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Old 12-08-2016, 09:09 AM   #1
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1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Ebro , Fla Panhandle
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Full timers for house sitting duties?

The resent thread by Pappa " leaving home for a month"
Again brings me to thoughts of how well it could work both ways,
Owners of property that is hard to leave unattended, but want to be able to enjoy longer trips.

Full timers that would enjoy staying in one place for a while, and wouldn't mind getting into a home place chores for a bit.

Some folks have put in full hook ups at home, so their full timer house sitters could just plug in and be happily there. Not even needing to live in the house.
But there to keep an eye on things, Keep the non traveling pets at home and happy etc

The full timers could take on projects not easy to do in parks.
And just enjoy being settled for a while.

There is clearly a wide range of charicters in our airstream community.
But with some important common factors. An appreciation of quality and an inclination to be attentive to details.
And there is some ability to get to know each other thru the forum.

At any rate this idea has been in the back of my mind for a while, so I thought,
Why not put it out there to see if folks can figure out how to make it work.
Could be quite a win win situation.

Cheers Richard
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Old 12-08-2016, 09:22 AM   #2
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Good idea.
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Old 12-08-2016, 09:28 AM   #3
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That would be an interesting service for the likes of Air B & B to add.

I see it as being accepted if the "sitters" were available through such a service and be bonded.

The range of responsibilities could be very wide from simple parking on the property to pet sitting to property management.
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Old 12-08-2016, 09:51 AM   #4
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Yes the nuts and bolts would take some figuring out.
But the fit is somewhat natural.

Lots of full timers realize the busy summer is a good time to lay low, and aim to do their traveling when things are less busy.

Lot of folks not yet retired only have time in the summer to get out for RV adventures.

Many retired full timers have spent their lives caring for home places and would be easy to train into others home place needs.

The full hook up would allow for the house sitters to show up a few days early for easy transition, tune into the property needs, pets to get acquainted etc.

Cheers Richard
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Old 12-08-2016, 11:35 AM   #5
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Great idea!

What a terrific idea. I'm going to think about a way to pair up travelers and "parkers".
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Old 12-08-2016, 11:47 AM   #6
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Nice idea!!!


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Old 12-08-2016, 12:35 PM   #7
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Housesitting websites

There are some great house-sitting websites already in existence...

trustedhousesitters.com comes to mind, but there are others.
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Old 12-08-2016, 12:41 PM   #8
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Housesitting

This is an excellent idea. Setting up some sort of clearing house for sitters ans sitters needed would be a natural for Air Forums. Most of us do not have full hookups but that should be easy to work around.
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Old 12-08-2016, 12:43 PM   #9
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Perhaps a subforum here, where home owners could Post of their timeline and general location.

This sub forum could serve as a place for folks to find each other, then take their discussion offline to share details and see if it is a fit.

And full timers could post of their availability and preferred area of the country.

Clearly some care is needed on both sides to be sure things go well for all concerned.
I'm Interested to see what others here are able to come up with as a means of helping to bring this idea into fruition.

Here is an example.

Tevake is available, PNW, coastal areas preferred.
2017 late spring - late fall
Single senior male, open to house/ pet sitting, light property care etc,
I travel in motorhome with towed car.

Cheers Richard
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Old 12-08-2016, 01:10 PM   #10
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My folks travelled this way a few times.

And there've been other threads addressing this. Waking up those threads also sends a message to their contributors.
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Old 12-08-2016, 01:39 PM   #11
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Having done this very thing (before I owned an Airstream and before the Internet), I can say that it is very important for both sides to state (IN WRITING) clear expectations. Don't assume anything or you'll likely have a bad experience regardless of which side of the equation you are on. Property owners should state exactly what is available for use and what is not and what chores they expect to be completed. Caretakers should provide a complete list of skills...or at least to the extent they are willing to give in exchange and a list of their needs.

The idea is excellent. The actual reality of success or failure with any specific situation will depend greatly upon the individuals involved. But kudos for identifying the need and the possible solution.
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Old 12-08-2016, 03:20 PM   #12
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We would love to be part of a group that would love people to stay in our home in Ontario Canada
We would also be interested in house/ pet sitting in the Southern USA

Sounds very interesting
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Old 12-08-2016, 04:12 PM   #13
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Thumbs up

Great idea! I'll need to follow this thread closely. We're (I'm) not retired and got longs way to go but the family want's more trips! That being said, it'd be nice to be able to 'house swap' w/ someone for a 3-5 day stay and just to check out 'their' city/town , just food for thought
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Old 12-08-2016, 04:14 PM   #14
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You know, I just have to say this....

It seems like a great idea, on the surface, but one which seems fraught with potential problems...

I would not want absolute strangers inside my house.

If you're talking of someone simply being on your grounds, perhaps....but in your house, while you are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of miles away?

Agencies that handle such things as house sitters, pet sitters etc., do background checks, people are bonded, there is insurance..

Ummm, nope, thank you very much.


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Old 12-08-2016, 05:02 PM   #15
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I don't think there are that many homes that have full hookups for RV's. Lot's of places have a pad to store the RV that already is, or could easily be hooked up to power. Sewer hookup would be another matter. Most of the places that have pads for RV storage aren't authorized under local zoning codes to have anyone live there. Most of the storage pads are probably technically in violation even without anyone living there, for that matter, but it's a low priority item for most local zoning departments to enforce unless there are specific complaints. I really wouldn't mind letting someone use the pad where I park my RV when I go on trips, and use a bathroom and my kitchen in my house, in exchange for some plant watering, etc. I could lock up the few things I have that are really valuable. They would be welcome to my old TV if they want it; I've been looking for an excuse to buy a new one anyway. The thing I would worry about is that some neighbors who have never complained before might be pushed over the line by the sight of someone they don't know living in my backyard.


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Old 12-08-2016, 05:50 PM   #16
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I think idea could work , but towns might not allow it.
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Old 12-08-2016, 10:40 PM   #17
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I think it has a lot of merit but if your going to do it ...setup contracts...probably need different insurance ....store your stuff in a separate room etc ...why not just rent it and pay for a person to do the yards etc... we have done this for many years short term... while we have travelled up to 6 months ...with great success and it provides us with an income too!
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Old 12-09-2016, 08:05 AM   #18
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There is a site: https://www.boondockerswelcome.com/

Matches up RVers with landowners willing to accommodate RVers. No necessarily housesitting but, who knows what could come of it.
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Old 12-09-2016, 08:39 AM   #19
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To me it sounds like advertising:
"I'm going to be away from home. Anybody want to help themselves to my stuff?"

When I'm away I have friends or family check things, sometimes they spend random nights at my house when it works for them. My next door neighbors are on the lookout too.

I'm with Maggie; no strangers in my house ... unless the strange owner is at home.
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Old 12-09-2016, 09:04 AM   #20
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Let's say you return home to a cleaned out house. You turn to the sitters... They shrug and say "don't know how it happened"
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