House sitting WRONG OR GOOD?

I’m not going to tell you if House sitting is good or bad I’m just telling what it is and maybe it’s something for you

I signed up at some website named http://clickmeterlink.com/8kps
made an offer out on the website completely free
that I’m looking for a "House sitting person", when someone contacted me and I spook her on the phone. I send some contracts with al the information about the house and the garden, some things needed done when I was away. When I came back from our holiday she did everything I asked her to do. First time I was a bit scary al my money was in that house, but the second time we went away I wanted some in my house looking at me house

Hope you learn something
House sitting is the practice whereby a landlord (or "homeowner"), leaving their house for a period of time, entrusts it to one or more "house sitters", who by a mutual agreement are entitled to live there rent-free in exchange for assuming responsibilities such as taking care of the homeowner's pets, performing general maintenance, keeping trespassers off the property, readdressing the mail, and in general, making sure that everything runs smoothly just as if the owner was at home.
Why have your house sat?
• An occupied home deters crime. So much so, some insurance companies will void your policy if the house is left vacant for more than 30 days without prior arrangement.
• You have living things. Pets and plants need food and water when you’re not around, and it can be very expensive using kennels, often costing in excess of $60 per day.
• The house needs maintaining. Mowing lawns, pool cleaning and collecting the mail are all things a house sitter can assist with.

Why do people register to housesit?
People search for house sitting situations for many different reasons. The reasons might be financial or similar to why a homeowner may be leaving their homes.
Will house sitting affect my homeowners insurance?
We encourage you to consult your insurance agent to discuss your policy coverage. Most agencies will agree that your home is more secure when it is occupied rather than empty. You should review and update your list of contents covered and remain current on your insurance premiums.
Unless you learn otherwise, explain to your housesitter that your insurance does not protect their personal belongings. They should arrange for their own coverage during their stay at your home.
Should I require a bond or security deposit from my house sitter?
The homeowner may at their discretion, ask for a deposit equivalent to the amount you would collect as two weeks rent. This bond may be lodged with an independent party along with your written contract. An attorney or solicitor can help you with this procedure.
Many housesitters who have a proven level of maturity and responsibility believe that the payment of a bond is unnecessary. Each case is different and this should be addressed between each homeowner and housesitter.

As the homeowner, you should carefully consider your personal requirements and expectations. It is your responsibility to clearly explain your criteria to potential house sitters and agree to the terms in a written contract.Every situation is unique; however, we have included the accepted standards of a general contract for your review. You can add and remove points to fit your situation.
The homeowner expects the house sitter to]

1. Accept total responsibility of caring for your home, pets, yard, gardens, and pool areas.
2. Maintain a standard of care for your home and pets equivalent to and no less than your own.
3. Take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and security of your home and contents at all times.
4. If agreed on - (see Who Pays the bills?): Pay all utility charges incurred during their occupation of your home.
   Tasks usually performed during a house sitting stay
   • Gardening
   • Lawn mowing
   • Garbage disposal
   • Pool maintenance
   • Readdressing mail
   • Forwarding faxes or important documents
   • Pet care
   o Regular walking
   o Feeding
   o Vet visite and necessary medications

Who pays the bills during housesitting?

This is negotiable between Homeowner and House sitter depending on the case and circumstances.
When appropriate the house sitter may pay for some limited utilities (electricity, gas, phone calls/not phone rental) that they use during their stay. This usually applies for long term housesits, without pet care. The house sitter should always be responsible for their own personal phone calls. In countries such as Canada where heating bills can be very high, this needs to be negotiated between the sitter and homeowner. If the sitter is caring for pets and the heating is therefore also for the comfort of the pets a fair arrangement should be made. If there are a lot of extra duties with the housesit, and for short term sits, it may be fairer for the homeowner to cover the utilities. Also even for long term sits, the house also needs to be heated so that the pipes won't freeze - so a shared arrangement should be considered even for long term sits. I am including below a comment from some Canadian house sitters.
The posters are definitely calling their charges utilities, not rent. However, if the posters couldn't find a housesitter, they would have to pay someone to remove snow from their sidewalk, rake leaves or water plants; or put some effort into what's called "winterizing" your home if you want to shut it down for the winter. And finding a short term renter through traditional means is difficult, so they use your site to do it. In some ways a housesitter is doing them a favour: they want their house occupied while they're away, yet they want to charge for it. I live on the southwest coast, so can't say what heating costs are in colder areas, but $800 for all utilities is absurd, particularly in this Alberta case where they're called fees - a fee a Canadian condo owner has to pay monthly regardless of occupancy. The house also needs to be heated so that the pipes won't freeze.
Other recurring bills
... such as phone rental, rates, condo association fees, body corporate fees, strata fees, local council rates, water, sewer, cable TV rental, security services, ISP rental, or property taxes usually remain the responsibility of the owner. If your arrangement will be 12 months or more in duration, you might consider allocating all or a portion of the recurring bills to the house sitter. There appears to be a practive in Canada where homeowners are asking up to 800 a month for utiliites. This is not in the spirit of housesitting, particularily when considering the benefits a house sitter brings - and the alternate high cost of leaving a vacant home eg costs of winterizing a home.

Your contract should include the terms and conditions under which a sitter may occupy your home. A solicitor or attorney can help you arrange this or you can use our free House sitting Agreement and customize it with your requirements. Theis can be downloaded from your Members area, Support section
Your contract should include specific detailed instructions for the task list you prepared for your interview.
• Instructions for lawn and garden care and the equipment used for these purposes.
• Instructions for houseplant care, fertilizer, watering schedule, etc.
• Instructions for pet care, feeding times, exercise schedule, vet visits, medication dosing.
• Instructions for pool maintenance, reading chemical levels, etc.
• Instructions for mail collecting, handling, and forwarding.
• Guidelines for visitors, reporting damages and emergencies.
To minimize the risk of miscommunication, you might schedule a meeting to provide your sitter with hands-on training and demonstrations to guarantee a complete understanding of your requirements.
Your contract should specify your utility billing arrangement, if applicable - see "Who Pays the Bills"
There are several options available including:

1. Take a water/gas/electricity meter reading just before you depart and upon your return.
2. The sitter pays all bills from the date of their occupation.
3. When you return, you can pay back the difference for the percentage you used.
4. OR
5. Arrange to continue paying the bills yourself by direct debit, a friend, or a family member.
6. The sitter reimburses you for their portion when you return. Your security deposit or bond can be used as reimbursement protection.
7. OR
8. For longer housesits, you can disconnect the utilities under your name.
9. The sitter reconnects the utilities in their name and is responsible for remitting payments.
   In addition to securing a written agreement, you need to arrange for a bond to be held by an independent party. Again your attorney, or solicitor can help you with this procedure or you can use our free Bond Lodgement and Claim Forms.