Not sure where this should actually be posted but I am looking for house sitter for our property at Rutherglen in North East Victoria from late May until September 1

We are on two acres of land on the edge of town. Person we are looking for will be required to look after one cat and depending on the weather may be required to mow the grass.

House sitter can reside in their van providing they are not using an electric blower heater or can move into the house

I can be contacted on 0467 159 388 for further information.

Ray Miller

>House sitter can reside in their van providing they are not using an electric blower heater or can move into the house

I haven't done any house sitting but am considering it. However I get very twitchy when I see requirements such as the above, to me, rightly or wrongly, they suggest an owner who is... how can I put this... mean.

You'll be away for about 14 weeks: if the house sitter used a 1kW fan heater for eight hours *every* day of your absence it would add around $157 to your electricity bill for that period and, given you won't be there and he's in his van, your house won't be using much anyway so your bill will almost certainly be less than normal. In any event contrast $157 with the cost of your 14 week sojourn and I suspect it will be a drop in the ocean. Probably better to have a happy and contented (and warm) house sitter than someone who feels hard done by?

I have seen problems with those electric blower heater and do not like their use. My house is equipped with a perfectly good gas heater which I am quite for any house sitter to use as they have done in the past.

Ray

Hi ray and a very warm welcome. Do not want to apply just wanted to say hello n say a bit.  I have done housesitting so a little experienced. As this sit is in winter and in victoria, i suspect it would be very cold and anyone staying at your property,  be it in the house or their caravan,  you would think, would require heating of some sort. we live in our caravan and have a reverse cycle airconditioner heater On the roof. a lot of caravans have them And everyone we know who lives in their caravan only do sits where they stay in their caravan.
in the past i was asked to housesit in north queensland in summer and was asked about my caravan airconditioner because electricity is expensive. needing to  feed 3 horses, chickens, cows in the top pasture, ute provided to carry 100 kg bales to them daily, turning water taps on n off daily in the paddocks, poddies in the lower pasture, 2 dogs and to sprinkle the house yard starting at 3pm moving the sprinkler every 15 minutes And maintaining the vegie garden. Owners complained about the previous housesitter saying she fed the chickens too much feed and said chicken feed is expensive. I said no to this sit as they really needed to pay a manager but mostly annoyed they did not want us to use the air conditioner in the middle of summer.

anyway, i wish you luck in finding someone.

-- Edited by the rocket on Sunday 9th of February 2020 10:19:32 PM

Black Dog wrote:

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Thanks The Rocket.
It can be fairly cool here in Rutherglen over winter that is why we prefer house sitters to stay in the house where their is good gas heating. For some reason or another some people like to stay in their vans.

Ray

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 Hi blackdog,

they like to stay in their caravans because it is most likely their home. They, like you, are happier in their own bed. Thus  keeping your home as you left it. But each to their own. Hope you find someone.

Black Dog

There is a section under the Grey Nomads banner called "Classifieds" and the appropriate posting for "House sitters Wanted".

Also sites such as aussie house sitters and others.

We are seasoned sitters having chalked up 6 years being on the road and sitting mostly small acreages etc.

You must remember that there has to be 'something' in it for both parties.

The need or purpose to be looking after a cat for 3 months probably masks the real purpose of having someone there securing the property understanding the time period.

We do Oxley near Wangaratta in winter and the home owners get a load of fire wood in and we run the chuffer 24/7 due to the coldness of the area and it is just across from Rutherglen.

JohnR

Hi John R

Found the Classifieds section and House Sitters Wanted area. How do I actually put my request into this section. I could not find a link to input my information.

Ray

Grey Nomad Times:

thetimes@thegreynomads.com.au

Tell them you have a need to post under the heading "Classifieds" for House sitters Wanted????????????

John R

Hi John R

Thank you I have found the link.

You have been the most helpful so far

Ray

there are two sites I use aussie hous sitters and mindahome both have a large membership just place an add stating what you have and require to be done and you get replies you can then pick the one you think is right

-- Edited by hagar on Monday 10th of February 2020 01:52:05 PM

Black Dog wrote:

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You have been the most helpful so far

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Oh dear... don't like constructive criticism eh? :)

14 weeks x 7 days x 8 hours x 1kW = 784 kWh

784 x $0.20 = $156.80

To calculate $220 you would need to price electricity at $0.28. I no
longer have a home (or electricity bills) but my son in Melbourne is
currently paying $0.18 per kWh.

In any event you are hair splitting: compared to the cost of a 14
week holiday whether that power cost is $157 or $220 is neither here
nor there.

Just ignore the sideshow  Ray, most questions on here get derailed by the brains trust.

Hi all,
Just a quick note regarding 'housesitters wanted' and 'housesitters available' threads on the forum. Instead of posting these requests here, I would encourage you to send me an email with the details (editorial@thegreynomads.com.au) and I can place the listings on the classified section of our website. We have created the housesitting section of our website as a free service to help nomads and people in need of nomads to find each other so there is no charge for advertising on it.
If anyone is keen to post a listing in ‘housesitters wanted’, we just need a short paragraph detailing the general area your place is located, whether any tasks are involved in the position such as care of animals, mowing, etc., the dates you require people and contact details for people who'd like to apply. If you are looking to advertise your availability in our ‘housesitters available’ section, we just need a short paragraph detailing a little about yourself, the general area you'd like to housesit, the dates you are available and contact details. In both cases, I will post the listing online for you.