House Sitting Networks

Imagine staying in a Costa Rican villa with two infinity pools, a cute cat, and epic sunsets over a stunning tropical seascape—practically for free.

That’s what American couple Anne and Mike Howard did via one of a growing group of house-sitting networks. Travelers get lodging in exchange for taking care of a home—and usually, pets. No money trades hands between the sitter and the homeowner, though most networks charge an annual membership fee for their matchmaking assistance and features like identity verification for sitters.

The Howards, who left their Hoboken, N.J., home for their honeymoon in January 2012 and have been on the go ever since, wrote National Geographic’s Ultimate Journeys for Two during house-sitting stays in 10 countries. (See their continuing adventures and travel tips at HoneyTrek.) They’ve now cared for some 45 homes, experiencing destinations from Croatia to Honduras in a wallet-friendly way. The homeowner/hosts, in turn, saved a bundle on pet care costs.

Travelers and homeowners are increasingly discovering the pluses on both sides of the equation. “Once they find this as a way to travel or a way to look after their pets, they can’t believe they haven’t done it before,” said Vanessa Anderson. She and her husband, Ian Usher, have a home base near Dijon, France, and run House Sitting Magazine, providing advice gleaned from their 150-plus sits around the world.

The biggest platform connecting travelers and homeowners, TrustedHousesitters has seen a surge in membership over the past three years—from 140,000 to more than 280,000—driven by post-pandemic increases in pet ownership, travel, and remote work.

Count me as one of those customers. A travel and animal fan, I’ve recently adopted house sitting as a pet project, too. Here’s the scoop on how these exchanges work, pitfalls to avoid, and costs.

Why People Do It

A big reason to join a house-sitting platform is, of course, to save money. For travelers, lodging ranks as one of the largest trip expenses. During the first half of 2025, the average nightly hotel rate ran $160 in the U.S. and $167 in Europe, according to CoStar, which researches commercial property data. For pet owners, having to board animals at a kennel or pay a pet sitter adds a hefty sum to their getaways.

But there are many other benefits. Because homes are often outside of tourist centers, travelers discover new areas, and are more likely to be welcomed with open arms rather than water guns. “It’s better for you as a tourist,” Mike said, “and it’s better for the locals.”

What the Howards like most about house sitting is that it allows them to live like locals. While caring for a farm in Tábua, Portugal, they got to know the neighbors, including an older woman baking bread in her basement and another resident with whom they traded produce—their farm’s figs for the other farm’s onions. “You’re going to have a unique, authentic experience that is becoming rarer in travel,” Anne said.

Animal-loving travelers also often get quality time with pets. During a chalet stay in the Alps, Ian hiked for hours every day with Smudge the sheepdog. The two rode a cable car up a neighboring slope and then “did miles and miles across the mountain tops.”

Presumably, Smudge enjoyed this much more than being consigned to a kennel. The animals continue their familiar routines in their familiar environments, a major stress reliever for both pets and their parents. “My cats get anxious in the car going three minutes to the vet,” said Leah, an Alexandria, Va., resident who used sitters from these platforms a dozen times, including yours truly. “I figured bringing someone into my home would be a lot less disruptive,” she said. “It’s worked really well.”

Another perk for sitters and owners is the chance to get to know other travel buffs around the world. “You meet some interesting people,” said Kathi, a Charlotte, N.C., homeowner who has lent out her townhouse to 25 sitters from multiple countries through House Sitters America and TrustedHousesitters. Like many homeowners, she normally invites sitters to arrive a day early. By the time they’ve chatted over dinner and communed with her Havanese pooch, she feels like everyone shares a bond.

When the Howards arrived to take care of a hobby farm—with eight amiable turkeys—near Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, the owners gave them insider intel on the best hikes. “There’s an element of trust in sharing that’s actually really special with that relationship,” Anne said. “We’re helping them, and they want to help us.”

Key Things to Know

Most house-sitting experiences go smoothly, but there have been occasional calamities such as theft or neglect. To reduce risk, “use a dedicated platform always,” said Ian, rather than Craigslist or Facebook. As the platforms have grown, they’ve become more sophisticated, adding features to better facilitate matches and increase safety.

For example, TrustedHousesitters in recent years says it has expanded its customer service team, added more vetting of sitters (ID scans or background checks and external references required), and implemented a blind review system.

The more common types of problems arise when owners and sitters have mismatched or unrealistic expectations. Both sides should ask questions and evaluate each other so everyone is on the same page. The best way to do this? A video chat before committing. That way you can virtually meet owners and their pets, see the property, share expectations, and get a general vibe check. “You have to make sure you feel good about this,” Anne said. “Because if it’s not good, you can’t really quit.” 

Homeowners, too, need to feel good. “It’s often so much harder for them to trust because they’re the ones leaving everything,” Vanessa said. When Kathi first heard about house sitting, she was astonished that people would let strangers into their homes. But using platforms with ID checks and being able to choose from multiple applications, scrutinize reviews, and do video chats—which function like interviews—give her confidence. 

“It looks glamorous and fun to be staying in a French villa for free,” Mike said, “but you’re not just booking in there with no responsibilities.” The duties can range from caring for a lazy cat in an urban apartment to managing a full-blown menagerie and gardens on a rural farm. Those are priorities, before exploring the beach, the vineyards, or the art museum. Since most sits involve pets—about 98 percent, according to a recent survey by Ian and Vanessa—being an animal lover is a must.

Flexibility is also key. Unlike hotel chains, where there’s a certain level of sameness wherever you are in the world, each house sit presents a new situation. “It’s definitely an adventure,” Mike said, “and you can’t freak out when little things don’t go perfectly.”

Homeowners’ listings usually include helpful details about the property and pets. Read these—and the reviews from past sitters—with an eagle eye. If you spot any red flags, or if you’re not okay with potential annoyances like a bed-hogging hound or a finicky Wi-Fi, don’t apply for those sits.

And don’t take on more than you can handle. “We’ve done a dozen sheep, two pigs, a lovely little dog, and a hamster,” Vanessa said. But unless you have the relevant experience, she recommends avoiding properties that are super remote or come with a Noah’s Ark worth of critters.

How to Get Started

There are several house-sitting platforms. Below, we list costs for seven. Most charge a flat annual fee.

TrustedHousesitters ranks as the most expensive but also offers the widest global selection, advanced search tools, a lively community forum, and a mobile app. Of its three annual membership tiers, the top one comes with sit cancellation protection. All tiers come with liability and home protection plans plus video calls with vets if a pet gets sick or injured. All sitters undergo an ID check that confirms they are who they say they are, and all U.S. sitters undergo a background check ensuring there’s no criminal record and no listing on a sex offender registry or a terrorist watchlist.

Other platforms include Nomador, known for its abundance of options in Europe, especially France; HouseCarers, an early pioneer in the space; and HouseSitMatch, a smaller site whose owner takes a personal approach. There are also country-specific platforms, such as House Sitters America, Aussie House Sitters, and HouseSitMexico. The sites vary in costs, specific features, and number of properties, but the basic user process is much the same.

Once you join a platform, you’ll set up your profile. If you’re a sitter, “focus on building a really compelling profile that shows how you’re a responsible, caring person,” Anne advised. Highlight your experience tending to pets, as well as any home-owning and travel know-how. Post photos of yourself with animals, and to really stand out, she said, make a friendly video introduction.

If you’re a homeowner, you’ll describe your house, pets, and other responsibilities, such as watering a garden. “You need to be organized,” Leah said, “and make sure you can easily articulate your needs to someone else.” Be transparent about the situation. Maybe you have a senior dog that requires medication and a sitter who’s experienced with that. Many platforms will guide you through the setup with tips and prompts.

When looking for sits, you can often search with filters such as location, duration, and type of pet. TrustedHousesitters allows you to set up parameters and sends an email alert when a sit matches them. “I set it, forget it, and if a magical house sit comes my way, I apply promptly, so that I’m at the top of the list of applicants,” Anne said.

In applications, give specifics about how you’ll meet the owners’ needs, especially regarding any pets. Suggest meeting them via that all-important video call. The homeowners will review applications and likely schedule calls with their top candidates to find a good match.

As a sitter, it’s wise to start small and local. Doing a few short sits near home will enable you to become familiar with the process in a low-stakes way and earn reviews that will help you score a dazzling Costa Rican villa or another property that’s the cat’s meow.

As for me, I just wrapped up a stay at a house in France and a cute dog named Lucky and I’m planning my next adventure.

Membership Costs

TrustedHousesitters
Sitter: Basic: $129/year + $12/stay; Standard: $169/year + $12/stay; Premium: $259/year
Homeowner: Basic: $149/year + $12/stay; Standard: $229/year + $12/stay; Premium: $299/year
Combined (for people who want to have sitters and be sitters): Basic: $209/year + $12/stay; Standard: $309/year + $12/stay; Premium: $399/year

Nomador
Sitter or Homeowner: Discovery: $99/year (or $44 for 3 months); Standard: $165/year; Premium: $209/year

HouseCarers
Sitter: $50/year
Homeowner: Free

HouseSit Match
Sitter or Homeowner: Value: £89/year; Choice: £129/year; Premium: £169/year
Combined: Value: £159/year; Choice: £199/year; Premium: £269/year

House Sitters America
Owner: $29 for life
Sitter: $49/year

Aussie House Sitters
Owner: $49 AUD for life
Sitter: $89 AUD/year

HouseSitMexico
Owner or Sitter: $79/year
Combined: $99/year

Brooke Sabin is a freelance writer-editor with a focus on sustainable travel, animals, and adventure. A former staff editor for National Geographic and National Geographic Traveler magazines, she also helps run The Travel Book Club Substack. Follow her here.