The Internet connection was finicky, just as I was clicking the upload button on a new video I needed to publish, a wet nose nudged my elbow with undeniable urgency. Teddy, the resident Labrador didn't care about social media or quarterly goals; he cared that it was 12:00 PM sharp, and the garden in this 18th-century Italian farmhouse wasn't going to sniff itself.
This wasn't a crowded co-working space with a $30 day pass, and it definitely wasn't a cramped, overpriced Airbnb that cost half my monthly salary. This was our office for the month, rent-free, spacious, and occasionally interrupted by a very good boy.
The Math That Doesn't Add Up (In a Good Way)
If you are working remotely, you have likely stared at your bank statement and realized the painful truth: rent is the enemy of travel. We used to spend about 2500 per month on rent, internet, water, and heating in a static location. That didn't leave much room for adventure.
Honestly, house sitting for digital nomads and remote work go hand in hand. You get a home with internet in some of the most amazing places around the planet, you can stay for months at a time, and you minimize your expenses massively.
Caro and I realized early on that we could pay someone for a rental apartment, or we could live in a new country for months and not pay rent or utilities. It is the biggest win when it comes to nomadic living.
We now only have our phone plans, our T4 campervan, and the road ahead. Yes, we spend a bit more on petrol than we used to, but we are building savings faster than we ever could renting one place.
The "Can I Actually Work?" Checklist
The number one fear for any remote worker looking at house sitting opportunities is the internet connection. A beautiful view of the Swiss Alps is useless if you can't load your email.
We have never needed to use a homeowner's computer, we always bring our laptops, but we have been offered monitors and printers. However, the connection speed is on you to verify before you arrive.
How to verify internet speed without being annoying:
Ask Direct: Explain that you require high-speed internet for your job.
The Ookla Test: Ask the homeowners to run a test using "Ookla internet speed test" and send you a screenshot. This gives you a clear idea of what you will be working with. I doubt anyone would get offended; it shows you are professional.
The Backup Plan: If the internet goes down while you are on a deadline (it happens), call the owners immediately. Ask if this is a common issue. It might turn out the house owners just forgot to pay the bill!
Finding the Right Platform for Long-Term Stays
Not all platforms are created equal for the digital nomad lifestyle. You want platforms that offer stability and long-term options.
Even with recent price changes, we would have to say that Trusted House Sitters is still the number one website for volume and variety. The membership pays for itself in no time, literally one or two nights of not paying for a hotel covers the cost.
However, depending on where you want to go, you should diversify:
USA: If you are asking "What are the best house sitting platforms available in the United States", check out house sitting america.
Australia: For Down Under, Aussie House Sitters is fantastic.
Canada: We recommend House Sitters Canada.
UK: Uk House Sitters is great for specifically targeting that region.
New Zealand: Kiwi House Sitting is the go-to.
We stick to THS mostly because we have referrals, but looking at house sitting sites specific to a country often yields less competition for those coveted 3-to-6-month stays.
Balancing the Hustle with the Hounds
Ask ten house sitters how they balance work and pets, and you'll get ten answers. But the core rule is simple: Plan your day.
You still have a job; you are just in a different home.
Morning: We usually wake up between 7-8 am. Dog walk first, then watch them chow down on breakfast.
Deep Work: While the pets nap in a food coma, we work.
Mid-Day Reset: You have to take into consideration that dogs will likely need a walk halfway through the day. Use this as your lunch break. It clears your head.
Evening: Another walk, dinner for the pets, and cuddles.
If you don't stick to a routine, you might come home to a few "surprises" on the rug. Cats are generally easier for heavy workloads, we had one sit where we just had to feed them 82g of food twice a day and brush their teeth. Even with strict instructions, it left us ample time to focus on our routine.
The Visa Gray Area
This is the question we get asked most often in our DMs at @housesittersguide: How do you handle visas?
Now, we are not lawyers and we don't advise anyone on what to do, but many people on forums and Reddit have mentioned a specific approach regarding house sitting legal issues. When applying for visas or crossing borders, the consensus is to inform the consulate/officer that you are visiting friends.
You should generally not mention that you are "house sitting," as it can be misconstrued as unpaid work, which can violate tourist visa terms. It’s a fine line, but framing it as staying with friends (which, in a way, you are) is the safer route for long-term travel.
Building Your Profile for the Best Sits
To get those dream 3-month stays in a Tuscan villa or a beach house in Sydney, you need a killer House Sitting Profile.
Start Local: If you are new, seek a short house sit nearby. It’s like How Can I Find House Sitting Near Me Using Online Services—it builds your confidence and gets you that first review.
Verified Reviews: As we get more reviews on our profiles through platforms that offer verified reviews for housesitting services, we become desirable for the most incredible homes.
Communication: Over-communicate rather than under-communicate. From the moment we apply, we send a custom message using the pets' names.
Is it Worth It?
We get asked, "Is house sitting worth it"?
For us, absolutely. It allows us to test out countries we might want to move to in the future. It helps us save thousands that would otherwise vanish into landlords' pockets.
Whether you want to do it for free to travel, or you are looking at House Sitting Careers where you charge for your services (in which case, platforms like Rover are better suited), the lifestyle is unbeatable.
We sold most of our stuff, bought a campervan, and now chain sits together like a traveling circus only our circus has better views and unlimited dog cuddles.
How to Get Started in House Sitting isn't a mystery. It's about taking that first step, trusting the process, and maybe buying a good pair of running shoes… just in case the dog gets out.
Konrad and Caro 🐾
Is house sitting a viable alternative to paying rent for full-time digital nomads?
Absolutely. We could pay someone for a rental apartment or we could live in a new country for months and not pay rent or utilities. We could also save money on Airbnb and hotels. It's the biggest win when it comes to nomadic living. The membership pays for itself in no time depending on the house sitting platform you are using.
Which house sitting platforms are best for finding long-term stays in 2026?
I would have to say that Trusted House Sitters is still the no.1 house sitting website. But unfortunately due to their price hike, it might affect the number of house sitters and house owners that will be on the platform. We will still stick to THS and see how it goes for 2026 as we have many referrals.
How do I verify a homeowner's internet speed before accepting a sit?
I think if you explain that you require high speed internet for your work and ask the home owners to test it for you using Ookla internet speed test then you can get a good idea of what you will be working with. I doubt anyone would get offended.
Can I really save enough money house sitting to build significant savings while traveling?
Yes. We used to spend 2500 per month on rent, internet, water, heating etc. Now we only have our phone plans, our T4 van and unlimited road ahead of us. We spend a bit more money on petrol, but we literally end up with minimum expenses. I know of people who spend thousands on rent each month; if they lived in a house sit for 5 months, that could be a few thousand in savings.
How do remote workers balance full-time jobs with pet care responsibilities?
They just have to make sure that they plan their days appropriately. You still have work, just in a different home with pets. Plan your days around work and looking after the pets.
