Create an inviting homeowner profile – Tips
As new homeowner and petowner members join our Housesitmatch network we like to offer help. Some of the help is in the shape of handy tips on how to get the most out of their membership. One of the most important first steps is learning how to create an inviting homeowner profile. Here are our top tips. Read them and use them.
They can really help your profile and adverts stand out inviting more housesitters to learn more and apply.
How to create an inviting homeowner profile
Present your home in a good light, take the photo on a bright day and highlight a feature of the property.Attract housesitters on House Sit Match to your homeowner profile
The goal of the homeowner profile on a housesitting platform is to attract housesitters. You want to get the attention of trusted housesitters so that your housesit is selected over someone else’s in the listings. You can do this by making an effort to present your assignment as a fun housesitting opportunity. Of course there are many other factors that come into play such as the dates of your assignment and your location.
However, it is worth making every effort to present your home and pets in the best possible light. In this article we offer you some top tips for how to prioritise the photos you take and how to make the very best of the housesit features you have to offer.
Here are some of the top tips that will help you draw attention in a homeowner profile.
House sit property photos – Size isn’t everything!
A small apartment in a city centre can be a very attractive house sit for sitters, it is compact and centrally located. This is ideal if the sitter is on foot and without their own transportOptimise your house sitting vacancies
Whether you are looking for a housesitter because you have a short or long trip, it is not safe to leave your property empty. The homeowners association industry and all the associated lobby groups, reminds us regularly of the threat to vacant homes. So housesitters play a valuable role. And if you have pets resident then they play a double vital role in caring for pets and property.
Whether you have a large attractive property or a small apartment to list, focus on the best features of your property. You may also have several dates published at the same time. Make the most of your house sitting vacancies. Promote the benefits of your home, your adorable pets and your unique location. Share what you would love about this house sit.
House-sit a small property and home – Checklist of features to consider in your profile
Your home may be small but you likely have some real advantages to living in your location. So it’ll make a great house sit. Just tell people why you think that. For example, many housesitters love to be within walking distance to all the amenities of a city. The city centre often has attractions like museums, art galleries and all manner of entertainment centres.
A balcony space can be a wonderful feature of your propertyConsider all these items on the checklist when building your profile:
Property Top features for your homeowner profile
- Balcony or view – If you have a balcony or view even in a small house or apartment this is an attractive feature
- Location – Convenient access to all amenities, airport and public transport
- Access to shopping and cultural sites – Entertainment and shopping on the doorstep
- Travel season tickets – some homeowners are happy to lend these to the housesitters
- Local parks for walking dogs and a change of scene.
Housesit a medium sized property and home – Checklist of homeowner profile features
If yours is a family sized four bedroom property then it too will have advantages for housesitters. Photos can make all the difference between an inviting homeowner profile and one that doesn’t draw visitors.
A family home will have many features that will suit a wide range of housesitters, not least space.Often in a well sized family home there is a dedicated space used as an office. This can be a real boon for digital nomad housesitters who work wherever they travel. Some homes may also have other attractive features like a games room or a cinema room for family viewing.
An indoor cinema is always a good feature to promoteIf you have a medium sized home with reasonable access to fun and interesting locations nearby, describe that. Describe the space and practical features of your family home which is geared up for a multiple people to live in. And highlight the places nearby you really enjoy. Give them the tourist inside track near your home.
Outdoor seating is very appealing to housesitters, especially if your property is in a town or cityWherever your property is located and whatever size, if you have outdoor space present it as well as you can. This will make it inviting and appealing to housesitters, who may not have a garden of their own. Garden photos can really give depth to a homeowner profile. This is especially true if your housesit assignment is in the Summer!
If you have an outdoor space tidy the scene and dress it up for the photoHouse sit top tips
The chances are the housesitters will appreciate any tips you have for cafes, restaurants, interesting historical locations and other local attractions. Whether they are housesitting or petsitting they will still want to leave the home to visit local points of interest, sample local produce and so on.
This is especially true if your sitters have chosen to try international housesitting. Local tourism and living like a local somewhere very different from home is a big attraction to volunteer housesitting and petsitting:
Our Top Tips for your homeowner profile
- Comfortable family home – can accommodate a small family
- Can accommodate a house sitter’s pet e.g. dog
- You might have one or two spare bedrooms for a couple of friends to housesit together
- Family dining table outdoors in the garden
- Off road parking available; plus do state if you have a car available for use.
Housesit a large property and home – Checklist of features to mention
Many people are attracted by architecture and history – This is Ruth’s chateau in FranceYou might have a large property or even an estate with many features to promote it. Photos really matter here for the homeowner profile. Don’t be shy. Draw out some of the attractions on the property, things you think the sitters will enjoy discovering while they housesit. Here is your checklist of things that housesitters find really useful to know:
Features checklist for your homeowner profile
- A swimming pool, sauna or jacuzzi
- Grounds to walk and exercise the pets
- Attractive views from the property
- River or stream that runs through the property
- Off road parking available; plus do state if you have a car available for use.
Show views inside your home – their housesitting job
One of the most important things to remember is that housesitters will be living-in. This is their housesit job. And most housesitters say they like to see a little of your home in the profile. Usually they tell us that the most important rooms for you to share are the bedroom where they will be staying, the kitchen and the living area.
Make sure there is clean bedlinen for the day they arrive, and clear a little space in your wardrobe or a drawer or two for the housesitters things.
It’s useful for the sitter to see what appliances you have in the kitchen. And make sure to give them an area where they can keep their food supplies.Share that fabulous vista
Wherever your home is located, whether you have an apartment, or a house overlooking a body of water, take a photo of your view. That picture will add real interest to your homeowner profile and will give the sitter an idea of what to expect and what they too might enjoy.
Capture the view and share it on your profile. Housesitters often love the opportunity to discover a new landscape. This is a homeowner’s view in DevonAsk our garden sitters to tend and water your patch
If there is a vegetable garden to water and tend, share photos on your home owner profile. Some sitters are experienced garden sitters and love to have this kind of activity in the Summer.Petsitting opportunities – promote pet pics on your profile
Housesitting assignments are almost always about the pets. So they need to attract housesitters who love petsitting. So make sure to share photos of your precious pal to ensure the housesitter knows who they will be caring for. Some sitters are comfortable with any type of pet.
However, others are not experienced or comfortable for example with large dogs. Be clear in your profile and in your housesit advert which pets you need care for while you are away.
Dogsit – for small or large dogs
Not all sitters have experience with walking or looking after dogs of your pet’s particular size. Large dogs are remarkably rarely shown in the homeowner profile. So when promoting a dogsit be mindful of that. Talk about how is surprising that many large dog breeds create surprisingly child friendly pets though they can seem intimidating to the uninitiated.
Describe the nature and personality of your dog it can make the dogsit be more engaging. The same goes for horses and other types of pets. So be clear about your brief in text and visuals.
This is Moose the Great Dane; he lives in the UK.Dog minding for large dogs
Some people may shy away from dog minding caring for particular breeds of dogs. Perhaps because they might have a reputation for nervous energy or because they need a lot of exercise and entertainment. Tell them about your pet. Describe what they can expect as the live in dog sitter. And add photos for your homeowner profile. You love your dogs so help the sitters fall in love with them also.
Some breeds need a lot of exercise to stay fit and healthy. Be mindful that you describe what is expected in their daily routineYour pet personality in a picture – Try to capture their best features
Your pet may have a particular personality, try to capture that in your pet photo. It adds a little magic to the homeowner profile. If they are sweet in nature, or have a cheeky personality it can be fun trying to capture that in your pet profile pictures.
Meet Bonita, from Spain. She’s a sweet natured dog who takes a lovely picture
Puffin from Cornwall is very playful. She loves her ball!How are your pets with people? Describe this in your homeowner profile
One of the important things to show in your homeowner profile is how your pets behave with people. It is also good to show yourself interacting with your pets if you can in the photos. This is really important for a homeowner profile. If your pet sees how they are with you they can imagine how your pet will behave with them.
Attracting the cat house sitter
Peter and his cat Tatti live in the UK. Their popular housesit is located in BuckinghamshireShow your cats in the profile photos. Anyone who is drawn to cat house sitting will want to see the cats. If you have several pets often the cats are not featured – don’t forget them. Take a snap to show how beautiful and friendly they are. The photos will attract your cat house sitter.
Cat minding draws cat lovers
Remember you want to attract cat lovers for your cat minding assignment. If you want to demonstrate that your pets are perfectly friendly and happy to be handled then take some photos to show on your homeowner profile. Not all cats like to be touched, but if yours are perfectly happy to be stroked then demonstrate this in a photo. A picture speaks a thousand words.
This is Feline the Siamese cat. She lives in France with her familyFinal thoughts on how to create a great homeowner profile
The wonderful thing about creating your own homeowner profile on a housesitting platform is that you decide how your pets and home appear. Please use these top tips as a guide for how to create your public profile. At Housesitmatch we are always happy to help registered members to create their profile. Feel free to contact us to find that support when you join Housesitmatch.com. We’re always happy to help.
If you are not yet a member of Housesitmatch.com but will need housesitters or petsitters this year, join our network.
Click here to Join as a homeowner pet owner
Further reading about making the most of your homeowner profile
At Housesitmatch.com we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters useful.
The Affordable Alternative to Dog Kennels
What a housesitter does – Top 10 responsibilities
