House sitting is an activity that is becoming increasingly popular, leading many to inquire as to how to become a house sitter. So how does one go about becoming a house sitter?

You can advertise your availability to house sit by walking up and down Main Street with a sandwich board. Or, you can go about it professionally by signing up with Mindahome, an online company that provides house sitting services. At Mindahome, persons that are interested in being house sitters can register and submit their details in the form of a profile. The company then makes this information available to homeowners looking for house sitters.

Start by visiting the Mindahome website. There, you can register for a nominal annual fee. You will be asked to provide information about yourself which will then be available to prospective home owners. The important part, however, is the profile you will be asked to write about yourself: your background, work experience, special skills and talents, references and anything else that might help you land the job. Experience in animal care or home maintenance are especially helpful. The time and attention you put into preparing your profile will, in most cases, determine your chances of getting a good house sitting job.

Prospective homeowners will examine your profile and determine whether it matches their requirements for a house sitter. If it does, you will be invited for an interview. The interview may be live and face-to-face, or by video chat or phone. It’s pretty much like a regular job interview with the homeowner trying to determine whether you both “click” well enough for him to entrust his home to you.

Once you’ve hurdled this stage, you and the homeowner will now have to discuss the nuts and bolts of the house sitting arrangement. This includes the tasks you have to do, time schedules, who pays for utilities used during the assignment and all the other do’s and don’ts in a rather unique and unusual situation. Once you’ve both agreed on all the details, you need to draw up an agreement and review and sign it together to make it legal. After that, you’re all set for your house sitting job.

House sitting can open up a whole new world of opportunities for you. On the upper end, there’s the opportunity to house sit a luxurious villa in some exotic location. On a more ordinary plane, house sitting can provide good free accommodation in a decent environment. You can get into this world by establishing yourself as a reliable house sitter and going about it in a professional manner is the right way to start.