Beta Beta — hiring neighbors on Papalocal is new; what you see here is real, and it's still growing.
House sitting Beta
A trusted neighbor stays at your home, or spends real time there each day, while you travel: mail, plants, lights and a lived-in look.
- How often
- Trips
- Where the work happens
- Inside your home
- Who it suits
- Best done by an adult
These open your Papalocal account. You'll be asked to log in or sign up first.
House sitting means someone stays in your home, or spends a good part of each day there, while you are away. They bring in the mail and packages, water plants, rotate lights, keep an eye on the fridge and thermostat, and are on hand if a pipe leaks or the power goes out.
People on long trips, seasonal residents, families with plants or a fish tank, and anyone who does not like leaving a house empty ask for it. It is often paired with pet care, though that is really its own job.
A neighbor makes sense because they know the street, can tell when something is off, and can get there fast. Since it means handing over keys and access to everything you own, it is a job for adults you have met and feel good about.
Also called: house sitter, house sitting service, live-in house sitter, stay at my house while on vacation, overnight house sitter, home sitter.
What's usually included
- Staying overnight or spending set hours at the house
- Bringing in mail, packages and newspapers
- Watering indoor and outdoor plants
- Running lights, blinds and a radio so the house looks lived in
- Watching for leaks, power outages and alarms
- Taking the bins to the curb and back
What to ask before you hire
- Will they sleep there every night or only visit, and may they have guests?
- What is off limits: certain rooms, food, the car, your streaming accounts?
- Who do they call about a leak, a power outage or a break-in?
- What do they need to know about the alarm, wifi and thermostat?
- How will the keys be handed over and given back?
- How often do you want updates, and by text, call or photo?
Staying safe
- Do not post about the house or the trip online, and do not tell anyone the owners are away.
- Keep the keys on you, never under a mat, and never tag them with the address.
- Find the water shut-off and the breaker box on your first day.
- If you arrive to a broken window or an open door, do not go in alone; call the owner and, if needed, the police.
House sitting by town
Questions people ask
What is the difference between house sitting and house checks?
A house sitter stays at or spends real time in the home. A house check is a short visit for mail, lights, doors and a quick look around, once a day or a few times a week.
Do I need to give a house sitter my alarm code?
If they are coming and going, yes, or set up a guest code you can delete afterward. Many people change their codes after a trip either way.
How do I choose a house sitter?
Pick someone you have met in person, and read the ratings other neighbors have given them on Papalocal. Meet at the house first and walk them through everything.
Can the house sitter look after my pets too?
Many people combine the two, but pet care is its own job with its own questions. Look at pet sitting to make sure both are covered.
Thinking of offering this yourself?
- What you need most is a good name on your street, a calendar you control, and a willingness to actually be there; a few neighbors who will vouch for you help.
- Get a written sheet from the owner with emergency contacts, alarm codes, where the water shut-off and breaker box are, and the house rules.
- Price by the night if you sleep over and by the day if you visit, based on how much of your time it takes, and ask what people in your town usually pay for this kind of care.
- Send short updates on the schedule the owner picked, with a photo or two.
- Give keys back the way the owner asked, and leave the house as clean as you found it.
