How Rebekah and Jim live for free in strangers’ homes

“We’ve always loved travelling together, and when we were 22 we took one year off university and travelled Europe for a little over six months,” Mr Fuller mentioned.

“Back then, we didn’t know about house-sitting, so we stayed mostly in hostels. In 2017, we decided to head to Canada for one year, to spend time camping, hiking and snowboarding, and house-sitting enabled that to happen.”

Their first global dwelling sitting enjoy was once in Canada, the place they used it in an effort to upload path to their commute and let them trip for 12 months, Ms Condon mentioned.

They did again to again house-sitting stints, and when not anything got here up they used Airbnb.

“We house-sat in large and small cities in Canada, namely Toronto, Ottawa, Bayfield, Vancouver and Vernon, and they ranged from two weeks to two months,” she mentioned.

“It gave us the opportunity to see many parts of Canada that we would not have had the money to visit or that we would not have known about otherwise.”

They additionally taken care of a variety of pets, together with chickens, sheep, a donkey, goats, cats and canine.

When they returned to Canberra, they spotted a top call for for house-sitting, and have since taken care of properties and pets in Forde, Lyneham, Narrabundah and Hackett.

“Jim and I work variable hours, so when we take on a new house-sit we work out a schedule where we can provide the best care for the pet and home we are in that meets the needs of everyone,” Ms Condon mentioned.

“For example, if we’re looking after a dog, I might take him or her for a walk in the afternoon as I’m home earlier and Jim will do the morning walk and feed.”

Ms Condon, a instructor, and Mr Fuller, a physiotherapist, was engaged in September 2017 whilst house-sitting.

Their residing scenario has allowed them to save lots of for their first rental, an off-the-plan unit anticipated to be completed in November 2019.

Trusted Housesitters leader govt Tim Lyons mentioned the organisation, which has been running in Australia since 2010, was once a house-sitting platform that attached animal-loving travellers with puppy homeowners taking a look for somebody who may just take care of their puppy whilst they have been away.

Mr Lyons mentioned proudly owning a puppy had stopped 55 in step with cent of Canberrans from travelling in another country, and 66 in step with cent felt responsible for leaving their puppy to head trip – resulting in a complete of 402 pets being sorted via puppy sitters in Canberra in 2018.

“It’s a mutual relationship where travellers can stay in beautiful homes for a small annual fee and where pet owners can enjoy a stress-free holiday knowing their pet is cared for in their own home,” he mentioned.

“It’s also a great way to save money on travels, but more importantly it’s all about pet wellbeing and community.”

House-sitting remains can vary from a few days as much as a number of months. Both dwelling sitters and puppy homeowners pay $129 a yr in club.

Mr Lyons mentioned 55 in step with cent of Canberrans reported that troubling about their puppy affected their vacation enjoy, and 22 in step with cent had reduce a vacation brief to return house.

Ms Condon and Mr Fuller are these days house-sitting and taking a look after a cat. They are booked out till the tip of February 2019.

“We’re pretty much living out of a suitcase … it’s more tiring than annoying,” she mentioned.

“But it’s always kind of exciting knowing that you’re going to go into a new suburb and you can check out new cafes and get to know a new little pet.”