy hotel or even a curated Airbnb, housesitting lets you really experience a place like a local.
Meet some cool pets (and people). Housesitting isn’t just about a free place to stay. You’ll need to care for the pets, too. But if you’re an animal lover (and you should be!), you’ll get to meet some really cool cats and dogs.
“Becky is as a DREAM!!! Winston loved her and he got daily hikes and/or swims! We also got daily photos and updates!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND BECKY!!”
SARAH
From a housesit I did in Bentonville, Arkansas
That sounds awesome, but…
what’s the Catch?
Well, that depends. For me, there is no catch. I love animals and I love being a ‘homebody’ when I’m not out riding my bike.
But that being said, housesitting is a responsibility. You need to go into it understanding that the home and the pets are your first priority. It’s not just about a free place to stay, you do need to take it seriously and be responsible. For this reason, I typically only take sits that are at least 2 weeks. That way I don’t feel stressed about trying to fit in everything I want to do while still being a good housesitter.
Check it out
TrustedHousesitters
There are several different housesitting websites out there, but TrustedHousesitters is the one I use. I’ve only had great experience with the dozens of sits I’ve done through them. TrustedHousesitters also offers several ‘perks’ like a 24/7 vet advice line and the ability to save searches so you get alerts for specific dates or places you want to go.
Want 25% off your membership? Use my refer a friend link!
Ready to jump in?
How to Get Started
One
Create A Profile
Before you can start traveling as a housesitter, you’ll need to purchase a membership and create a stellar profile. Your profile is basically your resume, so take time to craft a good (and accurate) one.
Tips for creating a good profile:
Two
Apply for your first Housesit
Once you have your profile ready, it’s time to apply for your first sit! I was lucky in that I started housesitting before it really became popular, so I racked up tons of great reviews pretty quickly. If you’re just starting out, it may be hard to land your first sit. You can try to housesit locally first if you’re finding it hard to land your first sit without having any reviews.
Three
Start Traveling!
Housesitting can really open up the world for you. It did for me. I’ve housesat all across the US from California to Vermont and I even did a three month housesit in southwest England (which also came with a car). Good luck and have fun!
Ready to jump in?
Let’s do it!
TrustedHousesitter’s offers three tiers of membership based. Use the buttons below to get 25% off any membership you choose!
