10 House Sit Application Secrets You Need to Score Your Dream Gig

Not sure how to write your house sit application? Can’t figure out why no one responds to your inquiries? You’re in the right place!

House sitting can be an excellent way to travel frugally while experiencing local life. However, your journey’s success heavily relies on your house sit application.

We’ve been house sitters since 2008, and full-time digital nomads since 2019. And we regularly receive compliments from homeowners for our messages, leading to plenty of invites and interview requests.

In this article, we’ll share our knowledge on creating a standout house sit application that strategically lands you more views, interviews, and ultimately, more house sits around the world.

Time to pack your bags because your house sitting journey is about to take off!

What is a House Sit Application?

A house sit application is a message to homeowners on house sitting platforms, expressing interest in caring for their property and pets while they’re away.

It’s like a cover letter for a job application, aiming to show you’re responsible, reliable, and the best fit. Crafting it effectively sets you apart from the competition, demonstrating your dedication and personal touch.

Winning house sit applications were key to securing house sits during our 2022-2024 Pan American Highway road trip. A strong application, reflecting your genuine interest, is crucial for success. So let’s discuss exactly how to do just that.

Crafting a Compelling House Sit Application

A compelling house sit application goes beyond a plain ‘Hello, I’m interested in your house sit. I can honestly say that I’ve never written that in my life.

Your house sit application needs personality, substance, and that perfect pitch of professionalism and relatability. Let’s break this down into bite-sized steps to help you craft a killer application.

1. Addressing the Homeowner

Just as you would in any professional correspondence, start your application by addressing the homeowner.

Using their name establishes a personal connection and shows that you’ve taken the time to read their listing fully.

Don’t ignore the fur-babies, either. If the pet names and species are mentioned in the listing, include them in your application message as well!

2. Introducing Yourself

Introduce yourself vividly, including hobbies, interests, any unique needs. For instance, since we always need high-speed internet for our son’s online school and our work, we make sure to mention it in our application.

Show your homeowner-focused mindset. I always mention our experience as Airbnb super hosts in Chicago, demonstrating familiarity with home repairs and emergencies.

3. Highlighting Your Experience

Next, steer the conversation towards your experience. Especially focus on any experiences you have with their specific pet’s breed, species, or special circumstances.

If their pet is an exotic species, a ‘bully breed’ dog, or requires special medical care, make sure to address any relevant experience and your comfortability in taking care of such pets.

Highlighting specialized experience on our house sit application is exactly what helped us secure a two-month house sit in Australia!

4. Providing Practical Information

Sharing your work information, especially remote work status, can be a huge plus for homeowners.

It’s good to mention if you’ve visited the area before and know your way around. When we return to Chicago for house sits, I always bring up our long-time residency there and how we’re returning to enjoy our favorite restaurants.

When we mention our commitment to working from home, it reassures owners that their pets will have company most of the time. This aspect often gets us extra brownie points!

5. Continuing the Conversation

Conclude your message with an offer for a continued conversation via a phone or video call. However, it’s crucial to avoid sounding presumptive.

The last line of our application reads something like: ‘If this all sounds good to you, we can arrange a phone/video call…’.

We generally offer Skype, Zoom, and WhatsApp options and have noticed that outside the US, WhatsApp wins. If you don’t already have a WhatsApp account, set one up.

It’s free and has excellent end-to-end encryption! If you don’t already have a WhatsApp account, it might be a good idea to set one up!

Remember, a well-crafted house sit application is your ticket into securing more house sits, and all it takes is a bit of personal touch, transparency, and a whole lot of authenticity!

House Sit Application Best Practices

Knowing the mechanics of putting together a compelling house sit application is just the first step. To stand out, be conscious of and adhere to some key house sit application best practices. Let’s explore these, shall we?

6. Apply Early

Securing your dream house sit is often a race against time. Some homeowners will accept the first person to apply, even if they receive multiple excellent applications.

We’ve experienced this firsthand, being the second or third to apply, and ended up missing the opportunity. So, a quick tip: apply as soon as you find a house sit that matches your criteria. It could make all the difference!

7. Tailoring Your Application

Show the homeowners that you’ve read their listing carefully by tailoring your application to their specific requirements.

Offer to be in their area prior to the house sit start, even if it means traveling far. Providing the option for an in-person meet and greet can reassure the homeowners and smoothen the transition for their pets.

A little bit of extra effort on your part can go a long way in securing the house sit.

8. Showcasing Your Personality

Don’t shy away from displaying your personality. Share your interests and hobbies, but always tie them back to how they would benefit the homeowner and their pets.

For example, we love playing board games, indicating that we enjoy time at home just as much as exploring dog-friendly cafes.

Remember, homeowners are ultimately looking for someone capable of doing the job. Stick to relevance, showing why you’re the best match for their needs. Don’t just talk about why you’d love a vacation in Hawaii!

9. Proofreading and Formatting

Avoid jeopardizing your well-crafted application by overlooking errors. Always proofread, ensuring all names are spelled correctly, dates are properly written, and the application is concise and formatted professionally.

It reflects your attention to detail and shows respect towards the homeowners.

Once I copied my template from another application and forgot to change the owner’s name. We were perfect for the house sit and the first to apply, but I never got a response. Pretty sure it’s because I didn’t proofread fully.

10. House Sit Application Checklist

Once your house sit application is ready to send, run through this checklist to ensure your message includes all necessary elements:

☑️ Did you greet the homeowner by name in the intro?
☑️ Have you referred to the pets by their names (and ask clarifying questions if necessary)?
☑️ Have you mentioned your relevant pet care and/or home maintenance experience?
☑️ Have you highlighted the unique skills you bring to the opportunity?
☑️ Did you mention any of your specific needs, including high-speed internet?
☑️ Did you request more details about the house sit?
☑️ Did you offer to schedule a virtual chat with the owner to discuss the house sit further?

Having these elements in your application will demonstrate your seriousness and thorough understanding of the homeowner’s listing, thereby increasing your chances of landing the house sit.

House Sitting Apps and Platforms

Most of your house sitting journey will unravel on apps and platforms specifically designed for this purpose.

These tools potentially hold the key to your dream house sit, so understanding how to leverage them effectively is a must. Here’s our breakdown on this topic.

Keep Your Profile Updated

Think of your house sitter profile as your online resume. Homeowners will check this out before making interview decisions. Keep it current, professional, and an authentic snapshot of you and your house-sitting skills.

Upload clear photos, use all the provided spaces to write about yourself, and keep your availability calendar up to date.

Cater to any questions that weren’t addressed in your application letter. This ensures you’re answering any questions homeowners might have upfront and thoroughly.

Popular House Sitting Apps

While smaller platforms like MindMyHouse and HouseSit Mexico have their merits, our go-to and most successful site remains Trusted HouseSitters.

This platform is user-friendly, diverse in its listed opportunities, and simply does a fantastic job matching house sitters and homeowners.

Features and Benefits

Using house sitting apps and websites comes with a multitude of benefits. You gain access to breadth of opportunities, engage in a trusted community, avoid flaky homeowners who might cancel at the last minute, and collect house sit reviews in one central location.

These platforms do the heavy lifting to ensure you can focus on what truly matters: preparing for your next exciting house sit.

In essence, savvy use of these platforms and ensuring your profile always sparkles, bolsters your chance of continual house sitting success.

House Sit Application Final Thoughts

Mastering a compelling house sit application goes beyond mechanics. It’s about storytelling, connecting, and proving trustworthiness.

Follow all our helpful steps for a more impactful and effective house sit application. My messages are detailed and appreciated by homeowners for being so helpful in painting a picture for them of me and my family.

A rich application accelerates the process, building rapport and reducing emails. A win-win for all. Each sit offers new places, faces, and experiences.

Crafting the perfect application is key. Happy house sitting!

FAQs for House Sitting Applications

Are you still brewing some questions about house sitting applications? Don’t worry, we have covered the most common queries in our FAQs section. Let’s answer these!

How do I stand out in a house sit application?

To excel in a house sit application, focus on personalization, detail, and timing. Tailor your application to fit the homeowner and their pets, showing you’ve thoroughly read their listing.

Provide ample details about yourself, experience, and why you’re the ideal choice. Apply promptly, as some homeowners may select the first suitable application. Implementing these strategies can greatly enhance your application’s effectiveness.

What information should I include in a house sit application?

Your house sit application should include a warm greeting, a detailed introduction, a showcase of your relevant experience, and practical details like your work status and any special needs you may have.

Also, propose a continued conversation via a phone or video call as you conclude. Essentially, your application should answer any questions the homeowners might have and propel the process towards the next step.

How can I increase my chances of getting a house sit?

Boosting your chances of securing a house sit largely relies on an impressive application. However, keep your portfolio updated, maintain an accurate availability calendar, and take time to thoroughly understand house sit requirements.

By combining a stellar application with an attentive approach to responding to listings, your chances of landing a house sit can substantially increase.