Kiwi House Sitters

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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)
  • Yes
Preferred Locations
  • South Island: ALL  
Availability
  • NEXT 6 MONTHS    
    Available    
    Unavailable
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
  • 2024: 20Apr-30Jun

Tanya and Ted

52, Chef

59, Tradie

Kia Ora!
We are a couple who loves to travel and see new spots, and we have decided to "skip town", take our wee caravan and wander NZ for a year or 2. Our hope is supplement this with regular housesits, so we can enjoy being part of a new community in a way that is difficult to do when just passing through. We particularly love slow travel and most enjoy staying for a chunk of time and getting to know the locals and local way of life. We have done (and continue to do) a lot of informal house sitting over the years and know we are well suited to it. We enjoy the feeling of being in "a home" rather than an impersonal hotel.
Tanya is the animal lover, in particular cats, dogs, chickens and rabbits. She walks everyday for pleasure so getting your dog out and about will be a treat and she has never met a cat she didn't love! Ted is an avid gardener and goes a wee bit stir crazy when he doesn't get his hands into the soil on a regular basis.
We have extensive home and pet care, and will treat your home with respect and care, and your pets with love and attention. We also ran hostels for 10 years while living in the US. We own our own home in Dunedin and regularly had housesitters in it as we have 2 cats, Max and Ruth (our 2 adult kids are taking over our house and continuing on as their carers). For the past 10 years, until recently, Tanya owned a successful food business in Dunedin. Ted was originally a social worker, then a baker, but now does various trade work. We are responsible, easygoing and capable, plus non smokers. We are double vaccinated and have had our booster. We also believe in the importance of responding in a timely manner when you contact us and are happy to send regular updates your way.
Thanks for considering us,
Tanya and Ted

Reviews (13)
It was fabulous to come home to a contented cat and a pristine house! Tanya and Ted looked after our house, cat and wild birds with the same care we do. They let us know that they had arrived and all was well so we could relax knowing the were there. They also discussed a suitable time to leave to ensure our cat would be fed at a reasonable hour if we were going to be back late. They checked with us whether we would be okay about having their daughter who lives in the same city come and meet ... MORE
 
SHIRLEY (Kenmure South Island, Oct 2023 - 1 week 2 nights)
Tanya and Ted were absolutely wonderful as house/cat sitters while we were away. The cats were spoilt rotten and the house was left so clean and tidy when they left. We would recommend them to anyone and definitely use them again for future housesits!
 
SARAH (Careys Bay South Island, Jun 2023 - 1 week 4 days)
I highly recommend Tanya. I came home to a very happy cat who is usually very shy & doesn’t normally warm people that quickly. My home was very clean & she’d even washed the sheets. If you get Tanya to look after your home & animals you are very lucky.
 
LEXIE (Beckenham South Island, Jun 2023 - 1 week 2 days)
Tanya and Ted are exemplary housesitters. We were able to meet with them before going away which was a big help as we wanted the garden looked after and were grateful for the opportunity to explain things so that both were comfortable with the arrangement. We ended up having to go away earlier so it was good to have seen them beforehand. We also changed the date of our return to a week later and we were grateful that they were able to stay on for that time too. They stayed in touch about ... MORE
 
PAULINE (Wakefield South Island, Apr 2023 - 7 weeks)
Tanya & Ted were great housesitters, very happy to recommend them. It was lovely knowing our cats were loved and cared for while we were away. Great communication too
 
LINDSAY (Ravensbourne South Island, Dec 2022 - 2 weeks)
What wonderful housesitters Tanya & Ted were for the two months I was away. They made a special effort to come into the city to meet me and my old cat Beau before I left, which I really appreciated. Beau is a bit of a grumpy old fellow but he took to Tanya straight away, and I was pleased to hear how well how was doing and how friendly he was - I was sent regular reports on how everything was going. When Beau went off the food I had left for him they went out of their way to find him ... MORE
 
LINDA (Christchurch South Island, Aug 2022 - 2 months)
Thanks very much Linda! Please give Beau a pat and a treat from us!
Having Tanya & Ted looking after your place and animals; it is kind of you won a lottery! Really, it is! Tanya & Ted are trustworthy, respectful and down to earth couple. My cats were very much loved, respected and well looked after. The updates were funny to read and much appreciated. When I go on trip again; it would be like when are Ted & Tanya available? Arriving home; it was one surprise after the next. Having a cup of tea with a home made biscuits and noticed fresh fruit on the ... MORE
 
ANNET (Rangiora South Island, Jul 2022 - 5 weeks)
Ted and Tanya are the best house sitters we ever had. They are a really lovely couple who you instantly trust. We noticed right away they were very experienced house sitters. Tanya is a true cat whisperer, our cat don't really like strangers and it takes a long time for him to adjust but he loved her straight away. The house was really clean when we got back and we loved the updates they sent us. I just can't recommend them enough, thank you for everything!
 
MARJOLEIN (Mt Pleasant , Jun 2022 - 4 weeks)
What a truely lovely couple! An absolute gem...house was lovely and tidy..their bed made fresh..washing done...wow! Max cat so enjoyed their company and think he won them over...wee Fudge cat ..who is super timid did eat her meals outside but wasnt game coming in..im sure in another few days would have her coming in they are deffinately animal people . Very calm and reassuring around them. We hope we can have their services again at some stage. Happy traveling/house sitting!
 
MARIA (Winchester South Island, Mar 2022 - 5 days)
We were so happy to have found Ted and Tanya and have them look after our house and animals. We knew we didn't have to worry as they came and met the animals beforehand and we could tell they were all happy! Thankyou guys you were great.
 
STACEY (Waldronville South Island, Jan 2022 - 1 week 2 days)
Ted and Tanya were superb. Communication from the beginning right through to the end was the best we've ever had. They loved our pets, who loved them back, and we had no doubt they (the pets) were having the time of their lives with them! Our house looked really great to come home to, too. We wish they were our neighbours!
 
ANNE (Port Chalmers South Island, Dec 2021 - 2 weeks)
Tanya and Ted were amazing. They took great care of our pets and house. The house was lovely and tidy (and clean set of sheets on our bed). Great communicator and very caring of our pets. Highly recommend Ted and Tanya for your next housesitting needs.
 
ANTOINETTE (Company Bay South Island, Oct 2021 - 3 days)
Great communication, and even can 24 hours early when we realized we mucked up the dates. House and pets were looked after and our dog was very relaxed when we came home, which indicated she enjoyed being looked after by Tanya. Prompt and easy communication. Thank you so much for your care of our home and property. We would not hesitate in having Tanya back again!
 
ERIN (Weston South Island, Oct 2019 - 6 days)
 
Garden Maintenance

Green garden!

Make sure the garden and pot plants are thriving when you get back - get a house sitter.

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