Experienced, Retired Professional Couple for Short or Long Term House and Pet Sitting

About this sitter

We are an active, retired, non-smoking couple with the experience and skills to provide excellent security and TLC for your home, garden, and pets.

I (Judith) am a visual artist, decorator, and avid gardener. I taught art at a major university in the US for several years. Sanford (Sandy) started and managed a consulting firm for 20 years before retiring. He is a very talented photographer. Our hobbies include travel, walking, reading, cinema, and ceramics. We do volunteer work for an animal welfare organization in our spare time.

We consider assignments of any length.

Why they want to house sit

We enjoy traveling and experiencing other cultures. Our children have left the nest and do not live nearby and we have no responsibilities that tie us to a specific location.

Caring for pets and homes combines our love of animals and travel as well as our desire to experience other cultures. It is different than traveling as a tourist, in large part because of the responsibility involved, We find this responsibility gives us a sense of purpose: it is a commitment to care for property, ensure security, and provide peace of mind to the people whose homes and pets we care for.

Their experience

We are very experienced and have been house and petsitting since 2013. During that time we've completed about 50 assignments; We're often invited back for repeat housesits.

We've cared for homes of all types, among them a 14th C converted convent with a pool near Lyon; a Grade II listed home in the East midlands, and a chateau with guesthouse and two pools in Brittany, We've cared for a Rectory in Bristol, a lovely country cottage outside of Cambridge, a rural farmhouse in Mayenne, a penthouse apartment in Valencia, a council flat in Glastonbury, and an off-grid cabin in the Sierra Madres.

We've owned seven homes (including rental properties) and know how to use a house gently and keep it spotless and tidy. We've successfully completed home DIY projects including total renovation of three kitchens and two bathrooms as well a host of smaller projects. Household emergencies don't rattle us, and we know when to call for help.

We're love working with animals of all kinds. We've raised six dogs and four cats of our own, and cared for animals of many shapes and sizes including birds and fish. Our petsitting experience
includes dogs, cats, goats, donkeys, horses, and hamsters.  We've cared for several special-needs animals (e.g., blind, deaf, diabetic) and always consider it a privilege.

What can they bring to the assignment

We have common sense, significant life experience, and we're flexible. We're good at solving problems, and we have excellent references.

We honor our commitments and care for homes, pets, and property as if they were our own. We come with a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, and curiosity about the world. We're also pleasant, easygoing, and funny (I think).