Kiwi House Sitters

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Steve

Smiling and friendly professional

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Picture of House Sitter, House Minder and Pet Sitter at Kiwi House Sitters, New Zealand. User Smiling and friendly professional
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Platinum (36mths+)
House Sitting Preferences
  • 0 - 1 week, 1 - 2 weeks, 2 - 4 weeks, 1 - 2 months, 2 months +
  • Dog(s), Cat(s), Fish, Bird(s), Rabbit(s)/Guinea Pig(s), Chickens/Ducks/Geese, Reptile(s), Farm Animals
Preferred Locations
  • South Island: ALL  

Smiling and friendly professional

54, Self-employed Consultant (Mental Health/Wellbeing) and Musician/Artist/Writer

I run my own business as a consultant in mental health and wellbeing, making money from workforce and volunteer training, public workshops and talks, content/campaign development, and mentoring/coaching......whilst also leaving time for fun as an artist, writer and musician. I have a tiny house in Canterbury and it's a down-sized, simple, yet enriching life........but I like to get away and experience new places and meet new animal characters, mixing it up a bit while maintaining my own garden and quiet retreat. Occasional house-sitting fits nicely into the flexible and interesting nature of my lifestyle and I'm always open to something different.

I have been a member of work exchange programs such as WWOOF (Willing Work On Organic Farms), Workaway and HelpX for many years and in various countries and this has been an amazing opportunity to meet a huge range of people living in lots of different ways, from farms to intentional communities, from lifestyle blocks to suburban gardeners. As a result I have a wealth of skills that I can add in to the simple mix of looking after a house......if there's a job needs doing, I will happily do it!

I am comfortable and capable with most animals - from the usual domestic cats and dogs to more rural mainstays like chooks, pigs, sheep etc, I'm good in the garden and love to get my hands in the soil, and I'm handy around the house......happy to help out! I think it's the simple things that make a difference and, aside from the two basic housesit rules (Don't burn the house down; don't lose the pets!), my aim is to leave a place at least as tidy as I found it......and often tidier! People always comment that it is so nice to return to a spotless home, having been away on a relaxing break without any worries about pets or security.

I am a tidy, trustworthy and mature professional with a wide range of skills and interests......more than just a safe pair of hands :)

Reviews (18)
Steve did a fantastic job caring for our house, cats and chooks over the five weeks we were away. He called in a couple of times before the house-sit to get a sense of the property, animals and what was needed. During the house-sit Steve had to deal with two elderly, ailing hens and he did this competently and sensitively, keeping us fully informed along the way. Our two cats were well cared for and clearly happy in Steve's company. Communication both before and during the house-sit ... MORE
 
JANE (Governors Bay South Island, May 2023 - 5 weeks)
We were very happy to have Steve sitting at our place while we travelled overseas and in the North Island. Steve was very responsive with communication both before we left and while we were away, and looked after our pets (farm animals and axolotl), house and garden with care. We would be very happy to have Steve back to sit for us again, and would recommend him to others.
 
SALLY (Cashmere South Island, Dec 2023 - 4 weeks)
Steve house sat for two weeks while we were away in Canada. We had complete confidence that all would be well with the animals and house, and it proved so. Steve communicated well before and during sit, left the house spotless, Missy the cat felt comfortable enough to gatecrash his Teams workshop (hopefully with face not rear end view!). We'd have no hesitation to recommend Steve to others and engage him again. Thanks Steve!
 
DONNA (Dovedale South Island, Jan 2023 - 2 weeks 2 days)
Steve was a fantastic house and pet sitter. He came and visited before staying to meet Daisy and get all of the details (dog and chicken care, garden watering etc, etc). He was great at communicating before and during the house sit, letting us know what outings Daisy had been on, including trips to the beach and park. He left the place super tidy. I only hope he is available next time we are away as I would definitely have him to stay again.
 
FIONA (Kennedys Bush , Dec 2022 - 13 days)
Our dog was well looked after and was taken on some lovely beach walks. House was clean and tidy on return. Great communication. Appreciated Steve helping us at the last minute!
 
KAT (Upper Moutere South Island, Dec 2022 - 5 days)
Steve came to sit for us for four weeks whilst we were overseas. He was a great communicator and extremely easy to deal with. Upon return our house was spotless and he had taken the time to mow our [large] lawns on the ride on. Our pet cats had been doted upon and overall it was an absolute pleasure to have Steve stay in and look after our home. Thanks for taking care of our house and pets Steve, all the best for the future.
 
OLIVER AND KATE (Loburn South Island, Sep 2022 - 4 weeks)
We'd happily have Steve house-sit for us again and that's all you need to know really, isn't it! But just in case you want a few more details... Steve spent 5 weeks at our house in a very wet Christchurch winter, He rose to the challenge of befriending our very timid cat and kept the chooks happy and the house-plants watered. He communicated well and the house was clean and tidy on our return.
 
JANET (Cashmere South Island, Jun 2022 - 1 month 1 week)
Steve did a wonderful job of caring for our pets and property for the month we were away . The cats were happy and settled when we returned and somehow he had convinced my nervous little female cat to eat all her dinner and ask for more. Leaves from lots of deciduous trees were blown away as requested and everything looked neat when we returned. The house was left spotlessly clean, in fact probably cleaner than when we left. Steve was easy to communicate with and kept in touch as needed. I ... MORE
 
CATHRYN (Otago Peninsula , May 2022 - One month)
Steve was excellent. We came home to a nice clean house and two well looked after cats. He kept in touch through his stay and was super easy to deal with when we changed our trip plan slightly. We wouldn't hesitate in using Steve to house sit for us in the future.
 
NICK (Hillsborough South Island, Dec 2021 - 1 week 4 days)
Steve really was the perfect fit for our pet/house sitting job. Steve promptly responded to the job and popped into meet us, he kept in touch while we were away, communicating openly making me feel like our pets were in safe hands. Our dog has had problems settling into a kennel in the past when we have gone away, this has meant I have felt anxious and guilty. This is our first time having a house sitter and happily Steve has taken great care of her and our two cats, I have really enjoyed ... MORE
 
NICOLA (Christchurch South Island, Jul 2021 - 1 week)
This was our first time using Steve and he was great. Really good communication, looked after our house and cats really well. We will definitely use his services again.
 
LISA (Nelson South Island, Sep 2020 - 10 days)
Steve was a wonderful, trustworthy housesitter who did all he could to care for my cats and home. The house was nice and clean when I came home and he mowed the lawns when he could. He communicated well with me. When he asked if there was something he could do I gave him a small building project which he undertook. I can highly recommend Steve as a house/petsitter. Thanks again Steve.
 
JENNIFER (Nelson Lakes South Island, Oct 2019 - 1 week 3 days x 2)
Thanks for house sitting for us Steve, Dawn and I never once worried about the pets. Regards Carl & Dawn
 
CARL (springfield South Island, Oct 2019 - 4)
Steve was a great house sitter. We came home to happy cats and tidy house & gardens - exactly what we needed:)
 
PENNY (Christchurch South Island, Sep 2019 - 1 month 2 weeks)
No rating HELLO everyone, I am writing a reference for Steve Carter. We went away for winter and got Steve to look after our small farm. He and my neighbors got on well together and he looked after the place very well. We came home to the same warm family home . We are very happy with the handling of the garden and the house and the farm and the property. We will try to get Steve to do it all again. Every body liked Steve very well. A good guy.. If you have ... MORE
GLENN (Canvastown , Jun 2019 - 3 months)
Thanks for the feedback Glenn....I appreciated the opportunity to hole up at your lovely place and meet a few of the locals. A super quiet, relaxing spot to spend a winter staying warm, being creative and checking out the region. In case I can't do it next time, everybody out there should know ... MORE
Steve was a very reliable sitter, he arrived when he said he would and left the home in the condition he found it. The main test of a sitter is honesty and reliability, and Steve was both. I recommend him.
 
SIMON (Nelson South Island, May 2019 - 18 days)
Steve did a great job looking after our kitty and our house. He also made us an herb garden and did other garden/ property chores which was great. We kept regular communication and Steve organised everything brilliantly. I highly recommend Steve as a trusted house sitter.
 
MANUELA (St Arnaud South Island, May 2018 - 6 months)
No rating We couldn't have picked a better house sitter. It's nerve wracking to entrust your beloved fuzzies to a stranger, but from our first email communication, Steve was open, friendly and immediately inspired trust. He gave contact details for a previous referee who emailed me a glowing endorsement and it is easy to see why. He is certainly anintelligent, capable and practical person who has a wealth of skills and experiences to draw on. After meeting us the day before we left, Steve respectfully ... MORE
DIANNA (Motueka South Island, Dec 2017 - 1 week 1 day)
 
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