From Arizona to the Yucatan in Mexico, there are numerous gorgeous places that you can stay worldwide- for FREE- in return for some pet sitting, grass cutting and/or other light duties. As a housesitter you can cheaply and easily travel and live in many exotic places: mountain, lake, city, rural and live like a local for anything from a few days to a couple of years.

Opportunities currently on offer include: a seven week housesit by Lake Isabella, California, eight weeks in Malua Bay, NSW, Australia or six weeks in Brisbane, Queensland or four weeks in New Zealand. Housesits in oceanfront properties in Panama, Australia and the Caribbean or city apartments in Paris or Barcelona are not uncommon.

Here’s how to become a housesitter:

You will need to be able to view and request housesitting positions using the internet. This is the most cost and time efficient way to find your perfect housesit. One of the most popular housesitting websites is Housecarers. There are two levels of house carer membership: one free, the other paid. Basic registration is free and you can post your ad, receive emails of latest jobs etc. but you will need to upgrade in order to contact the homeowner directly when you see the job of your dreams. Full membership costs $50 USD per year and allows you to upload your photos, contact homeowners. You can choose to either receive daily emails from just a few of your target countries or for worldwide housesitting opportunities as soon as they are posted on the site.

It would be useful to obtain references and police checks as soon as you are ready to launch your new housesitting adventures- obviously house owners are putting their trust in you to look after their most valuable possession-their home- so any references are a sure way to present yourself as a reliable and honest, trustworthy person.

Putting some money aside for a deposit and offering to pay a deposit is also a good way to show potential homeowners that you are serious about looking after their home. Not every home owner asks for a deposit but have a fund set aside just in case.

Make sure that you spend time on your profile. This is the write up that will appear on the website along with whatever contact details you have provided. Treat it like an interview: be positive and tell your reader a little about yourself, your experience with housesitting and looking after pets (dogs and cats tend to be the main pets- but ponies, chickens and even the occasional pig, other exotic animals can also need to be looked after.)

You are now ready to get online and find your dream house sit. Using Housecarers you can filter your search results to narrow down your targets or just roam around the website to sit what’s on offer and when. Upload photos, references, police clearance checks, your calendar and your preferences. If you are flexible about location make sure you turn on ‘Include Me’ in Flexisearch results under ‘Preferences.’

You will need to discuss and agree in writing how outgoings are going to be paid before you start your housesit. Some homeowners pay for all outgoings, some require a payment towards electricity and broadband. Make sure everyone knows who is paying for what to avoid arguments later on.

Now the hard work has been done you can sit back and wait to see if there\’s a homeowner in your area who\’s desperate for a little peace of mind while they are away travelling. Who says there\’s no such thing as a win-win situation?

Don’t forget to ask for a reference once your housesit is completed (provided the experience was a positive one for everyone!) Build a portfolio of references- particularly in the early stages. Many friendships are made via housesitting and who knows- that free housesit may become a more frequent occurrence.

If housesitting sounds perfect for you… Click Here! Billie a freelance travel writer currently lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her family. Keep updated on the best places to live abroad and how to fund your life overseas at: http://www.bestplacestoliveabroad.com That $50 yearly fee will repay itself many times over.

If housesitting sounds perfect for you… Click Here! That $50 yearly fee will repay itself many times over. Billie is a freelance travel writer currently living in Christchurch, New Zealand. http://e2c41-xcr9n-fm12qtw7j3z0dk.hop.clickbank.net/\” target=\”_top

Author Bio: If housesitting sounds perfect for you… Click Here! Billie a freelance travel writer currently lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her family. Keep updated on the best places to live abroad and how to fund your life overseas at: http://www.bestplacestoliveabroad.com That $50 yearly fee will repay itself many times over.

Category: Travel
Keywords: housesitting, become a house sitter, live abroad for free