More Advantages of Being a Local Housesitter

It may surprise you to learn that some housesitters like to stay local. Some of our sitters like Deb Sakal find many advantages of being a local housesitter. In this second blog on the topic she explains that even thought there is no payment involved in housesitting through HouseSit Match, she has discovered and enjoys many advantages to housesitting locally.

Welcome to Part 2 of my Top Advantages of Being a Local Housesitter

Image courtesy of Deb Sakal

My name is Debbie and I travel with my cat Molly, mostly in the UK these days. If you want to find out more about me, check out my blog posts – see below

In Part 1, we discussed the 7 main reasons why anyone would want to book a number of house sits in just one specific area. Just to briefly refresh your memory, we discussed developing familiarity with specific towns and locations; making new friends and networking; reducing travel time and expenses; building trust and reputation; discovering local opportunities; exploring local culture and developing a work-life balance.

I highly recommend you go back and read Part One of my reasons to be a local house sitter, to delve more deeply into those topics, if you haven’t already.

Even More Advantages to being a local housesitter

Well, there are many advantages in booking house sits in one area, and in this final part of this two-part article, I will endeavour to explain why, what my final top advantages of house sitting this way are, and also why I’m the local house sitter.

There are many reasons why people love to house sit. Ranging from exploring their own country, or travelling the world, making new friends and business contacts, to saving money on rent, or spending time with amazing pets and living in a different variety of homes.

For me, I enjoy staying locally, as my personal and business lives are already established. Of course, that’s not to say I don’t occasionally take a house sit a couple of hours away, as I do most definitely take bookings away from my home sphere. So, read on for my final 5 top advantages of being a local house sitter and making bookings in one locale.

Try Before You Buy and Moving to a New Town

This is a perfect way to deeply explore a local area and testing being a bona fide local resident, before you take the plunge and buy or rent a permanent home in a new area.

Seeking a Potential New Home

Maybe you are moving into a new town because of a new job or promotion, perhaps you are getting married and moving to be near one set of parents, or maybe you just want a new adventure. Whatever,, there are a myriad of reasons why you would want to move to a new location.

And what better way, then, to trial life in that locale by house sitting. When you house sit, you live the life of a resident, not a tourist staying in a hotel. You really get a sense of belonging when living like a resident rather than a tourist.

Learn a New Language

This is the perfect way to learn a new language, by intense immersion. By living the life of a local, and not in a hotel where they will probably speak your own language.

House sitting means that you are in a residential area, mostly surrounded by local people, speaking the local language and dialect. You have no choice but to learn and practice the language with them.

Professional development – workshops, courses and events

people working together around a table — Finding accommodation when you are on a course can be a challenge, local housesits can help save money

Image courtesy of Deb Sakal

This is linked to one of the topics we discussed in Part One of this article, networking.

This is because when we stay in one location for an extended period of time, moving from one street or neighbourhood to another, often within the same town, we inevitably make new friends, connections and business contacts.

Maybe you need to be in the area for an extended workshop, course or event, which is being held over a few weeks.

Taking a Course in a Particular Housesit Location

By house sitting, you are able to live a near-normal life. For example, being able to cook decent and nutritious food every evening, thus avoiding the cost and unhealthy lifestyle associated with hotel living.

Also living locally near the venue, you could organise attending local networking groups, to further build local connections and business contacts. This would also provide you with some unexpected business opportunities.

Find Artistic Inspiration

an artist painting en plein air — Plein air painting is such a joy if you find the right scene. One of the advantages of being a local housesitter is you find new locations close by

House sitting provides perfect opportunities for pursuing arts and crafts and other hobbies. Or perhaps you make your living in the creative arts industry.

We all get stuck in a rut when it comes to new ideas.

Perhaps you’re an artist, and need new inspiration for a series of work. House sitting provides the ideal solution for spending a few weeks in a completely different location, thereby jump-starting your creative juices in an exciting new way. It might help you find a new scene to enjoy plein air painting.

Plein Air Painting in a New Location

Or maybe you are a writer, suffering from the dreaded writer’s block. Again, house sitting provides the ideal opportunity for immersion in a totally new environment, and hopefully kick-starting a free-flow of ideas.

Whilst living locally, you may even try a new art class, writers workshop or other local event, thereby providing even more inspiration and motivation.

You get the picture, no matter what your creative endeavour is. House sitting really does allow for spending time in unfamiliar new territory, which can be exciting and fun.

Seasonal Opportunities

Maybe there is a specific yearly event or festival you want to attend, and you also want to extend your stay and explore the local area further.

For example, many people enjoy fruit picking in the Summer, or helping local farmers with Harvesting produce. Rather than spend time in a hotel, what better way to become part of the local community, albeit temporarily, is to house sit for a week or two.

Christmas market scene — If you discover a favourite Christmas Market near but not quite close enough to home, then there is one of your advantages of being a local housesitter

Image courtesy of Deb Sakal

A Christmas Market

Another common example is attending Christmas markets, fairs and other seasonal events, or maybe you enjoy attending the ever popular “pub in the park” events. Again house sitting affords you the ideal way to enjoy all a particular location has to offer.

Other ideas here include Ascot, concerts, festivals and so many other seasonal activities. Your only limit is your own imagination! You may even be able to make it an annual event and pick up some regular house sitting bookings, which suits both you and the homeowner.

Final Thought on the Advantages of Being a Local Housesitter

Well, I do hope you have enjoyed this two part article about the advantages of being a local housesitter, booking house sits in one local area, and becoming your own self-guided local house sitter. Stay tuned for more blog posts very soon.

I’m Deb Sakal, a writer, artist, business mentor, consultant and marketing expert. When I’m not working with my clients, I love spending time with my cat Molly, travelling, writing and painting.

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