Haussitting - a new way to relax and travel

What is haussitting

Generally, haussitting - part of what is called the sharing economy. It is very young and still a successful market model, in which people do not just want something to possess, but also to share their property or their skills and talents. According to this model, there are entire industries, where it is possible a complete lack of monetization. After we get any service, not for money, but not for free service is offered in exchange for a service. It is based on this success haussittinga.

Rules, at first glance, is simple: the owner invites you to look after his house in his absence, for which he provides you with accommodation in this house free.

Classic haussitting - is to take care of the property, from which the owners had left for a long time, for example in the summer.

But what really helped haussittingu grow into a separate branch - is care of pets and plants, which can not be followed for the owners and remain in the house or so.

The service was at haussitterov extremely popular and takes on different, sometimes unusual shape: the care for vineyards and orchard on the territory of the house; care for exotic animals and birds, not to mention the ducks, rabbits and horses; offers not only look after the house, but also to fix something there, and so on.

As a phenomenon haussitting originated in English-speaking countries, and by far the most developed in Australia, UK, USA. The fact is important, since a prerequisite for ownership remains haussittera languagesAt least in English.

How it works

On the Internet there are many sites where you can find out who and on what conditions offers to look after their villas, farms and apartments (the most famous sites will be discussed below).

View vacancies open to all, but in contact with the owners can only registered members. the passage of a registration system in all sites are different. Where it is stricter and higher trust of the owners, which means that you will find it more interesting ads.

To register for the popular sites haussitter usually provides a site moderator in the form of scans of the following information:

• identification;
• driver's license;
• telephone bill or electricity (to confirm the place of residence);
• information on bank account (at the time of payment of membership).

Sometimes owners ask a police clearance certificate. All this, of course, guarantee the trustworthiness and integrity of future haussittera.

Usually, when a potential haussitter answers he liked ads, the answer comes by internal mail to the owner of the house site. Then compares the final summaries and ratings of the candidates to choose the best and get in touch with him.

From that moment haussitter and homeowner are free to communicate with each other and they want to discuss with the help of a variety of means of communication details and conditions of the upcoming haussittinga.

Conditions can be many, especially if you want to care for the animals.

Generally, the owner is always responsible haussitteru leave detailed instructions for home, contact veterinarians, medical cards of animals, the list of the nearest shops, transport scheme - in short, all useful information. Also offer a contract to guarantee the rights and obligations of both sides.

Haussitter arrives at the destination, receiving the keys from the owner and the final instruction, met with the students and remain in the house of the chief. As we have said, haussittinga period varies from 2-3 days off to 4-6 months. Typically, the owners are asked to regularly inform them by email or phone, how things are going. For many, the norm - one email per week, but there are also those farmers who communicate with their cats and dogs every day.

When the owner returns home haussitter passes him the keys and say goodbye to the little animals. A subsequent review of the master haussittere usually appears online and is becoming an important item in the summary haussittera. With this system, user reviews and recommendations of community members with great confidence to communicate with each other and can choose candidates faster.

Costs

Whatever the site to get access to its base of ads and contact the owners of the houses, you have to register it and pay an initial membership fee for use of the site.

Timing and amount vary from 25 euros per quarter to 150 euros per year.

If you pay, say, 100 euros for an annual membership and dedicate haussittingu one month, you'll have a separate house worth about 3.5 euros per day. Of course, there is no hostel, no cheap hostel will not be able to offer you a price for such conditions.

In this case, better to soberly aware that, as with any journey, the expenses will still be: on the road, for the purchase of food and, if a long stay, electricity and water. The last point is discussed separately between the owner and haussitterom, but as a rule, responsible haussitter offers to pay part of their own.

Where to look

TrustedHousesitters.com

Membership fee: 95 euros per year.

The largest site - TrustedHousesitters.com. This is a British startup that appeared in 2010 and quickly left the industry leaders: on it every month there are more 1500 proposals from 130 countries.

Beautiful design, user-friendly interface, the ability to quickly and correctly set up your page: the presentation of the house (for the owners) or resume (for haussitterov). What is important, in the same account, a person may offer haussittinga services and advertise on your home. It is easy to trace the popularity and relevance of each ad (visitors see how haussitterov sued him apply). The site regularly sending new proposals and convenient personal cabinet.

TrustedHousesitters.com →

HouseCarers

Membership fee: 45 euros per year.

A site with a solid reputation, which in 2000 the owners of the trust of many countries (especially in Australia and New Zealand, where it was developed). Clear and approval of many travelers' bloggers: the cost of the membership is small, but the quality of the presented options is very high. HouseCarers base has more than 1,000 locations worldwide, and is an active growth of 300 ads per month.

HouseCarers →

MindMyHouse

Membership fee: 20 euros per year.

Bit primitive design, and personal cabinet leaves much to be desired. But there are some really interesting proposals. The growth - about 100 new ads a month. Since the base at MindMyHouse small (about 270 ad), and the competition between haussitterami below. Another plus: a very cheap membership to haussitterov, and for owners of registration is free.

MindMyHouse →

Nomador

Membership fee: 89 euros per year.

Work Site language - English, but a French start-up, and aimed it at the French-speaking audience: most of its ads for France or Francophone owners worldwide. It opened recently, but quite successfully compete with more experienced players. It has easy navigation, and that makes the search particularly enjoyable, the successful use of infographics: with icons shows the size and type of house, for what kind of animals will need to take care of what the infrastructure around the house and so Further.

Nomador →

There are other sites, so to say, national, who specialize in any particular region or country, as well as just enjoy the confidence of its citizens (who may have property in different countries the world). All impossible to list, but here are a few that are worth a look:

• USA:Luxury housesitting, housesitters America.
• Great Britain:Mindahome, housesitters UK, Housesitters.
• Australia:kiwi housesitters.

Pros and cons

Per

With an argument for seemingly everything is clear. House where there is a soul, does not compare with any luxury hotels, packet tours and hotels on the waterfront. Catching haussittingom, you get a unique chance to get acquainted with local customs and people. Haussitting often marks the beginning of a beautiful friendship, people converge closer and begin to make friends houses.

It's also a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the language and in the life of another country, and not as a tourist but as a researcher - slowly, carefully and with pleasure. In addition, most of the house you are animals that makes the rest of any self-respecting haussittera truly complete.

Against

Logistics

Lovely house with a garden in which you want to spend two months, it may be a good distance from the supermarket, shops and a bakery. And without the owner claims it is clear that for a normal life in this house, you should be able to drive a car and maybe even come to her.

Next, the owners, of course, they want to spend with you for some time prior to their departure to explain everything and show. So, chances are that you have to come the day before (if they are going to leave the house early in the morning, going to plane). But not always, the hosts will offer to spend the night with them, and in this case it will be necessary to take care of the hotel. The same, if the owners come home late, but they want you to be with the animals until their arrival.

duration

Most often, this is a seasonal child care home for the long term. The exception will be only metropolis where haussitterov services are used most often, but not for long. In theory, live in the summer in a small house by the sea the dream of many, but the few lucky ones have the opportunity to organize this. Own home, work, family, hobbies - think, if in your case haussitting easily and painlessly add to the list, you sure are ready for it.

Insurance

In general, insurers welcome haussitting: statistics show that fires, robbery, infrastructure problems at home are less frequent if there is always someone lives. But when you were going to do haussittingom abroad, ask the owner if it supports this option property insurance. If local haussittera this is no problem (usually local insurance companies are going to meet each other), the alien must be protected by the host insurance.

Planning

Haussitting - this is not the rental of property and hotel booking. It is impossible to click his fingers and make a decision at the last minute. To find and have a unique holiday, haussitter ready to monitor websites, communicate with people who are interviewed. In addition, the demand exceeds supply, the human factor is unpredictable and it is unknown at this time will choose you or the other.

Need or great fortune to become haussitterom it there and then, when you wanted to, or the ability to respond flexibly to any bid that you're interested. But if you knew that from the start and get ready for haussittingu responsibly, then disappointment will not.