| Recent press releases highlighting the travels of | | | | Both the McSkimmings and Ms. Batty report that |
| retiree house sitters are showing that becoming a | | | | maturity, flexibility and a love for animals are |
| senior is not a ticket to boredom, or a sedentary | | | | essential to being a good house sitter. However, |
| lifestyle. Retirees from around the world are | | | | to make the proper connection with prospective |
| finding house sitting to be the key that opens the | | | | home owners registering with a reputable house |
| door to unique, authentic and free travel to | | | | sitting site is key. HouseCarers is sitting pretty on |
| destinations that they had once only dreamed | | | | top as "the" place to make safe connections. Ms. |
| about. | | | | Batty doesn't hide her enthusiasm or appreciation |
| Unfortunately, many retirees do not have the | | | | of Ian White and "Two thumbs up for |
| liberty of spending their retirement egg on | | | | HouseCarers!" |
| pleasure items or excursions, such as traveling. | | | | Becoming a house sitter is a fairly easy process. |
| Many individuals and couples who live on a fixed | | | | You can visit on the Internet and for a price that |
| income have found that their funds usually only | | | | is less than an evening meal out, you can register |
| cover the basics of living. After a lifetime of | | | | as a house sitter for an entire year. You will be |
| raising families, running businesses and being | | | | given 30 full lines to describe yourself. You can list |
| everything to everyone, retirees are finding there | | | | multiple locations where you are available to house |
| is a way to travel and experience the world on | | | | sit, along with the dates you are available. You can |
| their terms. House sitting is allowing them to | | | | even use the sample ad that is listed on the site |
| connect with home owners who are in need of | | | | to 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, that | | | | prospective 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 from | | | | update your profile, change your destination areas |
| New Zealand. This retired couple has only been | | | | or dates, and all of it is free of charge. When |
| house sitting for a year. They report that they | | | | house sits become available in your chosen areas, |
| would not be able to travel to all the places they | | | | you will receive notification via email. You will also |
| dreamed of--if it were not for becoming house | | | | be notified when you have messages from |
| sitters. The McSkimmings have found that house | | | | prospective homeowners in your chosen areas. |
| sitting is the key that enables them to experience | | | | Your 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 not | | | | owner when you are comfortable. |
| desire to travel as "tourists," and quick visits to | | | | Becoming a house sitter will save you thousands |
| some popular areas does not satisfy them. The | | | | of dollars on travel and accommodations. By |
| McSkimmings truly relish immersing themselves | | | | making 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 in | | | | service. Home owners can leave their residence |
| various countries and gives them an authentic | | | | knowing they are leaving it in capable hands. |
| experience. | | | | House sitters may be asked to perform routine |
| The McSkimmings had five months to allot for | | | | things such as pet care, gardening, or even |
| house sitting in the UK, and were thrilled when | | | | scheduling a home repair if the need arises. You |
| they were able to find five house sits. "We | | | | may 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 cattle | | | | week, while others may be for a month, or more. |
| and two adorable Border Collies," the | | | | The requirements are minimal when you compare |
| McSkimmings report. They have also recently had | | | | it 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 parrot | | | | you could not pay for, even if you had the funds |
| they were minding. Many house sits involve the | | | | to do so. House sitting is enabling individuals to live |
| care taking of pets. The McSkimmings report that | | | | in seaside beach homes, English country cottages |
| this is a one of the highlights of their stays and it | | | | or 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 is | | | | country. Can you think of any other service you |
| echoed by Brenda Marie Batty. Ms. Batty is a | | | | could 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. She | | | | Dutch tulips, or eat authentic cuisine straight from |
| has visited seven different countries, and reports | | | | their native homelands with no monetary |
| that her favorite house sits are in Greece, France | | | | investment on your end? This can all be yours, |
| and Italy. "House sitting gives me the opportunity | | | | and more, as a house sitter. |
| to travel further afield for a longer period of | | | | You simply cannot put a price on the services |
| time--to places I otherwise could not afford to | | | | that 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 enjoys | | | | they have to travel for an extended time. House |
| sinking into the culture and lifestyle of the various | | | | sitters are the number one crime deterrent. |
| areas that she visits. She has found that each | | | | Criminals can bypass most alarm systems with |
| country has welcomed her with open arms. On a | | | | ease. However, criminals and would be thieves will |
| recent house sit in Greece, she truly felt one with | | | | avoid a home if someone is in residence. |
| her neighbors. "I even got into white washing | | | | Besides providing the much needed security that |
| steps and walls in Greece . . . I joined in with the | | | | a home owner desires, house sitters can also |
| island folk who were all in preparation for Easter's | | | | save a home owner much worry over their |
| arrival. I really felt like a local then! It was lots of | | | | homes "physical" safety. If a pipe bursts, most |
| fun, too. I enjoy travel on this level, meeting new | | | | home 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 the | | | | dollars in repair work. If a fire starts, a home |
| world. Retirees who register as house sitters are | | | | owner could possibly return to find their home a |
| among the first sitters looked at by home | | | | smoking pile of rubble and ashes. By having a |
| owners. Home owners know that life experience | | | | house sitter onsite, a home owner can leave |
| cannot be replicated. Home owners have | | | | knowing that if an emergency arises, there is a |
| confidence in seniors and trust them to watch | | | | sitter onsite who can tackle a burst pipe, call the |
| over and care for their home, possessions and | | | | fire department, or handle a weather emergency. |
| pets. | | | | If you are interested in traveling the world like Jim |
| Many times senior house sitters are asked to | | | | and Thelma McSkimming or Brenda Marie Batty, |
| come back for return stays. Ms. Batty has had | | | | you should register with These house sitters have |
| numerous repeat visits. Chances are great that | | | | found that retirement doesn't mean an end to an |
| the McSkimmings will also be asked for a repeat | | | | exciting life. If anything, their senior years are |
| stay--as this is their first year and they are just | | | | bringing them unique and fulfilling experiences. The |
| now getting their feet wet and making | | | | McSkimming and Ms. Batty have found a way to |
| acquaintances with home owners. Both the | | | | take hold of their dreams and do all the things |
| McSkimmings and Ms. Batty report that home | | | | they have longed to do. With the support of their |
| owners are warm and welcoming. Friendships are | | | | family they are globe trotting without making a |
| easily forged and many home owners keep up | | | | dent in their retirement funds, and they are |
| with "their" house sitters year round. | | | | enjoying every minute of it. |