15 Pros and Cons of House Sitting and Pet Sitting

House sitting and pet sitting are undeniably great ways to travel the world, meet new people, care for animals, and receive free accommodation. I’ve been a pet sitter for a few years now, and while I love it, there are both pros and cons to house sitting and pet sitting.

House sitting is when you stay and look after someone else’s home while they’re away. In exchange for free accommodation and utilities, you clean and maintain the house, water the plants, and provide the homeowners with the comfort and reassurance that everything is safe and secure.

Pet sitters also take care of the homeowner’s pets, which can include feeding, watering, playing, cuddling, walking, and grooming.

Pet sitting has allowed me to spend weeks caring for a golden retriever in the English countryside, a month and a half with a French bulldog in Tokyo, and a couple of weeks with a playful cat in Brussels, all without spending a dime on accommodation. It is without a doubt my favorite way to travel.

But, like any other living situation, there are both pros and cons of house and pet sitting. So, if you’re wondering if house sitting is right for you, continue reading; I will outline the 15 greatest advantages and disadvantages of house sitting.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

☞ SEE ALSO: How To Become a Pet Sitter

Long-Term Sits vs. Short-Term Sits

Before I list all the pros and cons of being a house sitter, I first want to clarify the difference between long-term sits and short-term sits.

Long-term house sits typically range from a few weeks to several months in duration, while short-term house sits typically range from a few days to a couple of weeks. While both can be great experiences for travelers and digital nomads alike, each type of sit offers different advantages and disadvantages.

For instance, long-term house sits give the sitters an extended amount of time to immerse themselves in a new culture and meet locals. I also love long-term house sits as they always provide me with a chance to relax, rewind, and reset when I’m feeling a bit of travel burnout. In contrast, short-term house sits are great for saving money on hotels and hostels when visiting a new city.

To summarize, short-term house sits are the right choice for people on a tighter timeline wishing to travel to new destinations, while long-term house sits are the right choice for digital nomads who are searching for a new home base for a while.