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Mastering the Long Term Housesit 10 Tips
Ever thought about taking a long term housesit in a place like rural France? Discover what Joann, a retired professional and now housesitter, learned during her extended stay in the Gers region of South West France. From adapting to life in a small village to earning the trust of the local community — all while caring for a homeowner’s property — she shares her top tips for making the most of a long term housesit abroad.
Photo by Joann McRoy
Living the Trust: Mastering the Long Term Housesit – Real Advice From an Experienced Housesitter
We really hit the jackpot on this Housesit Match sit for Declan and Sam. Here’s why.
Our homeowners Declan and Sam have been living abroad for some years and have had people managing their property in their absence. But they were concerned about security and upkeep, needing someone to keep vermin out especially mice which can be real pests in rural properties.
🏡 So they looked for housesitters. And when we moved in as sitters, they already had everything covered from pool maintenance, gardening, and even a cleaner calls once a month which leaves us and everyone else wondering, what are we going to do for six months? And how do we fill our time now we are retired???
✈️ Firstly we love to keep fit when we travel and love to do long walks so that takes up a good part of our morning routine, then out for a coffee and croissant and a trip to the markets which are almost daily in the surrounding villages so we get out to buy our goodies and explore.
📝 However, on a long term housesit you still need something extra other than daily walks, books and jigsaws. So we are enjoying new hobbies which are easy to start with YouTube at hand.
Considering a Long Term Housesit?
If you’re ready to take the next step and experience life as a long-term housesitter, consider joining HouseSit Match. Our verified network connects responsible sitters with homeowners around the world, helping you find secure, long-term sits that suit your lifestyle, budget, and sense of adventure.
New Hobbies
We’re doing a lot of cooking on our long term housesit. We’ve even tried baking, we’ve started our own vegetable garden from seeds and old legacy veg and now Christmas is nearly upon us we are trying our hand at making our own decorations. We forage materials for the decorations on our walks and we use other things that people have offered to lend us.
Making New Local Contacts
While I’m not a Facebook kind of gal, but I have discovered a women’s wild swimming group in social media that I’ve visited and found what seems the only local pub in our region which do event nights.
This is a life line because we speak basic French and everyone needs a gab and a chat now and again. And these ex-pats have lived here for many years so they are the hub of all knowledge. We have met new people and made some good friends from here, and we have dinners and coffee dates on a regular basis.
Long Term Housesitting as a Way to Travel ✈️
Long-term housesitting is one of the most rewarding ways to travel, live like a local, and enjoy pets without the cost of rent. To get started, create your free profile on HouseSit Match today and begin applying for verified, long-term sits around the world. Join as a Housesitter.
Photo by Joann McRoy
💰💰 Sticking to a Budget
While we are both retired and want to discover new places on every housesit, we need to stick to a budget. And balancing the budget can be a challenging especially when you feel you are on holiday. And a long term housesit can feel like a real holiday.
Food shopping can be expensive especially you like shopping from the markets. So we impose a 300 Euro weekly budget for food, fuel and eating out.
7 Best Practices for a Long Term Housesit
All these best practises are based on our experience housesitting in a rural village and out of season. Although the bigger Towns nearby such as Auch and Pau we also found were quite similar when it comes to food and drink. Here’s what we recommend for your top seven best practices on a long term housesit in France:
✅ 1. Learn the language – even the basics and google translate go a long way but you must make a little effort. Especially if you are doing a rural long term housesit where everyone speaks too fast it can be a challenge. You’ll find that you simply nod, smile vaguely, and interject with “Ah, oui!” This buys you 30 seconds of dignity so you can jump on google translate which the locals use as well.
✅ 2. Commit to their eating times – You MUST eat between 12-2pm and 7-9pm BY LAW!! Or so it seems. If you’re not in the restaurant and ordered by 1pm or 8pm, forget it. Some restaurants reserve tables for food only, you can’t just grab a coffee or a drink between these hours. The restaurants and bars shut after these hours so be careful not to miss out!
✅ 3. Daily Baguette Ritual – Visiting the boulangerie daily is a must, whether its for a baguette, a croissant or one of the delicious cakes and tarts. I’m drooling at the thought. And on a long term housesit this rapidly becomes de rigueur! A baguette older than 8 hours is legally classified as a weapon. You must buy a new one daily. Everyone does.
Photo by Joann McRoy
✅ 4. Want something fixing – Goodluck Our car had an engine light issue, it’s a Volvo. Simple, go to a garage of which there are three in our village, use Google translate and get it booked in. No, its a Volvo… most garages will only touch French cars, they wouldn’t even put the diagnostic reader on it. We tried looking on FB, and then the locals we met in the English pub… tumbleweed! After persistence and bumping into one mechanic by accident, he helped us. But I see lots of people on FB shouting out for assistance with repairs, plumbers, gardeners etc so it isn’t so easy here and FB is the place to go for quick connection and information.
✅ 5. The Recycling/Bin Gauntlet – This was a challenge to figure out. And everywhere is different. Where we are the bins are kept on the main roads and you must follow the colour-coded recycling instructions although you may have to go to two different bin sites to process all the rubbish. And some areas even use a swipe card so you can only use certain bins. Oh and locating them in the first place is fun. So we learned to leave time for this routine.
✅ 6. Get out there and meet people – Whether just in passing at the local market, at a café, restaurant/bar or on social media try to get to know the people. Expats love to chat and are usually happy to show you around or give advice. If you make an effort to speak the language then great, we found the French are welcoming and friendly. If you don’t speak any French then find local Expat groups on FB.
✅ 7. Be prepared to Travel – Nothing is on your doorstep when you are in a rural situation. If you don’t drive, check public transport before you commit to a long term housesit in rural France. You’re lucky if you have a bar and a shop in your village, Supermarkets are usually a drive and the smaller villages rarely have buses. But check with the locals, there may be a ride share like BlablaCar available, or similar.
Photo by Joann McRoy
Lessons from a Long Term Housesit in France – 10 Top Tips
Our 10 Top Tips Drawn From Experience
- ⚡ How to build trust and communicate effectively with homeowners -A long term housesit means you are being entrusted with a property for a long time. You need to keep communication channels open and you need to be responsive on both sides in case any issues arise.
- ⚡ Are you retired and not working while housesitting ?- If you don’t work make sure you have hobbies or find some. A long term housesit means you have a lot of time to yourself.
- ⚡ Public transport isn’t always available; you really need a vehicle on a long term housesit – A car is a MUST if your rural, public transport isn’t great and they don’t all have many rural train stations. However some long term housesit s do include cars.
- ⚡ If you have visitors, consider the logistics – If your having visitors from with the owners permission, take into consideration any logistics. For example, how far are the airports from your housesit? Remember to research how long the round trip will be to collect and drop off.
- ⚡ Brush up your language skills -if you’re abroad – Learn the basic language, prepare some vocabulary for your visit to busy restaurants and be prepared with Google translate. At peak times when restaurants are full the staff can be a bit annoyed if they have to hang around while you get your phone out and then contemplate the menu with your scanty vocab.
- ⚡ We love the farmers markets; they’re good places to meet people – these are an almost daily occurrence in our surrounding villages and towns. Be sure to visit and enjoy the local produce. While you are out the café/bars usually have English Expats and people who are always up for a chat. Get to know then, they can have really useful information. Swap numbers if they are up for it, these relationships can make your long term housesit really enjoyable.
- ⚡ Do You Want Fresher or Cheaper Produce? Farmers Markets or Supermarkets? – While most markets are all about the fruit and veg, and they are obviously fresher and probably organic, the supermarkets are usually cheaper.
- ⚡ Compare the local supermarkets – There are Aldi and Lidl in most places but you wont necessarily find what you have in the UK, so challenge yourself to cook something new. Seasonal fruit and veg will only be available. We travel everywhere with herbs and spices, just in case. The big supermarkets or hyper marchés are easy to find and everyone says E’Leclerc is the cheapest for food and fuel.
- ⚡ Eating Out – Some restaurants only offer a ‘Menu of the Day’ which is a 2-3 course menu and usually has two options. These are priced between 16-22 Euros depending on the menu and restaurant. I have yet to see a vegetarian option in our rural situation. A few restaurants do offer children’s menus or something off a menu but rarely in the smaller villages.
- ⚡ Consider the price of fuel, it may vary greatly from town to town – We have a diesel car and the price at the minute is around 1.60 Euro per litre
- ⚡ Do attend the village or community events – During your long term housesit you’ll see lots of posters for local village events, most are free but if your village is having an event, join them. You’ll find at least one person who speaks good to great English and they’re always happy to chat, especially because your the newbies. Oh, they’ll know that you’re new and English within a few days. Villages are small and your new and shiny, and a centre of something interesting going on.
Photo by Joann McRoy
💡 Pro Tip: Joining a reputable network like HouseSit Match gives you access to trusted homeowners and verified listings, making it easier to build your reputation as a reliable long-term housesitter.
Frequently Asked Questions about Long-Term Housesitting
What qualifies as a “long-term” housesit?
A long-term housesit usually spans several weeks to multiple months, sometimes up to a year or more. It’s longer than a typical holiday sit and often involves deeper responsibilities, such as ongoing property maintenance, garden care, and pet routines.
How do I find trustworthy long-term housesitting opportunities?
Use reputable housesitting platforms like HouseSitMatch that verify both sitters and homeowners. Filter for longer-duration listings, read past reviews, and communicate early to clarify responsibilities and logistics.
Should long-term housesitters expect compensation?
Most housesitting arrangements are based on an exchange — free accommodation for responsible home and pet care. Some homeowners may offer stipends for utilities, transport, or pet supplies, so always confirm this ahead of time.
How can I prepare effectively for a long-term housesit?
- Request or photograph an inventory of items, appliances, and tools at the property.
- Ask about pet routines, feeding schedules, and preferred vets.
- Bring essentials, medications, and travel adapters.
- Confirm reliable internet and workspace if you work remotely.
- Plan for emergencies with local contacts or service providers.
How do I build trust with homeowners for extended stays?
Create a detailed profile with photos and references, offer video calls before confirming, and provide regular updates during your stay. Transparency and good communication are key to repeat opportunities.
Can long-term housesitting work for remote workers?
Yes! Many digital nomads and remote professionals combine work with housesitting. Just confirm that the property has reliable internet, a comfortable workspace, and that your routine suits the pets and home.
What are the main benefits and challenges of long-term housesitting?
Benefits: free accommodation, pet companionship, local immersion, and lifestyle flexibility.
Challenges: adjusting to new homes, managing upkeep, and ensuring continuity for pets and gardens.
What happens if problems arise during the sit?
Agree beforehand who to contact and how to handle emergencies. Document issues promptly and communicate openly. Having homeowner consent, insurance, and an emergency plan ensures smooth problem-solving.
Further reading on housesitting, the long term housesit and travel
At HouseSit Match we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about our housesitters’ experiences, housesitting and pet sitting like this one on a long term housesit in France. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters and house sitting in Europe useful.
Housesitting in Spain – Here’s what I love
Things to do when house sitting Algarve properties
Housesitting Ile de France – Discover living like a local
