Housesitting - A Growing Trend In Mexico

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"In Mexico, - a million Americans own homes south of the border and thegolf community boom is just beginning." - The New York Times, January 25,2008

House sitting is the practice where a homeowner that is leaving his house forany period of time entrusts it to a house sitter. There is a mutual agreementwere the house sitter is entitled to live rent-free in exchange for assumingresponsibilities such as taking care of the homeowners pets, performing generalmaintenance (pools, gardens, air conditioning, etc.), keeping trespassers offthe property, forwarding mail, and in general making sure that everything runssmoothly just as if the owner were at home.

The presence of the house sitter prevents burglary. Many insurance companiesinvalidate the coverage if you leave your house empty for 30 days (somecompanies up to 60 days).

The agreement is open to negotiation as to whether a security deposit isrequired, who is to pay the utilities and what is the responsibility of thehouse sitter during the period of sitting. It is the decision of the homeowneras to which house sitter to choose, and it is his/her responsibility to qualifyor interview any housesitter. The most important qualification of the housesitter is his/her trustworthiness and reliability in the eyes of the homeowner;each candidate must provide good references.

The benefits to the homeowner are numerous such as avoiding fees for kennels,gardeners, pool service, etc.

There are many advantages of having a sitter rather that leaving your houseempty. Whether you are planning a two week vacation, a trip for three months ora whole year sabbatical, there is always the question in the back of your mind:Who is taking care of my home?

When you leave your property empty for any amount of time the risk of someonebreaking in and robbing your cherished things increases. You might think that itis easier to close your house up and leave rather than go through the process ofplacing a house sitter, but the sad reality is that the signs of your home beingempty such as newspapers and mail piling up make your home a burglarytarget.

You can rest assured that if there is a need to repair or maintain something(a broken window, pool maintenance, keep garden and plants alive, etc.) therewill be somebody taking care of it right on the spot. You arrive from yourvacations to a clean, cozy home, just like when you left it.

The sitter will be answering your phone (if you wish), taking care of yourmail and messages. You can keep in contact with the sitter so you can beinformed of any issues concerning your house and pet. Save your money! No needto pay expensive fees for kennels and suffer the encounter of a skinny sadlooking Fido when you return. You can rest assured that a pet lover is takingcare of your beloved companion just as if you were there. The sitter willprovide companionship and love, as well as keeping your pet(s) well fed,exercised and safe.

The relationship between homeowner and house sitter is special, it is not onebased on money but rather on trust. A win-win situation, it is the perfecttransaction, where both parties win. You have peace of mind knowing thatsomebody is taking care of your most valuable things and the sitter gets to liverent free in exchange of his/her services.

Come back to a clean, cozy home, just like you left it!!

House sitters reap a great benefit also, the opportunity to live rent-freewhile enjoying the privacy and comfort of your very own place. It is theopportunity to discover a new culture while saving money for education,retirement or just a cheap vacation. Retirees, academics on sabbaticals, writersor just people looking for adventure ad making new friends comprise most of thequalified house sitters in the market.

To find an appropriate house sitting assignment you must advertise.

To be chosen depends on several things. It is important to create andattractive ad in order to increase your chances. The way that you presentyourself, present your qualifications, will give you power as a good housesitter and is the key for getting chosen by the homeowners. Keep in mind, whilecreating your ad that you are selling yourself to the homeowner. You have toanswer the question: Why would a homeowner decide that I am the best choice totake care of his home and beloved pets?

The homeowners are entrusting their most valuable things to you. They willchoose people who meet their needs. Here are some tips as what you might includein your ad:

  • Describe yourself in a way that goes with your personality
  • Duration: it is important that you specify your availability. There areshort and long term assignments. The more flexible you are the greater theopportunities that will be presented to you.
  • Pet Lover: make sure to specify if you are good with dogs and cats.
  • Green thumb: homeowners rather choose somebody that love plants and can takecare of the garden.
  • Marital Status: specify if you are single, couple or family.

Be creative and patient and your dreams will come true.

There are more American and Canadian retirees living in Mexico than any otherforeign country. The opportunity for house sitting is growing everyday. Why notgive it a try? Don´t be just a tourist, live in the culture!

For more information about how to become a house sitter and live rent-free inMexico or how to place your Free homeowner´s ad visit our website http://www.HouseSitMexico.com