House Sitting For Snowbirds – A Guide for Winter Home Care

Picture this: a cozy winter home nestled in a snowy winter wonderland, a warm fireplace, and the chance to explore new places while taking care of adorable pets. Sounds like a dream come true, right?

If you are looking for some house sitting during winter, this guide is for you. It’s time to explore the world of house sitting for snowbirds – a hidden world of free rent, winter adventures and a great lifestyle.

We discovered house sitting over a year ago and our lives have never been the same. So, why not give it a shot?

Short Summary

• Snowbirds hire house sitters to look after their homes and pets while they are away in winter
• House sitting during winter is a great way o explore new destinations, save money & have new adventures.
• Find out the A-Z of winter house sitting

Understanding Snowbirds and Their House Sitting Needs

If you have never done any house sitting and have no clue what a “snowbird” is, then you are not alone. Before we got into house sitting we figured a snowbird was a rare bird found somewhere in the Himalaya!

What Is A SnowBird?

Snowbirds are people who migrate to warmer climates during winter. They leave their homes and pets behind so they need someone like you to care for them

House sitters like us typically look after their house and pets while the snowbirds are away. That way their home remains in good condition with the garden taken care of as well. The pets are cared for like they are our own too.

Because there is a lot of responsibility involved, snowbirds often hire professional home watch services. These tend to be people they know like neighbors or family members. However, in some cases, it’s just not possible, so they need us to help them instead.

The Benefits of House Sitting for Snowbirds

Of course, snowbird house sitting is a little different because the location you are in will be cold and snowy! So, it is something people do if they love things like skiing, snow shoeing, winter hiking or just having that cosy winter experience we all see in the movies!

House sitting for snowbirds offers a lot of unique benefits like:

• the opportunity to experience new locations
• saving on accommodation costs
• learning new skills or doing new activities
• meeting new friends and pets

Imagine living the dream of spending winter in Canada. Learning to ski, seeing wild animals, and maybe, just maybe even seeing the northern lights! We have managed to do that in the Yukon and it is a once in a lifetime experience!

Top Destinations for Snowbird House Sitting Opportunities

So, what kinds of places could you end up snowbird house sitting?

Popular destinations for snowbird house sitting include

• Canada
• Northern United States
• New Zealand
• Switzerland
• Japan

Many people living in these countries hate the winter and take every opportunity to get away to warmer climes during the winter months. So, their loss is your gain. If you love the winter! I wish I had known about this when I was a ski bum all those years ago.

Head over to New Zealand’s south island or the deep powder in Japan, and discover the amazing skiing in the Southern Hemisphere.

Or just spend a white Christmas in Canada for a few weeks. The location and duration is something you can decide upon.

How to Find Snowbird House Sitting Jobs

No, those snowbird house sitting jobs won’t fall in your lap. You are going to have to do a little bit of legwork to find that dream house sit.

You’ll need to

• sign up for a few of the house sitting platforms
• create a strong profile showcasing your skills and experience
• start applying for house sitting jobs that appeal to you

In the following subsections, we’ll delve into each of these strategies and provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to land your dream snowbird house sitting gig.

Websites and Platforms

Depending on where you want to house sit for these snowbirds you should sign up to different platforms. 

Websites and platforms such as Trusted Housesitters are great for a worldwide and actually have some of the best houses I have ever stayed in.

House Sitters America and HouseCarers are great for the USA and Canada.

Sites like Nomador offer lots of options in Europe. And Kiwi House Sitters is the best for New Zealand.

By creating an account on these platforms and browsing the available house sitting jobs, you can discover a variety of opportunities that suit your preferences and schedule. Don’t forget to set up email alerts to stay updated on the latest house sitting listings and increase your chances of securing the perfect snowbird house sitting job.

Create An Amazing Profile

Just like when you apply for a job, a strong profile is the key to getting house sitting gigs with snowbirds. It’s a little like LinkedIn because it showcases the best of the best when ti comes to your experience, skills, and reliability.

Imagine, someone is giving you their house and even more importantly, their pets. So, they are looking for someone with experience and someone they can trust. Especially when you will be house sitting for a long time over the winter.

To create an amazing profile, add an attention-grabbing headline, and include any relevant details about your experience with houses and pets. When we started out we did not have specific house sitting experience, but we did have experience caring for friends pets and looking after our our home for 10 years. These are the kinds of things that count.

Mention any special skills or qualifications, especially around the things snowbirds care about. You will be in their house in winter, so are you prepared to shovel snow? Sit through long, dark, cold days? These are the things they want to hear!

Don’t forget to use your best high-quality photos. Photos with pets are particularly useful!

And if you can get some written references with relevant information in the (home and pet care) then add those to the platforms as well. Trusted Housesitters has a specific section for that, which is great for people just starting on the platform.

Preparing for Winter House Sitting Challenges

As I quickly mentioned above, winter house sitting comes with its own set of unique challenges. Things like

• extreme cold
• snowstorms and shoveling snow
• looking after unfamiliar heating systems
• driving on snow and ice

Do whatever you can to help assure the homeowner that you can cope. Do some research about their area, the expected temperatures, and so on. Be prepared to buy new clothes if you don’t own them, as Canada can get seriously cold. I have lived there when I finished college!

Weather Conditions

As a house sitter you need to be ready for extreme cold, snowstorms, and other crazy winter weather conditions. So, keep an eye on the weather before you arrive and when you are there. Winter can bring some nasty surprises like feet of deep snow.

If cars are involved, be prepared for road rules regarding snow tires or chains when driving. And ask the homeowner when you talk to them as well.

Heating Systems

There are so many types of heating systems around the world. Things like furnaces, boilers, radiant heating systems, heat pumps, and space heaters, as well as the most common forced air distribution systems. It can get seriously confusing very fast. My last house here in Switzerland had a heat pump, and I had never encountered one before. It was a steep learning curve.

Before the homeowner headssouth, ask for a demonstration of how to operate and troubleshoot the heating system. Also grab the manual if they have one. And make sure they are available for help if something goes wrong, or you have the local handy man’s phone number. I used my heating guy all the time for the heat pump because it was so complex!

The last thing you want in the dead of winter is to be stuck without heating.

Snow Removal

Snow removal is an great skill to have for winter housesitters. Depending on how big the house and drive is, they home owner might have a range of tools

• show shovel (hard work)
• snow blower (far easier)
• salt to avoid ice afterwards
• a paid service

Find out what they normally use, how often they do it, and what they expect of you. There is nothing worse than getting stuck in your house – snowbound for a week because you forgot to clear the drive when it snowed. You need to get onto that asap!

Caring for Pets During Winter House Sits

Caring for pets during winter requires special attention to their needs, as the cold weather in the winter months can pose unique challenges for your new furry friends. You need to make sure that the pets have a warm place to sleep. And if you take them outside that they will be warm enough.

Depending on the breed, a lot of dogs will have coats for winter. And cats might not be allowed outside. So, be sure to check with the snowbird about what they do with their pets when it starts to get cold. They often forget because it is just normal for them – but for you it is new, so ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable when they leave.