Retirees Find House Sitting Opens the Door to a New World

Recent press releases highlighting the travels ofBoth the McSkimmings and Ms. Batty report that
retiree house sitters are showing that becoming amaturity, flexibility and a love for animals are
senior is not a ticket to boredom, or a sedentaryessential to being a good house sitter. However,
lifestyle. Retirees from around the world areto make the proper connection with prospective
finding house sitting to be the key that opens thehome owners registering with a reputable house
door to unique, authentic and free travel tositting site is key. HouseCarers is sitting pretty on
destinations that they had once only dreamedtop as "the" place to make safe connections. Ms.
about.Batty doesn't hide her enthusiasm or appreciation
Unfortunately, many retirees do not have theof Ian White and "Two thumbs up for
liberty of spending their retirement egg onHouseCarers!"
pleasure items or excursions, such as traveling.Becoming a house sitter is a fairly easy process.
Many individuals and couples who live on a fixedYou can visit on the Internet and for a price that
income have found that their funds usually onlyis less than an evening meal out, you can register
cover the basics of living. After a lifetime ofas a house sitter for an entire year. You will be
raising families, running businesses and beinggiven 30 full lines to describe yourself. You can list
everything to everyone, retirees are finding theremultiple locations where you are available to house
is a way to travel and experience the world onsit, along with the dates you are available. You can
their terms. House sitting is allowing them toeven use the sample ad that is listed on the site
connect with home owners who are in need ofto guide you in writing your personal information.
house sitters. In exchange for a valuable service,The information you enter is instantly available to
retirees are able to enter into new worlds, thatprospective home owners who are seeking out a
would otherwise be closed to them.house sitter. At any time you can go in and
Jim and Thelma McSkimming are retirees fromupdate your profile, change your destination areas
New Zealand. This retired couple has only beenor dates, and all of it is free of charge. When
house sitting for a year. They report that theyhouse sits become available in your chosen areas,
would not be able to travel to all the places theyyou will receive notification via email. You will also
dreamed of--if it were not for becoming housebe notified when you have messages from
sitters. The McSkimmings have found that houseprospective homeowners in your chosen areas.
sitting is the key that enables them to experienceYour identity and personal information are kept
different cultures on a new level.confidential and it is only revealed to a home
Jim and Thelma McSkimming reports they do notowner when you are comfortable.
desire to travel as "tourists," and quick visits toBecoming a house sitter will save you thousands
some popular areas does not satisfy them. Theof dollars on travel and accommodations. By
McSkimmings truly relish immersing themselvesmaking yourself available to a home owner as a
into new areas and they enjoy house sitting.house sitter, you are giving them an invaluable
House sitting lets them become mock citizens inservice. Home owners can leave their residence
various countries and gives them an authenticknowing they are leaving it in capable hands.
experience.House sitters may be asked to perform routine
The McSkimmings had five months to allot forthings such as pet care, gardening, or even
house sitting in the UK, and were thrilled whenscheduling a home repair if the need arises. You
they were able to find five house sits. "Wemay be asked to forward mail, relay phone
stayed in a beautiful 200 year-old stone cottage,messages or take a pet to a scheduled vet visit.
which was previously a flour mill, in South Wales.House sits range in duration. Some may be for a
We minded pigs, geese, miniature Dexter cattleweek, while others may be for a month, or more.
and two adorable Border Collies," theThe requirements are minimal when you compare
McSkimmings report. They have also recently hadit to what you receive.
a stay in a Rectory in County Cork, Ireland,House sitting opens the door up to experiences
where they made friends with an African parrotyou could not pay for, even if you had the funds
they were minding. Many house sits involve theto do so. House sitting is enabling individuals to live
care taking of pets. The McSkimmings report thatin seaside beach homes, English country cottages
this is a one of the highlights of their stays and itor castles, ski lodges in the snow capped
fulfills their love of animals.mountains, and even ranches or farms in the
The wonderful experience of house sitting iscountry. Can you think of any other service you
echoed by Brenda Marie Batty. Ms. Batty is acould give to someone that would allow you to
retiree from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.sample grapes from a working vineyard, pick
Ms. Batty has been a house sitter since 1999. SheDutch tulips, or eat authentic cuisine straight from
has visited seven different countries, and reportstheir native homelands with no monetary
that her favorite house sits are in Greece, Franceinvestment on your end? This can all be yours,
and Italy. "House sitting gives me the opportunityand more, as a house sitter.
to travel further afield for a longer period ofYou simply cannot put a price on the services
time--to places I otherwise could not afford tothat a house sitter provides. Home owners are
stay in on my retired budget."not comfortable leaving their homes empty when
Like the McSkimmings, Ms. Batty truly enjoysthey have to travel for an extended time. House
sinking into the culture and lifestyle of the varioussitters are the number one crime deterrent.
areas that she visits. She has found that eachCriminals can bypass most alarm systems with
country has welcomed her with open arms. On aease. However, criminals and would be thieves will
recent house sit in Greece, she truly felt one withavoid a home if someone is in residence.
her neighbors. "I even got into white washingBesides providing the much needed security that
steps and walls in Greece . . . I joined in with thea home owner desires, house sitters can also
island folk who were all in preparation for Easter'ssave a home owner much worry over their
arrival. I really felt like a local then! It was lots ofhomes "physical" safety. If a pipe bursts, most
fun, too. I enjoy travel on this level, meeting newhome owners would not know until they returned
people and becoming part of their communities."to a deluge of water, and tens of thousands of
House sitters are in high demand around thedollars in repair work. If a fire starts, a home
world. Retirees who register as house sitters areowner could possibly return to find their home a
among the first sitters looked at by homesmoking pile of rubble and ashes. By having a
owners. Home owners know that life experiencehouse sitter onsite, a home owner can leave
cannot be replicated. Home owners haveknowing that if an emergency arises, there is a
confidence in seniors and trust them to watchsitter onsite who can tackle a burst pipe, call the
over and care for their home, possessions andfire department, or handle a weather emergency.
pets.If you are interested in traveling the world like Jim
Many times senior house sitters are asked toand Thelma McSkimming or Brenda Marie Batty,
come back for return stays. Ms. Batty has hadyou should register with These house sitters have
numerous repeat visits. Chances are great thatfound that retirement doesn't mean an end to an
the McSkimmings will also be asked for a repeatexciting life. If anything, their senior years are
stay--as this is their first year and they are justbringing them unique and fulfilling experiences. The
now getting their feet wet and makingMcSkimming and Ms. Batty have found a way to
acquaintances with home owners. Both thetake hold of their dreams and do all the things
McSkimmings and Ms. Batty report that homethey have longed to do. With the support of their
owners are warm and welcoming. Friendships arefamily they are globe trotting without making a
easily forged and many home owners keep updent in their retirement funds, and they are
with "their" house sitters year round.enjoying every minute of it.