Stand Out as a Sitter to Relocated Homeowners 3 Top Tips

When homeowners have recently relocated to a new home their owners can be concerned about leaving them. Stand out as a sitter by asking appropriate questions and paying particular attention to the pet to ensure you help to relax the pet in the new home environment. Read on to learn more.

stand out as a sitter by paying particular attention to a pet who has recently relocated with its owners — You can stand out as a sitter by paying particular attention to a pet that has recently relocated with its owners

Photo credit – Anastasia Shuraeva

Stand Out As A Sitter For Homeowners Who’ve Just Relocated

If you’re vying for your first housesit with competitive sitters on a housesitting platform and you want to appeal to a homeowner who’s new to the area, it pays to put in some effort to stand out as a sitter. By taking time and adding thought to your application you can really show you’re the right person for the job. With one in six homeowners in the UK estimated to have moved this year, it’s likely your potential clients are still getting to know their new neighbourhoods and might be feeling a bit unsure about leaving their home with someone new.

To put their minds at ease, take time to be thoughtful in your messages and ask practical questions about their needs. This will be considerate and you will stand out as a sitter who is serious and interested in the assignment. You can also share examples of your previous housesitting experiences to build trust and give homeowners confidence they’re leaving their home in capable hands.

Demonstrate thoughtfulness from the start

pet dog lying i his bed in a new home — It can take pets a while to get used to a new home. Stand out as as sitter by asking how you can help

Photo credit – Andrew Neel

It’s really important to show new homeowners you’re a thoughtful and considerate sitter, and a great way to do this is with a friendly first message. Show them you’ve got a good feel for the local area, and have taken time to think about their needs before they even ask.

If they live near a store, for example, you could mention you’d be happy to pick up any essentials while they’re away. Or, if they have a dog and live near a park, you can point out what a great spot for walks it is. Highlighting these little details can be especially useful for new residents who are getting to know the area, and also helps them feel confident their home and pets are in good hands.

Ask practical, helpful questions

Once you’ve made a good impression with your first message, it’s time to ask more practical questions in your follow-up chats that show you’re really thinking about the homeowners individual needs. What do you specifically need to know to make their life easier while watching their home? For example, you could ask how they want mail and parcels handled. Do they want them brought in right away? Left in a safe spot? Some new homeowners may not have thought about this yet, but if you raise the question, they can be reassured their deliveries will be handled exactly how they want.

New homes can also understandably be pretty chaotic, with all the unpacking to do. To be a considerate sitter, ask if there are any areas of the home you should be careful around, like where boxes are stacked or fragile items waiting to be unpacked. Don’t be surprised if the owners still need to sort out extra storage space, which is something around 15% of people end up needing during a move.

Luckily, moving companies often provide temporary storage solutions to keep belongings safe and out of the way while people get settled. Whether the home’s full of boxes or everything’s already unpacked, you can show you’re a responsible sitter who thinks ahead with these kinds of questions.

Use your Past Experience to Stand Out as a Sitter

pet sitter meeting a pet held by the pet owner — If you spend time early on getting to know the pet you will stand out as sitter who is attentive and caring

Photo credit – Jenny Kaye

You’ll also definitely want to share references from your previous recent house-sitting jobs, as this is the best way to show that you’re reliable and trustworthy. Three references is usually a good number. This is also a good opportunity to ask if the homeowner has any special instructions or concerns, and put their mind at ease if needed. For example, if they’re worried about the garden, you can share a story about how you kept a beautiful garden healthy for weeks while the owners were away. Or, if you’ve handled a home emergency, like a burst pipe, without any problems before, share that story too.

The key when you want to stand out as a sitter who cares and is attentive, is to connect your experience to their concerns, but even if you don’t have the exact relevant experience, you can still reassure them that you’ll handle anything that comes up carefully. This shows you’re proactive and capable, which can help make the homeowner more confident in you.

Final Thoughts on How to Stand Out as a Sitter to Newly Relocated Homeowners

Taking extra care to impress homeowners new to the area can help you stand out as a sitter and so secure more housesits. So, ask them thoughtful and practical questions, and don’t be shy about your past experience. It’s all about giving them confidence in their choice, so they can feel good about picking you for the housesit.