Colin

I will be in the South Island for seven months from late September 2024 until late April 2025 and are seeking South Island house sits for that period. I have a few bookings already and hope to fill in most of the gaps and get to all corners of the South Island. Please read my profile and reviews and get in touch to see if I can include you in my schedule.

I have returned to full time house and pet sitting, a lifestyle which I enjoy greatly. If you are considering a trip away, please get in touch. From spring 2024 my long delayed South Island adventure will begin. I lived in the South decades ago and are long overdue to revisit my favourite areas of New Zealand.

While I am particularly interested in long term arrangements, I will consider short sits (even a weekend) if I am available now or very soon, otherwise short sits best suit me when I have a gap between booked sits. I will also consider "caretaker" type roles.

Guaranteed to take exceptional care of your property, pets and other animals. I've completed many house/farm sits over the past 12 years and loved looking after an assortment of pets and animals. I will also keep in regular contact with you while you are away.

I'm a very honest, trustworthy, respectful, responsible and house-proud man. Non-smoker. I'm quite at home living in rural areas - yes, I come equipped with gumboots, raincoat and rural common-sense, having grown up on a farm in Hawke's Bay. I am a qualified horticulturist, plus have an environmental management degree. I've never smoked nor used drugs. and drink minimal alcohol. I generally spend my 'idle hours' reading or writing, and love walking in nature. I've recently completed the first draft of my second novel, with plans to get into two more novels while travelling the South Island.

I live alone, though my Auckland based partner (of 12 years) might join me on occasional weekends - so I trust you will be happy for this.

I can be depended on to keep your home and property in excellent order, as if it was my own. On your return, your home will be clean and tidy, as you left it. I owned my own rural home until 12 years ago.

I adore pets, and they adore me: I will take excellent care of your pets and other animals. Dog walking is no problem, provided your dog/s are under good control. I've had my own pets nearly all of my life, but now happy to care for your pets as if they were my own. Pets must be able to be left alone for at least part of the day, and preferable dogs are securely fenced on your property.

My preference is for your home to be tidy (no need for a palace), and it is essential your home is warm during winter and be clean. Access to either broadband or excellent mobile and data coverage is essential.

Once I accept a house-sitting commitment, you can be assured I will not break that commitment and leave you in the lurch. It would be only dire circumstances where that could happen (hopefully never). I expect this commitment to work both ways, with homeowners not changing their mind without decent prior warning. Of course, unavoidable circumstances can cause holidays to be cancelled. Being a full-time house sitter, having cancellations thrown at me without good notice period causes unnecessary stress and disruption. Additionally, I am likely to have turned down other sit requests for that period.

I do request that you triple check your scheduled dates of departure and return home. I am finding a number of homeowners have advised wrong dates, which can cause complications when I have other bookings before or following. Thank you.

I have excellent references available, and are happy for police vetting, if required.

I look forward to hearing from you.