Do you ever house sit? Have you ever?
By Amber
@AmbiePam (88834)
United States
March 28, 2010 2:43pm CST
I guess I could also ask if you have ever pet sit. Okay, you have to know what I mean, right?
If someone you know goes away, have you ever stayed at their house to take care of it while they are gone? To water the plants, feed the pet, that kind of thing?
I remember about five years ago I "house sat" for a couple in my church. They had a dog and a cat. What I most remember is that the dog took a tangerine out of my hand and ate it before I could get it back from him, and the cat got in the linen closet when I opened it, and I didn't realize it until 30 minutes later. All of a sudden I hear a meow. I opened it up and there was the cat! I had no idea, and I felt so bad. It didn't seem angry at me at least.
Right now my parents are out of town. They asked me to stay at their house. I told them I was more comfortable at my apartment because I was used to sleeping in my own bed and everything. But apparently the almost break in I wrote about earlier in the month freaked them out. So to make them feel better I am staying at their house. At least at night. I prefer to be at my home doing the day.
Anyway, what about you?
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3 people like this
18 responses
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
30 Mar 10
I’ve never done house sitting. My parents go away for three or four months at a time every couple of years but being the strange people they are they don’t want anyone to stay at their house. I remember when I was around seventeen and still living with them, they went away and I got told I had to go because I was not permitted to stay at home! Do you believe it? I ended up moving in with my boyfriend and they preferred that to me staying in their precious home! They are strange...Having a house sitter would be ideal for them...Go figure...![](/Content/images/emotes/confused.gif)
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1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
31 Mar 10
To say that my parents are odd is an understatement! ![](/Content/images/emotes/rolleyes.gif)
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1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
5 Apr 10
I have never stayed at a house to House sit but I have looked after places by going in to check them and water Plants or feed the Cat but I have never actually stayed in the House
Like you I prefer my own bed and my own surroundings
@GardenGerty (159754)
• United States
29 Mar 10
I have not stayed at anyone else's house but I have checked on other houses, fed pets, etc. It is nice you can do this for them. I know it feels hard to be away from your own home. Are your folks having a vacation, then? People's pets do silly things. I never knew dogs liked tangerines, but I would expect a cat to do something like that.
1 person likes this
@JJ4Ever (4693)
• United States
9 Apr 10
When I was younger, my best friend and I house sat for a couple who were out of town for a few days. They let us eat their food, stay overnight at the house, and do basically whatever. They had a dog who we took care of also. She was really old, so we felt bad for her, poor thing! It was fun because we had lots of yummy food that they had stocked up on for us, and we watched tons of movies late into the night. I think we were on spring break from school or something. All I remember is that I didn't have to go to school or work, so we had a blast staying up really late. I was glad my friend was there with me because I would've been very lonely in a huge house with just the dog. I was glad we had that time to hang out. More recently, my husband and I watch my parents' house when they're away. They go away about four times a year, so we watch the house for them. Watching the house means that we still stay at our house, we just go over to theirs to check the house and get the mail. We also have to feed the three birds and three hamsters when we're there. It doesn't take long to check the house, and it's nice we live only a mile from my parents that it's not a long drive at all. When we're gone, my parents watch our house and get our mail in return. It's nice that we have them to watch our place, but we still have to find someone to watch our dog, which is normally my in laws. It's nice when you can go away and know of someone who is always available to house sit for you.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Mar 10
hi ambiepam oh Yes I did for the landlady of an apartment complex we used to live in. I had to walk her golden retreiver Charly for a week while she recouperated from kidney stone surgery. We got to really love each other Charley and I and he did not want to let go that bond after she got well. Of course she wanted to take over his walks, but Charley would always have to come over and ask to see me, he was a most loveable dog and I wished that this complex would have let me have a dog too.bujt when we moved out of that complex I did really miss Charley. He was a love of a dog. She really got a charge of our friendship and let Charley come and see every once in awhile, this same lady asked to move because we complained to the housing authority about a leak in the upstairs plumbing that was coming down the wall of our own bathroom. well that was too bad, but because they refused to remedy the problem themselves we had to go to the housing authority.![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
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1 person likes this
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
28 Mar 10
I didn't stay at the owners house but I did feed and give water to a horse for a family while they were were gone for a week. I made a good amount of money also. It was a pretty simple way to make a little bit of money. I was a teenager when I did this.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
29 Mar 10
I have never house sat but I have had a house sitter......I went to Hawaii a few years back and had a friend stay here to be with my dog......she worked during the day and stayed here at night.....well when I got back I had to replace the carpet in one of the bedrooms and he had used it for a bathroom...I don't know where she was when this was going on....but that's the last time I had a house sitter...you did a much better job!
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
28 Mar 10
I house/pet sit for my parents once every few months when they are going to be out of town overnight. It is usually just for one night, but once in awhile it will be for 2 days. I just stayed there with my daughter a few weeks ago while they and my son went out of state for an overnight trip. I pet sit/pick up the mail for my sister a lot, but I don't actually stay there over night. I will sometimes hang out and watch a movie with the kids or use her computer for awhile since she has a printer and I do not.
1 person likes this
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
30 Mar 10
Hi, AmbiePam. I have house sit last summer. My husband's cousin and her husband went on a trip to Bahamas with their church. And, I stayed at her apartment. While I was there, I watered her plants and took out the garbage. She did not have any pets. So, I just did the small chores that was left for me to do.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
29 Mar 10
Hi Amber! I have never exactly house sat! I have sort of watched
over neighbors apartments, but have only watered plants, but
not watched pets! But, I have had neighbors watch mine! I also
don't like to sleep anywhere but my own house, as I think most
people prefer! The only place I actually go to and stay is
my Mother's house in Florida! And I usually go for about 9 days!
She has an extra guest bedroom which is comfortable! It has
a tv and extra draws to put my clothes in, but it still isn't
my bed! I always miss my cats the most! The last time I went
my boyfriend watched my babies! I think I missed them more than
him, although we talked every night!lol I'm planning to go again
in May, I think! My Mom just turned 80 and she want's me to
come back again! It will be almost a year since my last trip!
1 person likes this
@carmenzhj (120)
• New Zealand
29 Mar 10
I did it once years ago. And I only go there during the day and back to my own home at night.
1 person likes this
@snoopyfan (1312)
• United States
28 Mar 10
Yes I pet sit for my friends whenever they go out of town I do it a few times a year. I do not stay overnight only because their dog doesn't like other dogs. I can't bring Bandit over or else I would stay overnight. I do get their mail and stuff they usually get something for me in the fridge or there is some fast food besides my pay. They have a dog and cat. At first the cat would hide a lot from me but now that I have been doing this for a few years the cat sits in my lap and hangs out with me. The dog hit it off with me right away. I have always been great with animals especially dogs. I enjoy doing it cause I like seeing the animals.
1 person likes this
@myramae19 (667)
• Philippines
29 Mar 10
he he the dog and the cat are both so cute
Yes, I have had done house sat,, That was 6 years ago I think..at my eldest sister's house, my sister went to seminar cos she's a teacher, since they don't have a child her hubby went with her.
I stayed at their house for about a week..they dont have any pet, I just took care with the plants after school
,, thanks to your topic it brings back memories.
happy lotting!
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1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (159754)
• United States
29 Mar 10
I have not stayed at anyone else's house but I have checked on other houses, fed pets, etc. It is nice you can do this for them. I know it feels hard to be away from your own home. Are your folks having a vacation, then? People's pets do silly things. I never knew dogs liked tangerines, but I would expect a cat to do something like that.
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
15 Jul 10
Hiya Amber. I never actually house sat, but one of my aunts let me stay at her house some years ago when my husband and I were boyfriend and girlfriend. It was just me, him, the house, and the swimming pool.
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@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
28 Mar 10
I haven't house sat, but I have and am right now dog sitting. I guess when dogsitting, I treat it like I do for babysitting, I am more careful. For instance, I make sure the dog(s)I am watching are where they are supposed to be until my own pups who Ciara, twice now has been locked in my bedroom because I didn't know she was there..
If I was to house sit, I don't think I'd be uncomfortable, unless the house is in a bad neighborhood. In fact I'd relish it, it may give me ideas for my stories..lol
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@Beautyfactor (1512)
•
28 Mar 10
I have never done house sitting before, but I have been a keyholder for some people that I became aquainted with through my husbands work.
All I had to do was call into the apartment now and again just to make sure everything was okay and to collect the mail from the downstairs mail boxes. The couple did say we could use their apartment if we wanted to, but we always needed to be home for one reason or another.
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