WITH rent prices skyrocketing, many families are turning to house and pet sitting to save on accommodation.
Mindahome Australia, an online house and pet sitting service lists up to 100 active Logan members, all of whom are saving big money – according to co-founder Sue Coombs.
“This lifestyle allows sitters to stay rent free,” she said.
“Some sitters have saved over $10,000 in rent in a year by house and pet sitting.”
The site asks members for a small annual fee, but most of the sitting involves no costs, Ms Coombs said.
Online, homeowners list the length of the stay, what’s involved for caring for the home and garden, and the pets’ needs.
For home and pet owners, Mrs Coombs said one of the most significant benefits is the savings in pet boarding fees.
“Boarding can be quite expensive, and some pets don’t like being in unfamiliar environments, so it could be detrimental to their wellbeing,” she said.
Mrs Coombs said sitting is also a great way travel with little to no costs involved.
“Sitters can live like a local to really become immersed in the destination, and with no accommodation costs, it leaves travellers with more money to spend on sightseeing and attractions,” she said.
A couple who has done just that, Gina Brown and her husband Chris Adam have been minding homes and pets for just over two years.
“We went travelling around Australia in our motorhome for two years and decided to park up and look after a few homes while we were in those areas,” Mrs Brown said.
“It really grounded us and brought us back to a bit of normality being on the road for so long.
“It was nice to be able to stay in a home and to cook proper meals and have people over to socialise and because we couldn’t take our animals travelling, we also got our animal fix.”
Yes, they certainly did.
“We’ve had to look after dogs, cats, fish, chickens, cows and sheep,” Mrs Brown said.
The couple, who sit in the Logan and Redlands area, have been to many different places on their sitting journey including parts of Tasmania, Mollymook and Gosford in New South Wales, Canberra, and Hervey Bay.
“When we stayed in Mollymook the home had a beautiful deck out front and back overlooking the ocean, it was a beautiful place,” Mrs Brown said.
“You’re not paying for the accommodation, and you get to choose where you want to go and sit, so it really is a great way to travel for free.
“I like to do my bit though and make sure I clean the home from top to bottom, we’ve even built a veggie patch for one family and make sure we care for the home as if it was ours.”
Mrs Brown said they’ve remained friends with many of the homeowners they’ve sat for and have returned to sit again multiple times.
Willing to share homes for a holiday
