http://www.forum.housecarers.com/index.cfm?forumid=6 FuseTalk Basic Edition http://www.forum.housecarers.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=625 2009-09-15T21:33:48 -05.00 IanLWhite 1
We've been using house-sitters for many years now and have become friends with some.

It's very important to be a good judge of character and to get references. I always check the potential house-sitter out on the internet if they pique my interest. We don't pay our house-sitters and in fact, they're responsible for paying the utilities (other than water) while they're house-sitting. Most of our house-sitters are amenable to this because living in a different state or country gives them the opportunity for a "free" vacation.

We let them use our vehicle while they're here. Our major requirement of house-sitters is that they vet our mail and let us know of bills due, to whom, the address and amount.

Yard maintenance is also an expectation. With one house-sitter, we set up an account for $1,000, in our joint names so that they could pay the bills for us. That worked out well, though I wouldn't recommend it unless the homeowner really trusted the house-sitter.


It's also very important to set out the expectations in writing. This only failed us once, when the house-sitter tried to change the pre-agreed rules. We didn't agree to the change - an agreement is an agreement. She was a most pecu***** lady, which we'd guessed from the initial e-mails, though we considered she would be trustworthy. She did look after our house but was careless with the mail.

Our house-sitters from Australia looked after things well and had a wonderful time while in the states and would love to sit for us again when the economy picks up. We mailed them the key to the house as we had to leave before they arrived. They were completely unfami***** with furnaces and were a bit worried about that but soon realized that there really wasn't anything they needed to know other than to get out if it blew up - yes, we did tell them that that was unlikely. They were in our home for five months as we travel a lot for extended periods.

When we returned, she'd baked a Christmas cake for us and left lots of containers full of home-made soup from our tomatoes which had ripened while we were away. They stayed and had Christmas with us.

We also have a home in Tasmania and have house-sitters there. They are absolutely marvellous and maintain our home and garden better than we ever would ourselves. They've been there for about five years now, moving out while we're there and moving back in when we leave to return to the states. The house is always spotless when we arrive and there's a woodbox full of chopped wood and kindling.

I can only say that for someone who is away from their home for extended periods and doesn't want to rent, carefully arranged house-sitting has proven a boon to us. We don't want to pack up our stuff, which would be essential if we rented. We like to leave all our personal possessions in place.

We'll be travelling again at the end of this year or early next year and will be using a house-sitter again.



Yvonne and Desmond (UserName: Denver) ]]> http://www.forum.housecarers.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=586 2009-06-26T08:53:18 -05.00 KevinShea 2
We were the lead in a New York Times story about caretaking.

We have had to deal with an ice storm, a flooding basement, minor hot tub problems and a few other things, but have not had real problems with the owners, the property or the animals. The animals have become friends and are very happy to see us when we arrive. We have shocked a few folks by sending them pictures of their cat who "NEVER sits on a lap" sitting on mine.

We have seen new sights hours from home that we haven't seen in many years of living here. We have met local people who are now our friends and have been invited back by one owner "just to play with them". This weekend, we are vacationing in a cottage owned by one owner as their gift to us.

Our approach to house sitting is very professional, starting with our website, www.kevinandaliciashea.com We try to meet each family and animals before we start the sit, so that they can evaluate us, and just as importantly, we can evaluate them, the animals and the property. We do require that a potential candidate, send us pictures of their property and talk to us by phone before we start. We get paid for some sits and not for others, and we never pay anything to the owners. There are some advertised sits that we will just not even apply for. We will never renege on a commitment to an owner in order to take a "better one", such as an opportunity to sit in Brussels after already committing to Damariscotta.

Our foray into housesitting began as a test of a potential, post retirement, alternative lifestyle and has over the year, convinced us that this is and can be a great way to do something different, have some fun, and enjoy different environments. We are looking forward to our second year.

Kevin Shea
www.kevinandaliciashea.com ]]> http://www.forum.housecarers.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=564 2009-05-01T21:55:02 -05.00 phillyqualified 2
A SOLITARY ROSE

NOW HELD BY TIME WHERE A CHILLED WIND DOES BLOW
A SOLITARY ROSE IN A GARDEN DOES GROW
THE GUARDING THORN ON THE VINE SO BOLD
YET THE LEAVES OF AUTUM HAVE DESERTED THE COLD

SUCH STRENGTH AND BEAUTY WITH FRAGRANCE CLEAR
THE PUREST OF FLOWERS DOES SHED NO TEAR
SO BRAVE TO STAY UPON THE THORNY VINE
ONE ROSE, ONE LOVE, ALL LEFT BEHIND

BUT SOON IN TIME, THESE PETTALS DO FALL
BEYOND ALL STRENGTH IS NATURES CALL
PJG
Phillyqualified ]]> http://www.forum.housecarers.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=563 2009-04-30T18:41:32 -05.00 ldbenhoff 5 http://www.forum.housecarers.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=561 2009-04-28T01:03:23 -05.00 phillyqualified 1
I have just returned from the far south of this lovely country, that I am very proud to say I am part of. Yes, New Zealand. I was born in the Wairapa, Hunted and tramped a great deal of the out back, from the low foot hills to above the bush line, visited many of the small towns, and tourist areas known to many overseas visitors. Then with a big thank you to the house carers, I have just returned from caring for a lovely cottage, and wee terrier in a a small town called Mosgiel, the other side of Dunedin, our most southern city.
I have longed to visit this Historic city, with its lovely stone buildings, museums, and famous railway station, along with the friendly atmosphere, Scottish back ground, and some lovely walks and scenery.
Three weeks was not near enough, and I will be returning. The folk whoose property I cared for, also a members of the House carers, and believe you me, their hospitality was of a silver lining. The people there are most helpfull, bus drivers go out of their way to assist you, every one has a kind word, and the single malt tastes fantastic.
If any one wishes to visit New zealand and enjoy freedom, and no hassell all I can say is as the saying goes , Go South for the enjoyment of friendliness and a pleasant smile.
but go that little further and visit the lovely town of Mosgiel, then if you wish to see what scenery and beauty New Zealand offers a little furhter and Visit the Catlins.

Pleasant travells to you all, and a big thank you, to Ian White for all his valuable trouble to make the carers a great thing to belong to.

Phillyqualified ]]> http://www.forum.housecarers.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=546 2009-03-28T01:24:36 -05.00 KellyHayesRaitt2 4
However, Cheryl, the owner, assured me in her syrupy voice that Pixie had been through extensive therapy and was doing better. Good thing. She could not, however, be left alone for more than a quick grocery run. Figuring it was only for a week while Cheryl and her husband cruised to Mexico, I decided to hermit with Pixie and start the next chapter of my book. After all, I hardly left the home I cared for last fall, preferring to hunker down and write. Even in urbane Decatur, I spent many housebound days writing with Bebe, a sleek grey cat who lobbied for an author's credit by regularly sauntering across my keyboard before settling into my lap. I figured Pixie would be a blessing by forcing me to LEAVE the house twice a day for our walks.

Cheryl was flatteringly insistent that I accept this housesit, and it fit my schedule perfectly, but still I hesitated until she offered me the phone number of a previous housesitter. How do I gingerly ask this stranger if it's the dog who's neurotic, or the dogowner? Former Housesitter spared me by jumping right in: "Don't get me wrong," he said. "Cheryl is a nice person; Pixie is great." The chasm between the lines echoed loudly.

Since I would be spending the week with the "great" dog and not the "nice" dogowner, I agreed to this housesit 2 months ago and started arranging my travel schedule around Cheryl's. Then the e-mails started. First it was web sites featuring photos of the chow, written in first-person from Pixie's perspective. (No offense, but Pixie needs to keep her day job.) Then an e-mail titled "A Beautiful Day in NM" with a photo attached - I assumed it was of a glorious sunset or of a dashing roadrunner. Instead, it was an indoor close-up of Cheryl and Pixie. I now have more photos of that chow than I do of my own mother.

And the questions. Cheryl wanted to know my height and was obsessed with my travel plans after I left her house. My height? Just how tall is this chow? Cheryl offered to have me spend the night with her and her husband after they returned home, so I could spend "a couple of hours debriefing" them. Debriefing them about their own house? Just how complicated is this house?

My next housesit is in Buffalo in April, arranged around Cheryl's schedule. Seems not many Albuquerquians want to fly to Buffalo (imagine that!), so flights are limited. I found a flight that left ABQ 4 hours before Cheryl's flight landed. It was an ancillary bonus that I wouldn't have to spend the night with this controlling woman.

Now, you have to remember that I was not being paid to care for this dog. Knowing she'd want Pixie watched for those few hours, I e-mailed her before I purchased my ticket. That's when I learned the depth of the dogowner's separation anxiety. The frantic, panicked tone of her voicemail made me want to jump through a plate glass window. She told me she had lined up a girlfriend who was charging her to sit in her living room and watch her dog for 6 hours. Stephanie would come an hour before I was to leave so I could "debrief" Stephanie. Cheryl then shifted the conversation to when we would "debrief."

"Well, we can't speak when you're in the air," she said in that breathy, saccharine voice, "Perhaps when you're between flights on your way to Buffalo?"

"How about the next morning?" I ventured.

"Oh, yes, well let's see. But then you'll be 2 hours ahead of us. Oh," I could hear her hands wringing, "oh, we'll just have to find a time."

Suddenly she got even more tense. "Oh, now I have to figure out when you and Stephanie can meet before we leave."

It wasn't a total surprise when Cheryl called me on Wednesday, 2 days before my arrival, to sing-song that I was "free" and didn't need to show up. Without a regard to my schedule, or anyone else's that had been arranged around hers, and without even an apology, Cheryl was downright gleeful that she was stranding me.

After uttering a string of epithets that made everyone within eareshot suspect I'd suddenly contracted Tourette's, I realized this was just another opportunity to find faith. I was being spared - or in Cheryl's words "freed" - to allow something better to enter my life. I just needed to trust. Well, I needed trust and chocolate.

The next day a dear friend enthusiastically offered an available bedroom in her ABQ house, presumably free from anxious chows, controlling bitches and beckoning plate glass windows. Life worked out.

Still, I do secretly hope Cheryl's ship sinks.

by Kelly Hayes-Raitt ]]> http://www.forum.housecarers.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=492 2009-01-02T19:06:14 -05.00 chrissy1955 2 The house and grounds were beautiful and most comfortable. Out in a bush setting, we saw a lot of wildlife on a daily basis. We were also told to have family and friends stay if we wished which we did. We ended up storing a lot of our belongings at the house also. Our only charge was to mind the darling Diva a beautiful Siberian Husky. Having said this, we did maintain the grounds.


We are looking forward to spending more time with these people as we have developed a friendship now.

Thanks housecarers ]]> http://www.forum.housecarers.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=483 2008-12-23T00:01:32 -05.00 maximates 1 http://www.forum.housecarers.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=480 2008-12-17T22:39:09 -05.00 ashepp3679 1
I am reasonable, responsible, and an animal lover, rescuer, and advocate. Please let me know if you live in that area and could use my help for a week or two or three or a month.

Thanks.
ashepp3679@comcast.net ]]> http://www.forum.housecarers.com/messageview.cfm?catid=32&threadid=419 2008-08-31T13:29:15 -05.00 HomePetsandProperty 2