I still remember staring at the checkout screen, my mouse hovering over the "Pay Now" button. It was late at night, and Caro and I were trying to figure out how to make our dream of long-term travel a reality without burning through our savings in three months. The membership fee for a house sitting platform felt like a big chunk of change upfront.
Was it actually worth it? Would we even get picked?
Fast forward to today, writing this from a sun-drenched beach side apartment in Bari with 2 cats, and I can tell you: taking that leap was the best financial decision we ever made.
If you are currently sitting on that same fence, wondering if you should commit, we want to help nudge you over, and save you some money in the process. We know that every dollar counts when you are planning an adventure.
The Short Version: Here is Your 25% Off
Let’s not bury the lead. You are here because you want to save money on the membership.
If you use our link, you get a 25% discount applied automatically at checkout.
Click here to grab your 25% discount on Trusted House Sitters
Why are we sharing this? Full transparency: when you use our code to get your discount, Caro and I get two free months added to our own membership. It’s a win-win. You save cash, and we get to stay on the road longer, creating more guides and answering your questions.
Is the Membership Fee Actually Worth It?
When we first looked at the price, we had "sticker shock." But then we did the math. The cost of a full year's membership is roughly equivalent to one or two nights in a decent hotel.
Think about that. If you secure just one weekend sit, the membership has paid for itself. Everything after that is pure profit in the form of saved rent.
In our first year, we stayed in homes that would list for $300 to $600 a night on Airbnb. We’ve stayed in a four-story home in Switzerland, a beach house in Australia, and a cozy apartment in Germany. If you are wondering is house sitting worth it, the answer from our bank account is a resounding "yes."
Breaking Down the "Break Even" Point
A common question we get is how long it takes to recoup the investment. It really depends on where you are traveling.
If you are looking at house sitting opportunities in major cities like London, New York, or Sydney, you might break even after a single night. In more rural areas, it might take a three-day long weekend.
Compare this to other travel costs. We used to spend a fortune on accommodation. Now, our biggest expense is usually just the travel to get to the sit. Even when we consider who pays for travel to a house sit (spoiler: it’s usually you), the math is overwhelmingly in your favor compared to traditional tourism.
The Black Friday Dilemma: Should You Wait?
We often get asked if it’s better to wait for Black Friday to get a potential 30% discount rather than the standard 25% we offer.
Here is my honest take: It’s a gamble.
If it is November 20th, sure, wait a few days. But if it is July? The 5% difference amounts to the price of a sandwich and a coffee. By waiting, you are missing out on months of potential sits.
The best sits often get booked months in advance. While you are waiting to save an extra $10, someone else is securing that dream villa in Tuscany for the summer. If you are serious about finding house sitting jobs (even though they are unpaid exchanges), timing is everything. The sooner you are on the platform building your profile, the better.
How to Make the Most of Your Membership
Once you have used the discount code and signed up, the real work begins. Paying the fee gets you in the door, but it doesn't guarantee you a sit. You need to stand out.
1. Build a Stellar Profile
Your profile is your resume. It needs to scream "trustworthy." We see so many people put up one blurry photo and two sentences about liking dogs. That won’t cut it.
You need to showcase your personality. Are you neat? Do you love hiking with dogs? Do you work remotely? We have a detailed guide on creating a killer house sitting profile that helps you convert applications into interviews.
2. Verified Reviews are Gold
The currency of the house sitting world isn't money; it's trust. The platform relies heavily on reviews. When you are new, this is the hardest hurdle.
We recommend looking for short, local sits to start. Check for house sitting near me using online services to find weekend gigs nearby. This builds your review count quickly without the commitment of a flight. Once you have 3-5 five-star reviews, the world opens up.
3. Communicate Like a Pro
I cannot stress this enough: over-communicate. From the moment you apply, you should be professional and warm. When we apply, we send a custom message referencing the pet's name and specific details from the listing.
If you are worried about the interview process, or what to ask a homeowner before you house sit, remember that they are just as nervous as you are. They are handing over their most prized possessions (their pets and home) to a stranger.
What If I Need Help?
This is where Caro and I try to be different. We aren't just a faceless blog throwing links at you. We are real people living this lifestyle right now.
In the world of AI, I (Konrad) am actually the one chatting via the chat option in the bottom right corner of our website. I really am here to assist you. If you send me an email, you get a response from me.
We want this website to be the ultimate encyclopedia for house sitting. Whether you are confused about house sitting legal issues regarding visas, or you are trying to figure out house sitting for cats versus dogs, we are building the resources to help you.
Why We Chose Trusted House Sitters
We have tried several platforms, and while there are great regional options like Aussie House Sitters for Australia or specific house sitting websites in the UK, Trusted House Sitters remains our go-to for international travel.
The sheer volume of sits is unmatched. Whether we are looking for long term house sitting to hunker down for a month and work, or a quick city break, THS usually has the most options.
Plus, the cover plan tiers offer peace of mind. We always worry about house sitting safety and liability, and having that built-in protection is an added relief when you are staying in a stranger's home.
A Note on "Free" Travel
It is important to have the right mindset. While we call it "free accommodation," it is an exchange of value. You are providing pet care and home security.
There is a big difference between pet boarding vs house sitting. In boarding, the owner pays cash. In house sitting, they pay with their home. You need to take the responsibility seriously. If you treat it purely as a free hotel and ignore the pets, you will get a bad review, and your journey will end pretty quickly.
However, if you love animals, it doesn't feel like work. Cuddling a cat while watching Netflix or taking a dog for a walk in the Swiss Alps? That’s a pretty sweet deal.
Ready to Join the Community?
If you are on the fence about purchasing a membership and the code is enough of an incentive to get it, then I would be more than grateful if you grabbed one from here.
Get your 25% Discount Code Here
It helps us keep the camper van rolling and the advice coming.
We know it can be intimidating to start. You might worry about what are red flags in a pet sitter that owners look for, or how to handle house sitting with children if you travel as a family. But trust us, once you complete that first sit and wake up in a beautiful home with a happy pet, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
Good luck with your applications! If you join, make sure to subscribe to our upcoming newsletter where we send guides on how to make the most of your travels.
Caro & Konrad 🐾🚐
DM us @housesittersguide if you have questions — we answer everyone!
How exactly do I apply the discount code during the checkout process to ensure the 25% reduction is correctly deducted?
It is very simple—if you sign up using the link provided in this article, the 25% discount is automatically applied to your final price at checkout. You don't need to copy-paste a specific text code.
Based on your experience, how many nights of house sitting does it typically take to break even on the membership cost after using this discount?
It depends heavily on the location. For high-end homes, like a 4-bedroom villa in Switzerland we stayed in that rents for $650/night, you save the membership cost in just one night. For standard stays, it usually takes about 3 nights to break even compared to hotel prices. Plus, you get a full kitchen and laundry, saving you even more on food and services.
Does the homeowner pay for the house sitter on Trusted House Sitters?
No, Trusted House Sitters operates on a trust-based exchange. The annual membership fee is the only cost for both parties. No money is exchanged for the sit itself, which keeps the focus on the mutual benefit of pet care for a free place to stay. You can learn more about the average pay for house sitters on other platforms in our guide.
Is the insurance included with a Trusted House Sitters membership enough?
For Standard and Premium accounts there is included Home & Contents Protection covers property damage, theft, and sitter liability, for house owners and for house sitters you receive accident and third party liability insurance, which is a fantastic safety net.
However, it does not cover your personal travel or medical emergencies. We always recommend sitters carry their own comprehensive travel insurance as well. We cover this topic in our Insurance Coverage with House Sitters article.How quickly can I get a house sit after joining with the discount?
It varies depending on your profile's quality, your flexibility, and how many sits you apply for. With a well-crafted House Sitting Profile highlighting your experience and reliability, some sitters land their first sit within a few days or weeks of joining.
