At Housesit Match we love sharing our housesitters‘ stories and their pet sitting experiences. In this article about housesitting Ireland Jayden and Brittany tell us about their their travel adventures and why as house sitters Ireland is one of their favourite destinations. Read on to learn more.

Housesitting Ireland

An account of one of our favourite sits by the Travelling Housesitters

Meet Jayden and Brittany a housesitting couple

We are Jayden & Brittany, a New Zealand & Aussie couple. We met in the Australian Alps and quickly discovered each other’s passion for travel, read this blog to learn about our housesitting  Ireland. We were eyeing off South America as our next trip. However, one snowy Sunday afternoon we came across flights to London for $300 AUD ($220 USD).

The next thing we knew we were booked and were applying for our UK work visas.

After two quick years in London, we decided to head off to Dublin. We were looking at a minimum of $1500 per month for a room in a share house. We had previously done some house sitting in London, however, this time we stepped it up. We learnt everything you could and even took animal first aid courses.

This prepared us for housesitting Ireland in some great places.

A little further down the line

Then three months later and four house sits done and dusted we managed to save over $5000. We have pieced together some of our most memorable moments. We have also included some tips from our guide  how to become a housesitter.

You will also see that house sitting is not only about the money you can save, it’s the locals you meet, the knowledge you gain and the relationships you build.

Here are of our Favourite House Sits:-

Housesitting Ireland – a favourite destination

We had somehow ended up in the most affluent suburb of Dublin next. While we were still in London, we had a Skype conversation with a lovely Australian couple who were off to France for three weeks. The couple needed someone to look after their elderly lab Roxy and eight-bedroom mansion. When we arrived and ushered through the big gates.

We meet Roxy, the most relaxed dog in Dublin, who only required a walk up and down the driveway every second day.

With castles, beautiful harbours and beaches Dalkey was a lovely area to live, and house sitting in Ireland was a treat! We weren’t surprised when we learnt that Bono and Enya also lived there!

The housesitting home in Killiney

The home in Killiney was even more luxurious than the one Dalkey, and reconfirmed our love for housesitting Ireland. This house had been the winner of Ireland’s most beautiful home the previous year.

Here we looked after two of loveliest two long-haired Chihuahuas, Bruno & Lance. We also looked after her parent’s dogs, Nori, a Chinese Hairless Crested and Dodo an elderly Whippet. We were quite a sight on our daily walks with this quirky crew.

The homeowner was even kind enough to put us on her insurance so we could drive her zippy little yellow Mini around town.

Holiday house sitting near the beach

The dogs loved a walk on the beach which was only 5 minutes away.

To date, our experience of housesitting Ireland and this one in particular remains our favourite house sit. We have remained great friends with the homeowner. We recently spent the evening out for her birthday. We also managed to squeeze in a cuddle with Bruno and Lance before we headed out for the night.

Home in Country of Enfield

We had chosen to do some house sitting before immersing ourselves in Dublin. An hour west of the big city, down a quiet country lane, it where we found our next sit. It was a complete change from the hustle and bustle of London, however, we were delighted.

The Dutch couple had built themselves a stunning hidden cottage with no neighbours or busy roads for miles. It had a gorgeous Scandinavian aesthetic, sleek and modern yet snug.

We were the pet sitters at home!

We looked after their two Siamese cats, two Scottish terriers & two chickens. The dogs warmed to us right away and were happy to cuddle with us on the sofa of an evening. The cats took a day or two however, once we realise that they loved to play fetch with a small toy rat, we were all best friends.

Only being one week it was over too quickly and we were off to the big city for our next adventure.

House Sitting Top Tips

• Getting Started – The hardest part is getting that all important first good review. The more good reviews you have the more likely someone is to hire you. If you don’t have any house sitting references you might need to get creative. Use Airbnb references, a character reference from a boss or even a professional reference. Every little bit helps!
• Police Checks – Police checks are the ultimate peace of mind for homeowners. If you have never obtained a police check before they are usually free and really easy to get your hands on – just get in touch with your local police or countries Justice Department. This could also push you towards the top of the pile and gives your homeowners some piece of mind.
• HouseSit Match – offer subsidized background checking to UK residents and an online direct access to VERIFILE for any other international background checks. They make it easy for you to secure a check while you’re on the road.
• Don’t Be Picky – You need to be open to all types of different locations, pets and homes. You are never going to find a house sit if you limit yourself to specific pets, locations or homes. Even if your goal is house sitting jobs in Ireland or elsewhere it is good to start somewhere and then track your progress to new locations.
• Apply, Apply, Apply! – Once you have signed up, start applying for houses sits in your desired area.  You need to be prompt and stand out with your applications. Don’t send a generic copy and paste application. Show the homeowner you have read their listing and you really understand their needs.
• Get Accredited – For the most part, you will be looking after someone’s pet, their pride and joy. We recommend attending a pet first aid course. It helps to ensure you are prepared for any situations. Generally, they are a one day course and only cost around $50. It can also give you an edge over other applicants for that sought after housesit at a beachfront villa in Bali!
• Provide details, details, details – Much sure the homeowner gives all the information about the animals and the house. No matter how small or irrelevant they might think they detail is.

House sitters in residence

Find out the little quirks of the house, from when the postman comes to the names and numbers of neighbours and close family. HouseSit Match offer members access to guidelines and documents that can help you formalise your agreements so you have reassurance and the details you need.

We cared for a cat that had a tendency to throw up in the lounge room at night. The owner had mentioned this to us only because it happened during the handover. Most owners become accustomed to some behaviours and may not pass on this critical information. Without knowing what this cats lounge room habits, we would have been in quite a panic.

As you can see housesitting in Ireland has provided us with a wonderful lifestyle and an amazing connection to that country. We have firm friendships and discovered places we would have never had the opportunity to stay.

As the Travelling Housesitters we would recommend house sitting to anyone who is looking to save some money when traveling, anyone who is up for an adventure or simply loves an animal to snuggle up with in the evenings.

How to become a house sitter

When people first hear about my peripatetic traveling lifestyle as a global housesitter, they often ask two questions:  Why are you traveling so much?  and How can I do this? How do I get started as a housesitter?  Here is some of my advice on how to become a house sitter with no experience.

And what is more, the housesitting landscape is changing.  As more homeowners recognize the benefit of having a caring, responsible person pamper their pets at home and maintain routines, the opportunities for sitters are increasing.

How to start as an international house sitter

If you are thinking of housesitting as a fun thing to try, then you need to think carefully about your next steps. So here are my top 11 tips for getting started as an international housesitter:

Why join a small housesitting platform like HouseSit Match?

If you join one of the smaller housesitting sites such as HouseSit Match you stand a good chance of being selected because there is less competition among the housesitters. Posts on the larger sites can draw 30 or 40 applicants – daunting competition for a newbie!

However, the smaller sites offer less competition and increased customer service that is often personalized. HouseSit Match has unparalleled hands-on support. Also consider the option to become a house sitter for free. It means you are volunteering and will exchange your services for free accommodation. The barrier is low to get started.

Why Housesit Match in particular?

Housesit Match is an online network that can help you meet checked pet lovers who will housesit and petsit for you in your absence helping you to manage your property and pets. At Housesit Match we offer a supported professional service where you can find online help if you need it. Check out our TrustPilot reviews.

If you have pet care and homecare experience and want to travel and experience a new location why not register as on HouseSit Match as a housesitter

To register as a House-sitter or Pet sitter follow this link

FURTHER READING ON TRAVEL AND HOUSESITTING

At Housesit Match.com we like to offer our readers a curated selection of articles to follow on from the destination blog on housesitting Ireland you were reading. We hope you find this collection interesting and suitable.

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