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Alexandra
Alexandra in Central Otago is the place to be if you like distinct seasons and beautiful surroundings.
Otago
Otago seems to have it all, from beaches to mountains, to rivers, to adventure sports for adrenalin-seekers. The city of Dunedin has much Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and a vibrant student culture thanks to the esteemed University of Otago. The region’s landscape includes both hill country and the Southern Alps, which draw thousands of tourists to Queenstown, the heartbeat for adventure sports in New Zealand. Stay in Otago during all the seasons and you’ll experience hot and dry summers in Central Otago, and snowfall in winter. If you want to live rent-free by house sitting, Otago is arguably not only one of the most beautiful places to do it, it’s also one of the most welcoming.
Hi there! My name is Frances and I live in central Dunedin. I am an Artist that…
Hi there! My name is Frances and I live in central Dunedin. I am an Artist that works from home. I find this works in well with offering my services as a house and pet sitter, not only does it allow me to regularly travel around both the South and North Island of New Zealand, but it enables me to spend quality time at home befriending and looking after your pets, giving them that one on one company, attention and continuity of care and routines that they are used too. I am a mature single woman, with no dependents and have an animal-loving personality. I come from a large Dutch, farming family from the Waikato, so from a young age I started house and pet sitting for family and friends. I am a very reliable, honest, clean and tidy person with good communication skills, with references that can verify this to put your mind at rest:) I have had many house sitting positions over the years, the most current being for Alan, in Otautau, Southland (see reference attached). This was a large property with one gorgeous dog and I cared for him for around three months. Over Christmas I house sat for Rosie and Ian in Christchurch for 6 weeks, they had one dog, two cats, a goldfish and a vege patch (see other reference attached). These were both very enjoyable experiences, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with their pets and sharing their spaces with them. I also have a picture of Casper the dog in my profile - as you can see, we are out taking him for a bit of a driving lesson :) As my references will tell you, I am a trustworthy and respectful person who communicates well. I am very reliable, clean and tidy and have been told by past home owners that what they appreciated most was not only did they come home to a clean and tidy house, but they could see that their animals were well cared for and loved. I am a bright creative friendly person who you will find a delight to have in your home. Thank you for taking the time to consider my online profile and feel free to call my referees, who will be more than happy to vouch for my character and skills as a house sitter and pet minder. I do hope to meet with you and your pets shortly. Warmest regards...Frances:)
Hello I am Jahn, My husband and I are a 'young' retired couple, grey around the…
Hello I am Jahn, My husband and I are a 'young' retired couple, grey around the edges but lively and interested in the things of life. Both of us have worked all our lives in various roles; Paul as a tablet maker, maintenance guy for several large companies, supervisor of the Tool Shop of a large international company, he excels in his ability to 'fix things' and is a very steady hand. I have experience in Office Administration and Community Support work, currently studying a Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Dunedin Art School. We have both travelled extensively and know what it is like to go away and worry about things at home. So, we are house sitters for people who want the assurance that their pets and their property will be cared for with love and diligence. We both have a wide range of experience in the care and handling of many different breeds of dog from a little Chihuahua up to a huge Great Dane and many other breeds in between, and we cannot forget those beloved friends of the mixed breed variety. Dont let us forget either our feline friends as well. My husband had the care of 20 + chickens at one stage, so we are fairly well versed in the care of domestic pets. Paul and I do regular house sitting for friends and acquaintances, who require pet sitting as their priority. One experience where there were two dogs and a cat, I ran the clothing alteration business (attached to the house and property) while Paul took care of the house and lawns etc for 3 months. Recently we were caretakers for a local holiday park for 3 months (over the Winter while the owners had a break) again where the large Labrador was our main priority,.while the owners were away. There have been many other placements, usually by referral. We are very hands on and can take care of pretty well everything that that requires attending to as well as keeping in touch with the owners, on a regular basis; for reassurance that all is well at home. We pride ourselves on careful attention to detail. We specialise in looking after pets, as well, which is why we have mainly been asked to step in, frequently at very short notice.
Greetings! My name is Kim, I'm 58 years (young) and have been living in New Zea…
Greetings! My name is Kim, I'm 58 years (young) and have been living in New Zealand since moving here from the UK in 1990. I am currently single, live a pretty quiet life and like to follow a healthy lifestyle. I have lived, worked and travelled in many countries around the world, and have experienced life in the country, the city and on board ships. I would therefore say I have a wide variety of life experience. LIFESTYLE / WORK I am a non-smoker and non-drinker and lead a quiet lifestyle. I am self-employed and work as a health coach from my home office (when I am not travelling and housesitting), working remotely with clients all over the world via internet. This means I am home quite a lot and am able to look after your house and animals very well. I live a simple lifestyle and only occasionally host friends at home. I go out occasionally socially and otherwise enjoy watching movies and dvds in the evening. I practice meditation and Qigong in order to stay healthy and on top of things. ANIMAL / PLANT / HOUSE-MINDING EXPERIENCE I am very tidy and like to keep a home spick and span. Whether I am renting, housesitting or own a home, while I am living there I respect the privilege of living in a beautiful home. I have high standards and like to keep a home clean and tidy. I enjoy keeping the garden tidy, weeding and pruning trees and plants. I can honestly say I will look after your home as if it were my own. I have a lot of experience looking after dogs and cats. Growing up we had 3 dogs (shelties) which I adored, and later for 16 years had 3 of my own precious cats whom I loved to bits. I owned 2 of my own homes in the UK and New Zealand, and have been renting for the past 10 years. Over the past 10 years I have often had housesitters myself to look after my cats, so I know what it is like from an owners perspective and what an owner looks for and expects from a housesitter. For myself I needed to feel totally at ease to leave my house and animals in the care of someone else, to trust they would care for my cats, to trust they would look after the house and garden, keep things tidy, respect the contents etc. So I know exactly what you are looking for and I pride myself on being an authentic person. I can assure you I will care for your home and pets as if they were my own so that you can enjoy your time away with peace of mind. LOCATION I am very well travelled around New Zealand, my favourite spots being Queenstown and the South Island. For 30 years I lived in Auckland and have recently relocated to the South Island for the winters, and spend time in Auckland for the summer.
Our names are Ron and Rosalie, Both my partner and I have a lifetime of experie…
Our names are Ron and Rosalie, Both my partner and I have a lifetime of experience having owned farms and lifestyle blocks in the south Island of NZ. We have knowledge of sheep farming, cattle, and all the other associated animals including dogs, horses, hens, cats etc. We are experienced in the care, and are very fond of our furry friends. I (Ron) was raised in Christchurch but my passion was spending holidays in rural Canterbury. During my lifetime I have farmed and managed a shearing contracting business. I spent fourteen years in service with the NZ Police as well as many years in Search and Rescue in our beautiful country. My Partner (Rosalie) was raised in Rangiora NZ and spent many years farming in the Awatere Valley in Marlborough, and has a wealth of knowledge of all things related to farming. Latey, she has been involved in Wedding Planning, 15 Years with Harcourts in Real Estate and Property Management. We both love travelling to new places and meeting new people. We are responsible and respectful people who want to help out families by looking after their property and pets while they are away. We are also very friendly and trustworthy and your pets will enjoy our company just as much as we will enjoy theirs. Fitness is our priority and we enjoy excellent health. Please have a look through our references and feel free to call our referees who will be more than happy to vouch for our character and skills as housesitters and pet minders. We would love to meet you and your pets and hope that you will consider us as your housesitters.
We are a caring, tidy, very responsible couple. Esther (45) has retired after 22…
We are a caring, tidy, very responsible couple. Esther (45) has retired after 22 years service in the Singapore Navy and Jamie (54) is a small business owner who works from a laptop. Esther is also a previous dog owner and simply loves all animals (especially cats) and sweetly cares for them. She also has an exceptional understanding of dogs and dog breeds, their needs and issues. She will put into practice and care for pets as if her own, such as establishing routine, maintaining structure by walking the dogs, being positive virtually all the time, and will love to go running with them (if suitable), perhaps the reason her Shetland sheepdog, lasted until 17. She has looked after many of her friends' dogs while they were on overseas vacation and on our toughest house sit on a farm in 2018, we looked after 12 dogs, including 6 big working dogs, caring for them all for two weeks, without incident - and lots of joy. Esther has also helped puppies socialize and looked after old dogs too. She is comfortable washing them, doing basic grooming, and they certainly get a lot of TLC. We listen carefully and follow instructions. Jamie runs Project Himalaya organising treks in Nepal and India for half the year and our time in New Zealand is a great time to update his website and get his paperwork done, hence, we need an internet connection, otherwise we have no other requirements. Esther is also an enthusiastic gardener, and will love to care for your home and garden. We would be home most of the time. We live in Gisborne (own our property) and use house sitting as a way to experience the culture in New Zealand. We look forward to caring for your precious pets and your home!
I am returning from travels overseas in February 2020 and coming back to my own …
I am returning from travels overseas in February 2020 and coming back to my own business and have decided to embrace van life to allow me even more freedom and flexibility to be me mobile and close to the sea when I want to be. But I know every and again it will be great to have some of the home comforts that a house allows and so I thought house sitting would be the perfect compromise given it also allows me to look after animals, another passion of mine. I truly love animals so knowing this might be able to look after animals as well as a home is really appealing to me and I am super active and outdoors often so if you have a dog that needs walking, you know it will get walked as often as needed as I love any excuse to get outside. I just completed my personal training qualification and will be using this in my new job as well. I am a responsible adult that respects other people and know how to look after a home as I take a lot of pride in my own. I don’t party and I don’t actually drink alcohol at all so you can also be assured that your house would always be kept clean, tidy and you can come back to how you left it. I grew up with animals so always had a dog and have had cats before. My last landlord has a dog called Clooney who is a husky cross border collie and I spent a lot of time looking after him as well and taking him for walks. I really miss having animals myself and plan to get one in the near future when I am more settled but in the interim being able to house sit for you and your loved pets is really exciting for me. I grew up with giant schnauzers and my grandma had 2 tabby cats which I loved looking after. Happy to provide more references if you would like them
Hi My name is Susan. I am an Aucklander and I love to travel when I can. I gre…
Hi My name is Susan. I am an Aucklander and I love to travel when I can. I grew up always having cats and dogs as part of the family. When I was married and we bought our first house, having pets was a top priority. After 3 years we had 3 cats (Tabby, Tina and Kate) and 2 Beagles (Tony and Lucy). I have mainly worked in Computer and Project environments but after studying one year part time for an Animal Care certificate I worked 5 days a week in my normal job and 1 day at a well established and reputable Vet clinic in Remuera. By this stage I was divorced and the family consisted of the beagles, Tabby and me. I have also been a volunteer kennel assistant at SPCA. I am comfortable giving medication to pets and have looked after cats, dogs, birds, fish and rats. All of my animals have lived a happy and long life. Tony suffered from cancer later in his life but with care and chemo from VSG and at home he got a new lease of life and was with me for another 2 years of quality time. I no longer have pets of my own so I would really love the opportunity to care for yours, probably somewhere outside of Auckland so I can have a break while you do :) I am mature, responsible, respectful and resourceful. My house sitting to-date has been through word of mouth and I haven't met an animal yet that I haven't got on with and enjoyed. Please check my references and feel free to contact my referees. I would love to meet you and your pets and have the opportunity to care for them and your home. Thanks Susan
Hi our names are Maryna and Neil, We are close to retiring and feel it is our t…
Hi our names are Maryna and Neil, We are close to retiring and feel it is our time to discover the rest of the South Island in New Zealand and while doing that, do what we enjoy and that is looking after peoples pets and a little gardening while we at it. We immigrated here 11 years ago and have been living in the Catlins ever since so love to explore . As we do not have animals of our own (not by choice) this will also give us a great opportunity to enjoy other people's pets while we are on breaks. We are reliable and trustworthy and are managing a holiday park in the Catlins. This is a 24/7 entity and being in hospitality means we know what is expected from cleanliness and client communication. Neil is a handyman and extremely keen garderner so finds himself very busy most of the time. We both are pet lovers and with previous housesitting experience in London, South Africa and in the Catlins, we have done a lot of dog walking, cuddling cats and even looked after pigs, horses and chickens. We both love fishing and used to take our doggies with us (back in South Africa) so they could have a good run around, and when given the chance they would steal some of our catch! It would be our privilege to help home owners out by looking after their homes and taking care of their pets ( with lots of love) putting their minds at ease. We love to update owners at any time as to how things are going back home. Please feel free to contact our referees and ask any further questions you may want answered.
Hi there! Our names are Nev and Ruth and we are a caring and house proud coupl…
Hi there! Our names are Nev and Ruth and we are a caring and house proud couple whom enjoy taking care of homes and pets. Owning renovating several homes in past. Ruth has spent the past 30 years working in Disability services also a wife and mother caring for children and pets and was brought up on a farm and had all kinds of pets, such as cows, goats, pigs, dogs and horses! Ruths family used to be market gardeners, where they had 20 acres of tomatoes, corn, watermelons and many more vegetables. We can both say that we enjoy loving animals of all kinds. We are a very happy couple and enjoy what we do so much. It is so nice to see other people enjoying their holiday without worrying about their pets and home and we will ensure this. We also keep you updated with photos of your pet so you can see they are happy while you are away. We thank you for the opportunity to view our profile and we hope you will be in touch with us shortly. Warmest Regards Nev and Ruth.
Hello my name is Dave! I am a very healthy and fit retired builder/joiner. For…
Hello my name is Dave! I am a very healthy and fit retired builder/joiner. For 30 years I ran my own building and joinery company. I have been living in Australia and have recently returned as the heat was too much for me! My lovely wife passed away a few years ago after 47 years of marriage. As I am on my own I feel housesitting would be a wonderful way for me to meet new people and see a little bit of New Zealand. House sitting is such a wonderful win-win for all parties involved and since I have no ties, I am able to have the pleasure of helping homeowners go away, care for their beloved pets and home, whilst being able to explore my own 'back yard'. House sitting will also allow me to decide more of the region of New Zealand I want to purchase a property in, in the future. I am currently living with my twin sister in Paraparaumu and helping her look after her two Jack Russells. I have three sons and four wonderful grandchildren. I have always owned German Shepherds throughout my life as they are my favourite breed and such a great natured dog. I have also owned cats as well. I am a keen gardener and also enjoy fishing and snooker. Thank you for taking the time to consider my profile and I believe that with my experience throughout life, I would be of great help to any homeowner needing care for their pets and home. Warmest, David.
Kia ora! Myself (28), my partner Jed (29) are looking for some homes to housesit…
Kia ora! Myself (28), my partner Jed (29) are looking for some homes to housesit for over the summer. We have spent the past 4 months travelling New Zealand and now we're back in Auckland, we'd love to mind some houses for longer stints of time while we decide where to set up base. We both currently work in Social Media and Public Relations, and work from home and also in Auckland city. We are self proclaimed clean freaks who love animals. Between us, we have experience nannying, working on farms with animals, house sitting and can boast a 4.9 star Uber rating as well as 100% positive feedback on both Airbnb and Trademe. By choosing us, we will treat your home as if it were our own - with respect and manaakitanga. Feel free to set up a video call with us to see if we're the right people for your home.
Hi, my name is Trudianne Tait and I just restarted my house sitting 'career' in…
Hi, my name is Trudianne Tait and I just restarted my house sitting 'career' in July this year. Since then I have been chosen for 3 house sits, all of which I have been invited back to. They have all had dogs and a cat and I've had a great time exploring the area with my new friends. I also house sat in Wellington, 6 years ago while I was doing my Masters Degree at Victoria University. I am a professional woman although at present I have taken time out to (try) and write a book. Recently I moved to Wellington city to be closer to my family from Waiheke Island where I was working in Auckland city as an ESOL teacher. As I am now writing a book, I will be home most of the time although I may also be doing some ESOL relieving work. I am also a marriage celebrant. I don't smoke and drink only occasionally and take regular exercise. Walking is part of my daily routine - all the better for having a dog with me. I love animals and will do everything I can to make them feel loved and comfortable. I have looked after; cats, dogs, rabbits, fish and birds in previous house sits (and of course, cared for my own pets). I am religiously house proud and dedicated to maintaining high standards of care for your home. Thanks for reading. Trudianne
I am a semi-retired single male, living part of my year in New Zealand and trave…
I am a semi-retired single male, living part of my year in New Zealand and traveling and exploring much of the time. I am a father of 3 lovely adult daughters in the US. I do not smoke or drink alcohol, live a healthy active lifestyle, am in excellent health and maintain a positive outgoing attitude. I pursue a large number of activities and interests, both quiet indoors and active outdoors. At age 30, I began, owned and ultimately sold a US based small custom manufacturing business, ultimately employing 100 staff and serving a high-end demanding national architectural/builders market in the US. I am also a highly skilled design and remodelling contractor, renovating and caring for my own multiple high quality properties for 40 years. I understand how to take appropriate care of your valued home! I continue to do occasional non-profit volunteer building work, as well as intermittent online work managing property I still own in the US, a condominium home in Hawaii, where I spend some time each year. I vacation rent this unit, so am familiar with having new people stay in my home. I am reliable and highly accountable, methodical, careful and respectful of people, animals and things! I have long-time good friends throughout the US and in several countries, including recent friendships established here in New Zealand, and I try to visit them as often as my travels allow. I have owned at least 1 dog or cat, often 4 at a time, since age 21, until I recently divorced and sold my home. Our family animals were always happy, our cats and dogs both living between 12 to nearly 20 years. I understand the needs of animals of all ages, health and disposition; and I am experienced and willing to care for animals whatever their age or health condition. When young, I worked on a large 3,000 acre Mid-Western grain farm, on land that had been owned by my grandparents, dealing with every sort of farm animal as part of my duties as a farm hand. This included feeding and moving 150 beef cattle with dog, pickup truck, or on horseback, and hand milking 4 dairy cows. Our family home was included on the city-wide invitational landscape tour for many years, after we created ourselves a landscape, trees, pond w/waterfall, flowers, shrubs, veg garden, & large deck; so I am experienced with any plant care required. During the last 7 years living in NZ, on occasions that my landlords traveled out of NZ, I have cared for my landlord's horses, cats and property, including a large home and small cottage, a swimming pool and other complicated mechanical systems requiring attention. Animals are usually comfortable around me in a very short time, as they know when they are liked by a person, and I am an animal lover! I will responsibly manage all your property and pet requirements, spending daily quality time with your pets, and caring meticulously for your home and possessions. I have more than adequate annual income, excellent professional references, an interesting international travel schedule each year, and I look forward to experiencing more of New Zealand, where I spend much of my time each year, learning to make this country my home.
I am a 56-year-old single woman, who has spent a large portion of my life in mar…
I am a 56-year-old single woman, who has spent a large portion of my life in marine related industries. After caring for my elderly mother for the past years, my intention was to travel to the Caribbean in 2020. However, CV-19 has put a stop to that plan for the time being. We sold the family home just before lock-down and so while I am looking for something to purchase, it makes sense to consider house sitting as an option. I was a house sitter in Perth, WA from 2011-2013 when I resided there as a student at Curtin University. The homes were varied, scattered throughout the city, and generally had animals, i.e. domestic pets. I am not averse to farm life; however, I should warn that bringing in the bulls would not be something I am comfortable with. I am open to livestock on a lifestyle block and can manage a herd of chickens!! I do love the company of cats and dogs, though I am unsure which has favoured pet status. I can relate to most furry creatures, though I remember one wee bundle that was frantic upon my arrival and would not stop barking. Later that evening, when we were both completely stressed, I offered him a piece of cheese and he slept on my bed from that night forward. So, I have found that pets can be overcome with kindness and cheese!! Having worked in the hospitality industry and private yacht charter out of Fort Lauderdale, I can tell you that your much-loved home will be in the best of care. I am a fastidious clean freak but enjoy the comforts of a relaxed environment. I have also meandered into self-employment as a gardener and for that reason, I am flexible with locations and will not kill your plants from a lack of care. I respect that this is your home, not mine and would treat it accordingly. I am now heading to Otago for a 6 month contract in my field and would enjoy travelling the region during that time. If you have a need for a house sitter, from 1st Sept 2020 for the following months, I would be very happy to hear from you. Kind Regards, Liz
Single, professional, active female. Pet and plant lover. I am in between findi…
Single, professional, active female. Pet and plant lover. I am in between finding two big ticket items of a flat and finding a permanent job so I am available to house-sit your pets and homes! I am currently in a temp role and living in Wellington. I take pride in keeping any house I have looked after to a clean and tidy standard and enjoy taking care of plants or gardening. I have previously house-sat in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Queenstown, and Melbourne where I have looked after cats and dogs (and a Lizard in a glass cage even) plants, gardens and kept the household running with tradesmen coming and going, collecting post and running necessary errands. From me you can expect an open, friendly and communicative person. Besides loving to explore different regions, another reason why I house-sit is to one day have a house of my own. It is very difficult to save and get ahead when rent is so expensive, so I enjoy saving a lot this way.
Hi! we are a small Argentinian family living in NZ. We have been living in Queen…
Hi! we are a small Argentinian family living in NZ. We have been living in Queenstown since April 2019 and we are planning to travel for some time around NZ! Our children LOVE animals and my husband is a great handyman & gardener. So we thought it was a good idea trying to housesit while we travel =) We have done it in Argentina sometimes and around Otago too so we have references. We will treat your home and pets as if they were ours. It is our promise! Thanks for helping us live this dream to travel around NZ!