It’s no surprise that the housing market has become a hectic place. This is especially true in large cities such as Toronto. From sublets to people using Airbnb, people are using new methods of finding housing, particularly in short-term situations. One method that has gained popularity over time is house sitting. Whether it’s used as a housing solution within your own city or when travelling, house-sitting has many pros and cons. Due to this, it can be challenging to determine whether house-sitting is suitable for you. Luckily, isure has everything you need to know when it comes to house sitting!
What is House Sitting?
House sitting is the act of staying and looking after someone else’s home while they are away in exchange for free accommodation, utilities, and food. Generally, you will be responsible for specific tasks to maintain the home in the best possible condition. These tasks can vary depending on the home, but will usually involve the following:
- Caring for pets, feeding them, and walking them
- Watering plants
- Outdoor maintenance, such as cutting the lawn, if necessary
- Collecting mail
- Vacuuming the floor
- Answering the phone and relaying any crucial messages
- Occupying the home and making sure it is surveilled at all times
Essentially, your job is to provide the homeowner with the comfort and reassurance that their home is safe while they are away. For some time, house sitting has been a popular method of finding accommodation while travelling. However, there has been an increase in people house-sitting within their cities. As mentioned above, this is mainly due to the unaffordable rent that is plaguing the country.
It Can Save You On Rent!
In an article for Chatelaine, Christine Estima states that she hasn’t paid rent in Toronto for a year due to house-sitting.
“In the past, I’ve managed to keep an apartment in Toronto. However, in January 2023, when the COVID-19 lockdowns were finally a thing of the past, rent became astronomical. Even renting a room in a shared apartment could run upwards of $1,500 a month,” Estima wrote.
Estima states that the stress alleviated from her life was colossal, due to the distress of making rent every month no longer being a factor in her life. She isn’t the only one who believes rent causes distress, either. Financial anxiety has been the number-one cause of stress amongst Canadians for the past six years.
Long-Term Sitting vs. Short-Term Sitting
When it comes to house sitting, the type of ‘sitting’ you can partake in is divided into either long-term or short-term sits. The difference in these is, you guessed it, the duration for which you are house sitting.
Long-term house sits typically range from a few weeks to several months in duration, while short-term sits usually last only a few days, up to a week or two. Of course, each type of sit can be beneficial depending on your situation. Overall, people who use house sitting as a rental solution tend to opt for long-term conditions. This will give the sitter an extended amount of time to unwind and explore what their neighbourhood has to offer.
On the other hand, a short-term sitting situation may prove beneficial to people who want to test out whether they enjoy living in a particular city or not.
Pros and Cons of House Sitting
Due to the unique nature of house-sitting, it can be challenging for people to determine whether it is a good fit for them. Are you interested in housesitting? If so, let’s examine the pros and cons of housesitting and determine whether it can be a viable solution to high rental prices.
Pros of House-Sitting
To begin, let’s examine the benefits of house sitting.
- Free accommodation. This is arguably one of the most significant advantages of house-sitting. In a world where rent is constantly rising, living without paying rent can feel like an absolute dream. Furthermore, you get to experience amenities like Wi-Fi and, in some cases, a television. Depending on whether you are staying for a long term or a short term, food is usually provided as well.
- Explore a new city or neighbourhood. If you are housesitting within your city, it can be a good change to stay in a new neighbourhood. In big cities like Toronto, different neighbourhoods can offer entirely new living experiences. Have you ever wondered whether you’d enjoy living in a specific city? Or did you want to try out the suburbs? A short-term stint can be a great way to test the waters.
- Spending time with animals is another huge bonus! In most cases, those looking to find house-sitters most likely have pets that need to be taken care of. If you’re an animal lover who can’t own a pet right now, then house-sitting can be a great way to spend some time with furry friends!
- The work is generally relatively easy. If you’re worried that the combination of house sitting with your day job may be a bit much to handle, don’t be! Generally, most of the work assigned to you involves basic cleaning tasks. So, you shouldn’t worry much about house-sitting taking too much time out of your day-to-day.
- Flexibility is another huge pro when it comes to house sitting. While you search for different opportunities, you can be picky with what you want. There are numerous opportunities available, both short-term and long-term.
Cons of House-Sitting
Now that we’ve gone over some pros of house sitting, let’s take a look at the cons:
- In some cases, limited freedom can be a pretty significant downside to house sitting. This is generally one of the most common issues people have. What if the home you’re sitting in has a needy pet? In short, your freedom may be limited. Due to this, it is essential to do your research and ask questions to make sure your sit fits your needs.
- Tricky clients can often be a hassle when it comes to house sitting. This can manifest as a lengthy list of demands or the constant addition to your list of duties. It is essential to ensure you get a good sense of who the homeowner is before committing to anything long-term.
- Mischievous pets can sometimes be a considerable downside. It can be frustrating to care for a poorly trained pet, especially if you are not familiar with their routine.
- House sitting can be isolating. If you are someone who likes to live with roommates or with a partner, you might find house sitting to be quite lonely at times. Remember, you will be staying in an unfamiliar home on your own, sometimes in unfamiliar areas. So prepare yourself for this change.
Housesitting: How to Get Started
Like many things, your best place to begin when it comes to house sitting is by contacting friends or family members. Ask them if they, or anyone they know, needs a house sitter, so you can begin to learn the ropes. Let’s face it, you’re going to need a few recommendations before a stranger allows you to stay in their home.
Sites such as Trustedhousesitters.com or Nomador.com are specifically designed to help homeowners find house sitters. Generally, sites such as these come with membership fees. However, compared to how much you’ll save on rent, a small yearly fee becomes negligible.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, whether house sitting is a viable short-term solution to renting is up to you. If you are interested in finding new places to live in exchange for a new change of scenery and free accommodations, house sitting may be up your alley. We at isure hope this article can help you decide if house-sitting is right for you! As always, we’re happy to help you find the best insurance solutions based on any life changes and new needs that arise.
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