For the first time in years, I’m spending nearly a month in France. Dreams of sipping café crème on cobbled streets, striped awnings fluttering overhead, fill my mind as I pack my case, says Lamia Walker CEO of HouseSitMatch as she explains why house sitting in France is a great way to live the life of a local.
We’re escaping the UK’s grey skies for a whole month in the south of France in February, where it may not be swimming weather but there will be plenty of blue skies and warm enough temperatures to eat outdoors.
Book a housesitter
Here’s the thing: leaving your house empty for a month is risky. We’ve experienced a burglary before, you never quite get over it. Having someone actually living in your home – opening curtains, turning on lights, collecting post – means that you’re far less likely to be targeted than an obviously empty home.
And when you are away, there’s only so much you can ask of neighbours – feeding the cat for a weekend, watering plants, grabbing the post – but a month? That’s pushing friendship to its limits. We live deep in the country, asking neighbours to pop round daily is a big ask.
So we’ve organised for a housesitter to live in our home. For us it means continuity, security, and that all-important “lived-in” look from the outside. Plus if you have animals it means there’s no need to uproot them and pay for expensive accommodation and care while you’re away. We’ve had house sitters care for our animals in their own space – less stress all round – for years.
It’s a strange thing, but when people house sit – they psychologically feel as if the home is their responsibility – one they take seriously. That includes the family pets and for many people in France – having to put their beloved family member in a kennel or cattery is a deal breaker when it comes to going away.
Our housesitters stay for free in exchange for looking after the place. It’s a good deal. Usually, they’re retired professionals or younger digital nomads travelling on a budget, swapping their time and care for free accommodation and a great way to explore the world. Old-fashioned barter for the modern age.
Housesitting in France
So, I’m sorted for someone to housesit my home, and of course, I’ll be housesitting myself – in the French Riviera, southern France. There’s no rent to pay, no utilities bills, no deposit to fork out. And one of the best advantages of being a housesitter is that you get to stay in one place, and have time to really experience life like a local.
Housesitting offers freedom, privacy, flexibility and space. It’s a chance to live life in a foreign country like a local, for me that will mean buying baguettes at the best boulangerie in town (which the home owner is bound to tell you about) to discovering the best local markets. And of course I’ll be telling my housesitters where the best pub is and great country walks. When you housesit, you’ll find the people who live nearby will treat you like a surrogate local – you’re a neighbour, not a visitor! You can shop at the local store and cook your own meals in your own kitchen. You can have friends round to visit and don’t have to get up, or come home, at ‘hotel hours’.
Most house sits require you to maintain the garden, look after their pets and make sure their home is safe and secure in their absence.
Next steps:
HouseSit Match is an online house sitting and pet sitting platform. For just £89/€99 per year, you can access vetted house sitters who’ll care for your property and pets as if they were their own. We have registered housesitters in the UK, US, Australia and other countries, and we have housesitting opportunities in France, the UK and further afield.
Register and build your profile – If you’re a housesitter apply to any sit you like!
If you’re a homeowner, post your house sit advert. Wait for sitters to apply. Meet them online, then accept the perfect match
Leave reviews for each other at the end HouseSitMatch is rated 4.8 on Trust Pilot).
Simple as that.
Now, back to my packing list… and dreaming of those cobbled streets, cafés and markets waiting for me.
Get 20% Off your registration for any membership: Discount code = GOODLIFE20: HouseSitMatch.com
