This text will offer you all the data it is advisable to discover wonderful home sitting jobs within the US. For two years I’ve been touring the world as a digital nomad. I take advantage of home and pet sitting web sites to maintain my expenditure down and to reinforce my general touring expertise and on this submit, I’ll inform you how.
I’ve at all times had an affinity with the USA. I visited for the primary time over 14 years in the past and instantly fell in love with the place. I’ve made a behavior of returning no less than yearly however since leaving the UK in 2022 I’ve spent 3 lengthy stints home sitting in varied states and cities throughout the US.
It may be robust, and maybe a bit daunting, getting began. However there are some nice web sites to assist ease you into the function of a home sitter. Together with a number of useful suggestions and my very own private experiences, this text will set you heading in the right direction to securing some really wonderful home sits within the USA.
Methods to Home Sit within the USA
Though primarily providing an analogous service, many home sitting web sites obtainable have totally different options. Discovering the correct one for you is a crucial step when changing into a home sitter.
Beneath, I’ve outlined my high 5 web sites for locating home sitting jobs within the US. I’ve additionally outlined the professionals and cons of every, that I’ve come throughout that will help you select which one could also be greatest so that you can strive.
1. Trusted Housesitters
My go-to platform is definitely Trusted Housesitters. It is among the premier web sites for home sitting and presently has over 3,500 properties accepting functions within the US alone. It’s a nice web site in the event you’re critical about house-sitting in America.
Trusted Housesitters is primary for the sheer variety of listings they provide, however additionally they have an important web site and app. Trying to find the exact itemizing you need, within the space you need, throughout the precise timeframe that works for you is less complicated than on some other web site I’ve come throughout. It can save you filters and searches and decide to be notified instantly when the correct outcomes grow to be lively.
Trusted Housesitters gives three membership tiers, every with distinct advantages akin to the value. The premier membership, priced at $260, contains cancellation insurance coverage, enhanced customer support, and two annual airport lounge passes. A extra budget-friendly choice is the essential membership at $129/yr with limitless worldwide home sits.
Goats On The Highway readers obtain 20% off the membership price. Click on right here to obtain that particular low cost.
2. Housesitters America
I suppose the title says all of it. Housesitters America is one other nice choice for locating home sitting jobs in America. The location is unique to US householders searching for sitters and is a unbelievable useful resource to have in your arsenal. At simply $49 a yr, it’s a cut price in addition.
The web site may be very simple to navigate and looking for your particular sit standards is straightforward and easy. The filters even go as deep as looking for properties with out backyard care, which may be useful to know in the event you don’t have inexperienced fingers. Owners checklist at no cost so there are at all times ample lively home sitting jobs within the US.
Some listings supply cost, and it’s the one web site I’ve seen the place you will get paid to be a home sitter. Watch out although as non-US residents could also be breaching vacationer visa guidelines by accepting cost. Ensure at all times to remain compliant along with your visa.
Join rapidly and simply to Housesitters America utilizing this unique hyperlink.
3. Workaway
Whereas primarily often known as a useful resource for locating volunteer placements, Workaway is a priceless addition to my home sitting toolkit. Over the previous three years, I’ve persistently utilized this web site to seek out volunteer alternatives in change for lodging and meals. However what shouldn’t be ignored is the five hundred+ home sitting listings presently obtainable.
Their handy app is an additional advantage that doesn’t include many different home sitting web sites. I’ve discovered that hosts with lively profiles usually reply promptly and there’s a pleasant group spirit about the entire web site.
Membership is priced at round $50/yr or $30/individual for {couples}, and it supplies entry to an intensive community of alternatives. I’ve cast lasting friendships and established priceless world connections by way of my experiences on Workaway.
4. Thoughts My Home
Thoughts My Home is a wonderful platform with a lot of US home sitting listings. At simply $29/yr, it’s probably the most budget-friendly home sitting web site round. This low worth permits newcomers to ease into the home sitting expertise with none actual vital monetary outlay. Owners checklist their properties at no cost, guaranteeing a relentless stream of numerous listings throughout the US.
Potential home sitters can freely discover the positioning, even earlier than committing; searching obtainable alternatives with detailed data. The useful statistics web page gives insights into the positioning’s lively customers and their places. This can be a nice function that permits you to see if that is going to be the correct choice for you earlier than signing up.
Established in 2005, Thoughts My Home distinguishes itself from different web sites with a community-oriented ambiance. An app would make looking and making use of considerably simpler however attaining sits remains to be fairly simple. So, whether or not you’re a seasoned home sitter or simply testing the waters, Thoughts My Home is a perfect and really accessible start line.
5. Nomador
I’m fairly certain Nomador has taken a web page out of the Trusted Housesitters playbook with their web site strategy. Their user-friendly platform is simple to navigate, permits for very exact searches, and as soon as once more has the choice to avoid wasting particular filters and be alerted when a list matches your particular standards.
Though they’ve many extra listings in Europe, Nomador is a world home sitting web site. It has dozens of listings presently lively within the US. Bear in mind, the right sit for chances are you’ll solely be listed on one web site, as hosts don’t tend to checklist on a number of websites. For that cause, it’s a good suggestion to maintain your choices open with quite a few home sitting platforms.
Nomador’s 3-month primary membership plan is nice for individuals considering of stepping into the home sitting recreation. Added advantages akin to insurance coverage, premium customer support, and early entry to new listings include the top-end package deal, which at round $190/yr remains to be lower than a few nights in a median resort.
Private Expertise Home Sitting within the USA
After racking up 5 5-star rankings home sitting within the UK, In 2022 I submitted a Hail Mary utility for a 6-week pet sit in Tucson, Arizona. A lot to my delight (and shock), I bought it! 4 horses, 3 cats, 2 canines, and a swimming pool on a stupendous ranch-style residence in Oro Valley. I had the perfect time and have been invited again with an open invitation each time I’m on the town.
This was rapidly adopted by 3 weeks with a beautiful chilled canine referred to as August in lovely Lafayette, Colorado. Then a home sit with some fairly intense gardening tasks in Waco, Texas. These had been two very totally different postings, however each properties had been completely unbelievable. The usage of a automotive was included in every sit (extra on that later).
Managing my U.S. vacationer visa, I at all times exit effectively earlier than the 90-day restrict and keep away for no less than 90 days. After these three sits, and following a 3-month stint in Costa Rica, I headed again to Texas. The home, in an over-55s group in Mission, was wonderful. I bought a number of curious glances being in my 30s, however everybody was very pleasant. The onsite facilities included a health club, library, pool, and tennis courts.
My favourite home sit to this point was in Durham, North Carolina. A couple of unusual coincidences led me to use for a 3-month sit in a metropolis I knew valuable little about. I completely cherished my time there, taking care of a pleasant Airedale referred to as Ladybug. Dwelling minutes from Downtown Durham was a dream and I met many pleasant locals while having fun with a complete summer time in a stupendous residence.
Finest Areas to Home Sit within the US
The USA is such an enormous nation that even in spite of everything my years of visiting I don’t really feel like I’ve even scratched the floor. Home sitting is actually serving to me to tick off extra states and cities yearly. Listed below are a number of of my favourite spots for home sitting within the US:
1. Nashville, TN.
After the pandemic, Nashville was excessive on my checklist of locations to return to. Having made a number of journeys to Music Metropolis over time I couldn’t wait to return. I spent 2-months there over Christmas in 2022. This included 3 home sits that had been all a bit totally different. Two had been inside strolling distance to Broadway and one was half-hour outdoors of city in leafy Hermitage.
Nashville isn’t nearly nation music, although in fact that performs an enormous half on Broadway. There are additionally many unbelievable eating places, cool breweries and bars, a superb cafe tradition, sensational mountaineering alternatives, and a welcoming and open vibe all through town that will attraction to anybody.
In reality, Nashville can also be the situation of the one pet sit to this point that I wouldn’t rush again to. I survived it, and the situation was nice however the home was fairly uncomfortable to be in – it was fairly soiled! I realized a priceless lesson about trusting my intestine with listings. My recommendation is just to belief your instincts earlier than accepting any function and don’t be afraid to ask questions of your hosts when you have any considerations.
Location: Nashville, TN is positioned on the central jap facet of the USA. It’s serviced by a main worldwide airport (BNA) with many flights from across the US and the world arriving all day on daily basis. Memphis, TN is round a 3-hour drive away.
2. Durham, NC.
I knew little or no about Durham earlier than making use of for a 3-month home sit there in the summertime of 2023. I in a short time fell in love with your complete area and it stays one in every of my high places to move again to as quickly as doable.
Durham is round a 30-minute drive from the North Carolina state capital, Raleigh. The home was a block from the Duke East Campus and it was an important location for consuming BBQ and mountaineering. Try my earlier article in regards to the 15 greatest hikes and 15 greatest BBQ spots in Durham. It was additionally only a 10-minute stroll from Downtown Durham – such a cool space to remain in Durham.
The tree-lined suburban streets, quaint cafes, top-notch eating places, cool craft breweries, and super-friendly individuals made it one in every of my favourite home sitting places to this point. There are at all times a ton of listings that come up for Durham and Raleigh so it’s an important place for touchdown home sits within the states.
Location: Durham and Raleigh NC are positioned towards the mid/east part of the USA. Raleigh/Durham Airport (RDU) is a significant nationwide and worldwide terminal for flights. Historic Wilmington and the coastal city of Carolina Seaside are round a 2.5-hour drive away.
3. San Diego, CA.
I’ve but to accommodate sit in San Diego but it surely’s one in every of my everlasting saved searches on Trusted Housesitters. I’m simply ready for the celebrities to align and the correct sit, on the proper time, to return alongside.
Round 5 years in the past I took a sabbatical from work and spent 2 months in Mission Seaside, San Diego. The entire keep felt like a dream and stays among the best issues I’ve ever accomplished. Though on the time I rented an Airbnb, it was this journey that has spurred me on to seek out methods like home sitting to make these sorts of journeys a everlasting function of my life.
The Gaslamp Quarter and Downtown San Diego are critically cool areas to have shut by with an untold variety of nice bars and eating places. The gorgeous ocean is at all times inside easy accessibility wherever you keep and the seaside city vibe is current all through town. Home sits are commonly obtainable in San Diego and it could be a perfect place to remain.
Location: San Diego is positioned on the southwest facet of the US, 20 minutes from the border with Mexico. It’s round a 2.5-hour drive north to Los Angeles. San Diego Airport (SAN) is a significant worldwide transport hub.
4. Boulder, CO.
In the event you like mountaineering, wherever in Colorado can be nice for a home sit. Many excellent trails are all inside simple attain and far of the character and surroundings is breathtaking. I taken care of a really massive, lovely home, and an excellent chilled canine referred to as August in Lafayette, simply outdoors of Boulder.
Boulder is a enjoyable place filled with fascinating issues to do. The Museum of Boulder and the Museum of Modern Artwork are two nice cultural points of interest. Broadway has an enormous choice of avenue meals choices, advantageous eateries, cafes, and funky bars. My favourite was the Sunset Saloon, an underground school bar with pool tables and a number of the most cost-effective beer pitchers on the town.
On high of the mountaineering, my favourite reminiscence from house-sitting in Colorado was going to the Purple Rocks Amphitheater. This iconic out of doors venue constructed into the purple rocks of the Colorado hills had been on my to-do checklist for years. As luck would have it, David Grey, a fellow Brit, and somebody’s music I’ve at all times loved, was enjoying – it was a spectacular present.
Location: Boulder is positioned fairly centrally within the USA and is round a 30-minute drive from Denver, CO. The closest worldwide airport is Denver Worldwide round 40 miles (64 km) away.
5. Hawaii
One other US State that I’ve my eye firmly on is Hawaii. I’ve checked out visiting many occasions however have been repeatedly delay by the price of motels. Home sitting supplies an actual alternative to discover Hawaii with out that massive added expense of lodging.
I’m significantly drawn to Hawaii’s charming pure magnificence and distinctive island life-style. Home sitting would supply an unparalleled alternative to expertise the aloha spirit whereas being immersed within the wealthy native tradition and embracing a laid-back life-style.
Hawaii’s numerous islands present a variety of environments, from the bustling power of Oahu to the tranquillity of Maui and the Large Island’s awe-inspiring volcanic terrain. I’ve seen home sits commonly listed throughout the entire state however the majority appear to be on the Large Island. It could definitely be an idyllic place to safe a placement!
Location: Hawaii is round a 6-hour flight from the west coast of the USA. The island state at its closest level to the mainland USA is roughly 2,500 miles (4,023 km).
Professionals and Cons of Being a Home Sitter within the USA
Though home sitting has modified my life, in all the perfect methods, and I’ve encountered many professionals, I’ve additionally skilled a number of cons while home sitting within the USA. I’ve outlined the important thing ones under to think about earlier than making use of for any postings within the USA.
Professionals of Home Sitting within the USA
- Various Places: The USA gives an enormous array of locations, from bustling city cities and suburban neighborhoods to laid-back coastal retreats and desert ranches. Home sitters will at all times have an array of choices.
- Language Comfort: For English audio system, home sitting within the USA eliminates any language obstacles. This enables simple communication with householders and locals.
- Various Local weather: From the sunny seashores of San Diego to the snowy mountains of Colorado, the USA’s numerous local weather ensures that home sitters can select environments that swimsuit their preferences.
- Accessibility: The well-developed and dependable infrastructure and transportation networks make it simple for home sitters to discover quite a few states and areas.
- Automobile Included: Within the US, usually the automotive is insured, not the motive force. This enables for home sitters to have use of the host’s automotive, (ought to it’s obtainable and naturally agreed previous to the sit). If it’s not talked about within the itemizing, I realized that it by no means hurts to ask.
- Pet Variety: You will notice listings for a variety of pets. Home sitters could have the chance to take care of numerous animals; from city-dwelling cats to ranch-based horses.
- Iconic Points of interest: Home sitters can discover iconic landmarks, nationwide parks, and cultural points of interest while on assignments within the US. The possibility to discover Broadway in Nashville, Instances Sq. in New York, or the Las Vegas Strip with free lodging is a significant attraction.
- Pleasant Communities: From private expertise, there are lots of pleasant neighborhoods and welcoming communities within the USA. Integrating and feeling at residence has been simpler within the USA than wherever else I’ve taken accepted a sit.
Cons of Home Sitting within the USA
- Visa Restrictions: Non-U.S. residents might face visa limitations, probably limiting the length of their home sitting assignments within the USA.
- Value of Dwelling: I’ve discovered the price of dwelling in sure areas of the USA to be excessive. This might vastly impression a home sitter’s finances.
- Seasonal Extremes: Some areas of the USA expertise excessive climate situations, akin to hurricanes, wildfires, or winter storms. Analysis the forecasted climate of the realm you’re contemplating earlier than making use of for a sit.
- Needing a Automobile: In lots of elements of the US, your personal transportation is crucial and chances are you’ll have to consider the price and availability of transportation and car leases if a automotive shouldn’t be supplied with the sit.
- Safety Issues: Relying on the neighborhood or metropolis, greater crime charges could be a actual concern for guests. All the time analysis the realm you’re contemplating earlier than making use of for any home sit.
- Medical Prices: The value of healthcare within the US is staggering in comparison with different elements of the world. Do not go to with out enough insurance coverage to cowl a healthcare scenario.
- Insurance coverage Prices: Because of the medical prices within the US, insurance coverage premiums are excessive for insurance policies that embody the US.
- Wildlife: I’ve been warned at quite a few home sits to be cautious of rattlesnakes, mountain lions, coyotes, and even toxic toads! Simply one thing to think about if wildlife consciousness doesn’t sound like your cup of tea.
- Flight Prices: The USA is a big nation and inside flights may be expensive. Don’t overlook how large it’s; getting from one state to its neighbor, and even from one finish of a single state to a different, can take money and time.
Home Sitting within the US: FAQs
Listed below are some solutions to generally requested questions on home sitting within the USA:
Sure, you completely want insurance coverage for visiting the States. Though most home and pet sitting web sites will supply inside their memberships protection for a bunch canceling, don’t underestimate the healthcare prices within the US. You’ll want to be lined for healthcare conditions as even a small medical occasion may be very, very costly.
What’s extra, flight delays and cancellations don’t work the identical as they do within the UK or Europe. In the event you miss a flight within the US, whether or not it was the airline’s fault or not, for probably the most half, you received’t get any monetary aid from the airline.
To grow to be a pet sitter within the US you first want to enroll to a home or pet sitting web site. There are a few nice ones on the market that presently have a ton of listings searching for sitters within the US. My private favorites are Trusted Housesitters (click on right here for 20% off) and Housesitters America.
Basically, there isn’t any cost concerned for home sitting within the USA. The change is normal within the type of a beautiful free residence in an important space to discover.
Housesitters America does supply some listings that embody a per diem cost. Nonetheless, that is the one one I’ve seen and will trigger points with non-US residents who will not be allowed to work or obtain cost on a vacationer visa. So tread very fastidiously right here and do your analysis earlier than making use of.
Sure, there are home sits within the US with out pets. I’ve seen common listings throughout many web sites that merely require somebody to regulate a property whereas the hosts are on trip. Nonetheless, for probably the most half, a pet or pets, are usually included as a part of the deal.
How lengthy you possibly can keep within the US home sitting relies upon totally on the kind of visa you might have and the place you’re from. You should definitely totally analysis this earlier than accepting any home sits. Additionally remember that merely leaving the nation and returning instantly to get a contemporary visa may be very dangerous, extremely unlikely to achieve success, and an all-round dangerous concept.
Home sitting within the US is a dream come true for me. I’ve loved the number of totally different states I’ve visited and might’t wait to tick off the various that also stay on my must-see checklist. Being a home sitter is like dwelling someplace as a neighborhood fairly than merely passing by way of.
No, a automotive shouldn’t be at all times included with US home sits but it surely’s at all times a good suggestion to ask if nothing is talked about a few automotive within the itemizing. On quite a few events, I’ve requested a few automotive and the hosts have stated, ‘In fact you should use it, ours will likely be right here!’ – regardless of not making this clear of their itemizing.
The insurance coverage within the US usually means the automotive is roofed for anybody with a legitimate license to drive it.
In Conclusion
The US has been like a second residence to me during the last 5 years or so. After my sabbatical from work in 2018 the place I spent 2-months exploring California, there was by no means any trying again.
Home and pet sitting grew to become an important device for extending and enhancing my journeys and means I’m now capable of journey with out an finish date in sight. For a lot of, myself included, it’s tough to achieve a long-term visa to remain within the US however home sitting has supplied me with the chance to really feel like I’m a neighborhood dwelling there.
There are literally thousands of home sits in America simply ready to your utility to hit their inbox, so get to it!
