"House sitting is a cost-effective and rewarding way to travel the world; it allows you to live a slice of local life, and enjoy the comforts of home a somebody else's home, that is. Here are 14 experience-based tips to help you find a house-sitting sit, do a good job, and enjoy it."

LANDING A HOUSE SIT

Before you get in the proverbial door, you've got to land a house sit first. Here are some tips:

Create an Awesome Profile

Fill out your profile as fully as possible including pictures, references, and a description of who you are and why you're an amazing house-sitter. Consider this your house-sitting resume. Some homeowners don't list their property at all, instead choosing to search for and hand-pick their house-sitters. With a complete profile, you'll increase the chances of not only gaining the interest of homeowners you contact, but you'll also catch the eye of homeowners trolling for candidates.

Create Email Alerts

Adjust your profile settings so you get email alerts when house-sitting listings in regions you're interested in are posted. This is the quickest way to be notified of new sits.

Respond Quickly

Receiving email alerts is important, because within 24 hours of creating a listing, most homeowners are overrun with hundreds of applicants. If you're not in the first dozen or two people to respond, you'll probably get lost in the shuffle.

Cast a Wide Net

Since most homeowners get hundreds of applicants, you're not always going to be the best one for the job. Even with years of experience, I still only get about one response for every 5-10 applications, and some of those responses are just courtesy messages saying the position has been filled.

Read Listings Carefully

Although it pays to cast the net wide, don't bother applying for sits that you're not qualified for. For example, if you're travelling solo, don't apply for positions that call for couples; it's a waste of time (and occasionally insulting) to the homeowner to challenge their stated requirements.

A homeowner's listing will give you lots of information about the type of house sitter they require. If you think you're the perfect sitter for them - go for it!

Focus on why the Homeowner Wants You, Not Vice Versa

When responding to the homeowner listing, show them you've paid close attention to their needs. If they have pets, emphasise your love of and experience with similar animals and why you're a perfect caretaker. Don't tell the homeowner why you want the sit tell them why they want you.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Once you're piqued the homeowners' interest, here's how to keep the good karma flowing:

Schedule a Skype Call

A face-to-face conversation puts everybody at greater ease with the inherent mutual leap of faith that comes with with house-sitting.

Ensure Everybody's on the Same Page With an Agreement/Reference Document

TrustedHousesitters.com has a house sitting agreement form that covers all the bases a and more. Among other things it requires the homeowner to provide contact names and numbers for contingencies from plumbing problems to veterinary issues. It also puts the homeowner at ease by allowing them to set terms and conditions in case there are damages.

Be Clear About Expectations

Ask the homeowner exactly what they need and expect from you. Likewise, if you have certain needs or expectations from the sit, get those out in the open.

BEING A GOOD HOUSE-SITTER

You got the sit! Here's how to make the most of it:

Take Pictures When You Arrive

This isn't for posterity; it's so you can return everything to its original place should you end moving things around or if anything is disturbed.

Replace Anything You Use

Most homeowners will tell you what you can and can't use in the house when it comes to consumables. Regardless, make a note of the perishables they have in their kitchen and ensure that when they return a new stock awaits them.

Keep the Homeowner in the Loop

There is a fine line between too much information and not enough. If there are pets, take some pictures to show the homeowner how happy they are (and how much you're enjoying their company). If anything noteworthy happens, keep the homeowner apprised.

Prepare a Welcome Home Meal

Although this is a touch beyond the call of duty, it goes a long way to have food ready after the homeowners' long journey home.

Get a Reference When the sit is Complete

Don't forget to ask for a reference! TrustedHousesitters.com makes it easy to request and post references on your profile. Also, get the reference in letter form so you can use it for other applications."

Thanks Nora - fantastic advice! Read Nora's travel advice with her indispensable book for travellers How to Get Free Accommodation Around The World