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Post by sel on Aug 3, 2016 6:12:10 GMT
Hi all,
I've been happily hosting for a year now & just received notice that my homeowners are selling this property. Disappointed but on the bright side it gives me an opportunity to travel before I settle down again.
That being said - is there any talk of house sitting here or, if not, suggestions of good services to join? I would consider having a host sit my place and I imagine I'm not the only one here who likes that idea? Especially an experienced host who could potentially keep my Airbnb guest traffic flowing.
Thoughts?
J
Thanks,
Sel
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Post by High Priestess on Aug 3, 2016 9:50:14 GMT
Hi Sel --
That's too bad about the property where you live being sold, but perhaps travel is in the cards for you at this time.
To answer your question -- no, I have not heard of housesitting chat in the host community but I would think it does happen and it's a good idea. When hosts travel, they may still have a guest or guests and need someone to look after their place. I'd guess that hosts seek out a local friend or other host, yet in some locales with many hosts, it would make sense to have a housesitting host business to help other hosts when they are out of town.
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Post by keith on Aug 3, 2016 17:06:41 GMT
I'm just a little confused. Were you a renter who was hosting in the space you were renting and living? and the owners are selling the house and not renewing your lease? Or were you housesitting for homeowners and hosting on their behalf (presumably with some sort of profit sharing arrangement for the guests you were hosting and managing)? There are a few stories related to housesitting and airbnb.. Some good, some bad. I'll start with a fun one that happened here in SF almost a year ago: sfist.com/2015/09/17/sf_couple_leaves_for_burning_man_an.php(for those who don't want to read the article, here's the most fun bits: John and Ed received an email when they were en route to Black Rock City saying, "Thanks for letting us stay in your apartment this weekend!" And when he emailed back saying there must be a mistake, the friend wrote back, "No, it’s definitely your house - your car, your wedding photos, your cats. We found it on Airbnb." Turns out the professional housesitter, whom John and Ed had met with and already used twice before this year, had put the apartment on Airbnb for $2,000 for five days.). The housessiter was hired from: TrustedHousesitters.com My business partner in our STR cleaning/Management services company has done housesitting for a few clients. We have some who don't like leaving guests alone in the house, so when they go out of town they want someone there -- I guess they just don't trust their guests, but this makes little sense to me. It's not because they want someone available to the guests or to interact with them per-se, just so the guests know they're being watched. The disadvantage of this type of housesitting is that it's sporadic and usually short term. In your case you wouldn't have a guaranteed home on some days. YOu also couldn't really 'settle in' as you'd be in space someone else normally occupies. I think you're more looking to live in someones vacation home which normally sits idle and you could turn it into a money making opportunity for the owner. If not, that may be the best niche for you. Keith |
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Post by High Priestess on Aug 3, 2016 17:56:16 GMT
Turns out the professional housesitter, whom John and Ed had met with and already used twice before this year, had put the apartment on Airbnb for $2,000 for five days.). The housessiter was hired from: TrustedHousesitters.com YIKES!!! "Trusted" housesitters indeed!! Might have been better to hire a distrusted housesitter....  |
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