Saving Money on Accommodations
Do you like saving money on accommodations? Do you prefer to stay in local places instead of hotels or Airbnbs? Do you like pets? Are you willing to be flexible on where and when you go? Do you have a home/apartment/RV to swap?
If any of these are a Yes, check out all the info about Home Exchange, People Like Us, Trusted Housesitters and other websites for swapping homes and housesitting!
Our family has completed over 10 petsits (with dogs, cats, chickens and even horses!) and love the option to stay in real homes (for FREE) in exchange for loving on some pets.
We have also used HomeExchange to earn points on our apartment in Sevilla to use to stay in places in northern Spain and along the coast! We have plans to exchange with a family in Naples in 2026 too!
**This site uses affiliate links. Please use them to support us as you may receive a discount and it is of no extra cost to you! Thank you!
Links to Trusted Housesitters and Home Exchange discounts here!
Interested in pet-sitting with Trusted Housesitters?
First, use my referral link to get a discount! Create your profile. Focus on your pet experience! Include photos of you and your family with pets. Get external references from friends/family to start.
Try to do a short local petsit for your first one so you can meet the family ahead of time. Or search for busy times like holidays or summer as lots of pet owners travel then! Choose less competitive places or last minute options too.
Always read every listing and personalize every application to the family, location and pets you are applying to (see the template below). Offer to set up a Zoom call so they can meet you. Have questions ready for them on this call too.
Once you land your first sit, do a great job! Communicate clearly with the homeowners. Send photos of the pets. Do all the expectations and more. Clean up after yourself! Leave a handwritten thank you note for the owners. Promptly request and leave a realistic review.
Sample Letter to Pet Owners:
Hi ‘NAME’ and family,
My family and I would love to take care of PET NAMES in CITY in MONTH! We are a responsible and quiet family of four (DESCRIBE FAMILY)
We have experience with PETS. (RELATE THIS TO THEIR PETS).
We will be in the area DATES and have our own car/can use public transit. (EXPLAIN HOW THIS IS IDEAL FOR THEM).
We understand the importance of following a pet's routine and we are happy to stick to any feeding schedules or special instructions you may have. We also can collect mail, water plants or any other household tasks you’d like.
Our family is neat and respectful, and we would treat your home with the utmost care. Leaving homes cleaner than we found them is an important trait I'm teaching the kids! (YOU CAN ALSO ADD YOUR AIRBNB PROFILE IF YOU HAVE GOOD REVIEWS THERE).
We can set up a Zoom chat this week so you can get to know us and we can answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration!
Sincerely,
YOUR FAMILY
If you have more questions on pet-sitting, let me know! If you have done it before, share with me your favorite sit location!
Interested in Home Exchange?
First, you will need a place of your own to exchange! Use my referral link above to get extra points at sign-up!
Build an appealing listing. Use high-quality photos and describe the best parts of your property (location, amenities, etc). Share who you are and why you love your property! Keep your calendar updated. Put in your wishlist locations so people from there who want to swap can find you! Join the Facebook groups to share your listing and what you’re looking for.
Be flexible and patient. It can take time to find a great home exchange! Sometimes you get lucky! Start searching with plenty of time before your travel. You will most likely have to message a lot of people! If you are searching for major cities and popular times, you may find that they get a lot of requests and might not be open to hosting/exchanging. Look for less popular areas and for open availability.
Always customize your request to the person and their home. You can use the template for THS above and adjust it to your needs. Share more about what you liked about their property! Be open to non-simultaneous swaps or accepting/paying in Guest Points (per Home Exchange).
Set up a video call before swapping. Define expectations on your end and ask what the other family is expecting. Create a home manual (ideally in Google Drive that you can share the link with them) in order to help answer any questions about your place while they’re there. Include Wi-Fi and appliance instructions. When hosting, declutter and clean your place ahead of time. Make them feel welcome!
When you’re a guest, make sure you clean up after yourself, communicate well and leave a realistic review!
If you have more questions on home exchange or house swapping, let me know! If you have done it before, share with me your success stories!