House sitting agencies and housesitters

A friend of mine is planning a trip immently with her husband and is concidering a house sitting agency.


She has some other alternative ideas....ie leaving the oh in France or boarding ...but, like most of us she has not only a furry family but some distant cousin who has taken residency and has all his suitcases in a room.....mouse finding eaupement too.


However to board he would need an exspensive visit to the vets.



My friend is not that kean on visitors because she is not fond of domestic duties and she


is struggling thinking about renting the extra little place which sits privately ready for strangers who


are ready to pay to stay.


She is in no hurry to rent.


Any one had any exsperience with house sitting agencies?


By the way.....NOT for me.


This arrangement does not appeal.




P.S I also HATED the idea before I did it the first time but our kennel/cattery fees would be over 500 euros per week plus ths sitters keep an eye on our 300 bikes we have!

I have used house sitters several times and have always had positive experiences. I have always found my sitters through www.mindmyhouse.com which is free to use and I have never had to pay the sitters themselves either!

I have had sitters from Europe and even a lovely retired couple from Arizona, USA!

I am fairly no nonsence and realistic about my house sitters and I think that is why I have had no problems..... I leave a 30 page manual about the house and the animals and anything I dont want them to touch or nose through is locked away before they arrive. Apart from that they are free to use anything such as washing powder, rice, sauces etc.

I have never had any damage, problems, breakages, ill animals etc etc - in fact the house is always cleaner when I return that when Ieave it!

I was interviewed in a local magazine about how I make housesitters work for me. Link is;

http://issuu.com/amm_france/docs/living_april_may_2013/3?e=3376864/1858

Hope this helps

Natasha

Typing errors once more!!!!!!!