How to Be House Sitting Manager - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Mar 17, 2020 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The rise of house sitting services has had a major impact on the real estate industry, creating a new market for homeowners and property managers alike. With an increasing demand for reliable and cost-effective house sitting services, many property owners have turned to hiring house sitting managers to oversee these duties. By streamlining the process of finding a trusted house sitter, a house sitting manager can provide homeowners with peace of mind that their property is in good hands when they are away.

They also help to ensure that all of the necessary paperwork is taken care of and that the house sitter is able to properly manage the property during their stay. In addition, a house sitting manager can also help to resolve any disputes that arise between the homeowner and the house sitter, which can save both parties time and money.

Steps How to Become

Research House Sitting. Investigate the house sitting industry by researching online, attending seminars and conferences, and networking with professional house sitters. Become familiar with the services that house sitters provide, the duties of a house sitter, and the different types of house sitting opportunities available.
Get Certified. Obtain a House Sitting Manager certification from an accredited organization. This will demonstrate your knowledge and credibility in the industry.
Create a Business Plan. Develop a business plan for your house sitting management business that outlines the services you will offer, the target market, pricing, and expected income.
Promote Your Services. Create marketing materials such as brochures, business cards, a website, and social media accounts to promote your services. Consider joining a professional house sitting organization to gain access to a larger network.
Network. Connect with real estate agents, property managers, homeowners, travel agents, and other industry professionals to build your client base. Attend networking events and join professional associations to make connections.
Hire House Sitters. Recruit qualified house sitters and conduct background checks to ensure you are hiring the right people for your clients.
Manage Clients. Manage client requests, coordinate assignments for house sitters, collect payments, and provide customer service to ensure client satisfaction.
Maintain Records. Keep accurate records of all assignments, payments, and customer information for tax purposes.
Monitor House Sitters. Monitor house sitters on an ongoing basis to ensure they are providing quality services and meeting client expectations.
Stay Updated. Stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices to remain competitive in the market.

In order to keep a sitting manager up-to-date and qualified, they must take the initiative to stay informed on the most recent trends and best practices. This can be done by attending conferences, seminars, and workshops related to the field of house sitting, reading industry publications, and networking with colleagues. Additionally, pursuing formal education such as certifications and degree programs can help ensure the sitting manager has the necessary knowledge and skills to provide a high quality of service to their clients. By staying informed, the sitting manager will be able to apply the latest techniques and strategies to their daily activities, thus increasing their marketability and profitability.

You may want to check Emergency Sitter, Weekday Sitter, and Summer Sitter for alternative.

Job Description

Oversee house-sitting staff: Lead and manage a team of house-sitters, ensuring that all assignments are completed correctly and on time.
Develop house-sitting guidelines and policies: Establish and enforce house-sitting policies and procedures to ensure the safety and security of the homes being watched.
Arrange for services: Contact vendors and contractors to arrange for necessary services such as pet sitting, lawn care, snow removal, and household maintenance.
Monitor house-sitting staff: Monitor house-sitting staff to ensure that their duties are performed in accordance with company standards and regulations.
Schedule house-sitting assignments: Create and maintain a schedule of house-sitting assignments to ensure that all homes are watched efficiently and effectively.
Maintain records: Maintain accurate records of all house-sitting activities, including hours worked, services provided, and any issues or incidents that arise.
Coordinate with homeowners: Communicate with homeowners to ensure that their needs are met in a timely manner.
Train new house-sitting staff: Train new house-sitters on company policies, procedures, and expectations.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Excellent organizational skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to follow instructions and work independently.
Knowledge of basic home maintenance and repair procedures.
Ability to provide safety and security for clients' properties.
Knowledge of local laws and regulations related to house sitting.
Ability to identify potential problems and take appropriate action.
Knowledge of basic first aid and CPR techniques.
Ability to remain calm in potentially stressful situations.
Computer proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and other related software.

Time management is an essential skill for any successful house sitting manager. Without the ability to effectively manage their time, a house sitting manager could quickly become overwhelmed and unable to fulfill their duties. Poorly managed time can lead to missed deadlines, unmet expectations, and a lack of communication with clients.

This can result in unhappy customers, frustrated employees, and ultimately poor reviews. A house sitting manager must also understand how to prioritize tasks and pay attention to details, as well as be able to multitask and adjust quickly to changing circumstances. With the right knowledge and skills, a house sitting manager can make sure that all tasks are completed efficiently and on schedule, leading to satisfied customers and greater job satisfaction.

Babysitting Administrator, Night Sitter, and Student Sitter are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have with house sitting?
How would you handle difficult customers or situations?
What methods do you use to ensure that the house is in the same condition as when you arrived?
What strategies do you use to deal with long-term house sitting jobs?
How do you ensure that the house is secure while you are house sitting?
Are you comfortable with pets and how do you handle feeding and walking them?
Describe your approach to dealing with any maintenance issues or emergencies that arise during your time house sitting?
How would you handle difficult neighbors or situations?
What do you consider the most important responsibility of a house sitting manager?
What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Common Tools in Industry

Calendar Management Software. This tool helps the house sitting manager to coordinate and book house sitting appointments, as well as manage contact information, and track payment records. (Eg: Google Calendar)
Task Management Software. This tool gives the house sitting manager a place to create and assign tasks to their staff, as well as track progress on completion. (Eg: Trello)
Payment Processing Software. This tool allows the house sitting manager to accept credit card payments from customers and process them securely. (Eg: Stripe)
Communication Software. This tool helps the house sitting manager to communicate with staff, customers, and other stakeholders through email, text message, or other messaging platforms. (Eg: Slack)
Document Management Software. This tool helps the house sitting manager to store and organize important documents such as contracts, insurance policies, and customer information. (Eg: Dropbox)

Professional Organizations to Know

National Association of Professional House Sitters (NAPHS)
International House Sitters Association (IHSA)
Professional House Sitters Association (PHSA)
House Sitting Worldwide (HSW)
The Home Sitters Network
House Sitters America (HSA)
House Sitting International (HSI)
The Professional House Sitters Association (PHSA)
House Sitters UK (HSUK)
House Sitters Australia (HSAU)

We also have Vacation Care Sitter, Special Needs Sitter, and Nanny Sitter jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Pet Sitting. Providing care for a pet while its owner is away. This may include providing meals, exercising, and taking the pet to the vet or groomer when necessary.
House Sitting. Providing general care and maintenance of a home while the owner is away. This may include collecting mail, caring for plants, checking smoke alarms and keeping the property safe.
Security. Ensuring the safety of the property while house sitting. This may involve inspecting windows and doors, setting alarms and providing surveillance if necessary.
Housekeeping. Cleaning and tidying up the property while house sitting. This may include vacuuming, dusting, washing dishes and laundry, and other necessary chores.
Maintenance. Repairing or replacing broken fixtures or items on the property while house sitting. This may involve fixing plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or other repairs.
Scheduling. Planning visits to the property and coordinating with other service providers while house sitting. This may involve setting up appointments with plumbers or electricians, scheduling pet care visits, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is House Sitting Manager? A1: House Sitting Manager is an online platform that connects home owners with house sitters, allowing them to securely manage their home and pet sitting arrangements. Q2: How does House Sitting Manager work? A2: House Sitting Manager provides an online service that allows home owners to easily search for qualified and verified sitters, communicate with them, and securely manage their bookings and payments. Q3: How much does it cost to use House Sitting Manager? A3: House Sitting Manager offers a basic membership plan for free and a premium membership plan for $9.99 per month. Q4: What benefits do I get with a House Sitting Manager premium membership? A4: With a premium membership, you get access to additional features such as advanced search filters, unlimited messaging, and discounts on sitter bookings. Q5: What kind of support does House Sitting Manager offer? A5: House Sitting Manager provides 24/7 customer support via email, phone, and live chat.