As house sitters, we look forward to caring for other people’s pets and home while they are away. We strive to do so in a manner that allows owners to relax knowing we are tending to and loving their precious animals and home as we would our own. In exchange, we get to play with adorable animals and experience a place as a true local.
We are Susan and Hale, a very trustworthy, mature, energetic, non-smoking, fully-vaxxed/boosted couple who are full-time traveling the world via a mix of staying in holiday/vacation rental homes and housesitting when we find the perfect opportunities to do so.
Our Experience House Sitting
We both love animals, having had our own family pets and adored looking after cats and dogs over the years for neighbours, friends, and newly-made friends via housesitting.
We have stayed with puppies, old dogs, young cats and old cats and enjoyed them all. We’ve had energetic two-year olds that can’t get enough of fetch and old guys who just want hours of belly rubbing interspersed with naps. We’ve experienced vet visits and administered various meds as it can’t be all fun all the time. We’ve also had the pleasure of looking after chickens and ensuring that steers have water and are doing well in the paddock.
We’ve stayed in ocean view homes, city centres and on lifestyle blocks, looking after a variety of responsibilities including pools, spas, potted plants and lawns. Every house and pet sit we have completed has resulted in a repeat sit request, as well as referrals to friends who are looking for house sitters.
Typical comments we receive are:
- “If you are looking for a conscientious, honest and caring couple to look after your pets and home, Susan and Hale are the people for you!”
- “we could not have asked for more perfect house sitters and loving care givers to (our dogs)”
- “Susan and Hale were amazing cat sitters. I felt completely comfortable leaving my cats and house in their hands…They left the house spotless and (our cats) seemed very happy and relaxed on return.”
- “We were away for 10 days and received lovely, happy photos. I looked forward to Susan’s update at the end of the each day. On our return they were completely relaxed and you could see they genuinely enjoyed the house sit and had great affection for the ‘boys’ as Susan called them, house was spotless and plants all in great health after the hot weather.”
- “How can you put a review on the most amazing Kiwi Sitters? Susan and Hale did a fantastic sit”
- “I would highly recommend them, and hope that they will be back to sit again soon!”
(See sample reviews screen-grabbed from various platforms below.)
Home Experience and Standards
We have owned two homes together, complete with gardens, as well as live-aboard sailboats, so we know what it means to love where you live and want it looked after with respect. We have very high cleanliness standards. We choose to sit only for homes that are tidy and are very conscientious about leaving them as sparkling clean as we find them.
About Us
We are originally IT professionals from the US, so are extremely well organized and expert planners. We highly value good communication to ensure everyone’s expectations are met.
We’re early retirees so live a life of leisure, including long walks (which are always better with a dog beside us) combined with time at home relaxing. Hale is a wing foiler so if the wind is up, he’s on the water in the afternoons which gives me quiet home time to do my story writing for multiple volunteer organizations, which is much enhanced with a furry friend or two at my feet.
Why we want to house sit
Since leaving our careers, we have been traveling in New Zealand for over two years. We found that staying with hosts who have pets added enormously to our enjoyment, causing us to start housesitting as a way to have our own temporary pets while also giving back to this kind community, meeting interesting people and experiencing life as a local.
We’re very much enjoying the pet sitting experience in New Zealand and look forward to doing it internationally someday when we begin to travel globally again. Since we do not have jobs, nor are we trying to earn a living by running a full-time remote business, we are flexible to accommodate pets’ regular schedules, helping to keep them in their routine while owners are away. And did I mention that we love cuddles on demand, playing games and long walks?
Our Process
After the initial communication via a housesitting platform or via phone for a referral, we always have a video call with home owners so we can get to know each other, the pet(s) and the home before either party commits to the sit. We have been delighted to begin new friendships in this way which can then grow over the course of the sit itself.
Additional Perspectives and Profile Links
For a professional view – Susan’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanmerriman1/
For a local New Zealand view – Susan’s profile with Volunteer South: https://volunteersouth.org.nz/about/team/susan-merriman
When not pet sitting, we live in Airbnb-type accommodations and our hosts love us, always leaving reviews like:
- “Truly an example of how to take care of a space as if it were their own!”
- “Susan and Hale are perfect: thoughtful; appreciative; enthusiastic; quiet; considerate; very self-sufficient; great communicators who left our place beautifully.”
- “amazing … we can’t recommend them highly enough. Super friendly and easy going prompt communicators, immaculate and very respectful of our wishes. They were a joy.”
Read all 60+ host reviews: https://www.airbnb.co.nz/users/show/60681512
Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss us caring for your home and pets. Susan@ramblingshoes.com
