6 ways to travel by house sitting

If you've been bitten by the travel bug but don't have the budget or income to travel, you're not out of luck. It's possible to travel for nearly nothing by house sitting around the world. Here's how to get started.

Volunteer in your own local area or house sit for friends and family to build up a resume of references and good experiences.

• Starting in your own area is a good way to build experience through people you know so you have references and a good existing reputation.

There are many house sitter directories online where people can sign up to house sit homes anywhere in the world.

• The first step to getting exposure to homeowners in other areas is to sign up on these sites.

When you're contacted by a potential client, discuss their house sitting needs and schedule.

• Determine whether you are free and qualified to take care of their home, then negotiate the terms of your house sitting gig.
• Decide whether you will do a simple home swap, stay for free or get paid for your sitting services.
• Then sign a contract with the homeowner once you've agreed on the terms.

Book your transportation arrangements to get to the destination of your home sitting job, then arrange for transportation to the house. You should also arrange travel for your trip home.

When you have a good experience house sitting, gather references and testimonials from home owners you've worked for.

• Get them to write letters and keep their contact info for future potential clients to use as references.
• You can make a website in addition to your house sitting profile to compile the testimonials into one place that is easily viewable.

Think about where you want to travel, then look for jobs in those specific regions.

• You can use search engines to find house sitting sites with jobs only in specific geographic spots.
• Apply to jobs using your new well-built resume.

House sitting is a fun and unique way to see the world. With these tips in mind, it's easy to arrange your first house sitting gig.