Schedule
DAY 1 (Sat 21st Sept)
- SESSION 1 - 9.00am - 10.30am
Introduction to house and pet sitting
This first session on Saturday introduces the house sitting and travel lifestyle. Discover what's involved and what your future might look like. Meet the conference organizers, Vanessa Anderson & Ian Usher, of House Sitting Magazine, and find out what you'll be learning over the next two days.
Click the talk titles below to open a drop-down with details of the speaker, and an overview of the content. Refreshments and snacks will be provided at breaks between sessions.
Welcome to the first House & Pet Sitting Conference
What is house and pet sitting?
Trust and expectations: What does a house sitter do?
When you've got nothing left but trust
Travel is the best teacher
- SESSION 2 - 11.00am - 12.30pm
Let's get inspired!
In this session we'll take a look at where house sitting might lead you. We'll look not only at where you can go, but also at the many different lifestyle choices house sitting can support. We'll also present the first of 5 educational sessions to teach you the skills you'll need to become a successful house sitter.
Where in the world can you house sit?
Make everywhere "home"
Keeping a home and travelling too
Modern day nomads
Growth and courage
ED 1: Building credibility
- SESSION 3 - 1.30pm - 3.00pm
Anyone can house sit
In the first afternoon session we'll look at the different lifestyles of many house sitters. There really is no such thing as a "typical" house sitter. Our goal is to show you that house sitting is just one aspect of whatever sort of lifestyle you would like to create. You'll discover that just about anyone can become a house sitter.
We'll also present our second educational session, which will help you create a great online profile, and increase your chances of being picked for the sits you apply for.
Solo sitting as a digital nomad
The ups and downs of sitting with your own pet
Tales of a part-time house sitter
Living life on our terms
Pets need CARE... and home owners do too
- SESSION 4 - 3.30pm - 5.00pm
It's all about the pets
Most house sits involve looking after pets, commonly dogs and cats. As a key aspect of house sitting, we learn how to quickly build a great relationship with a dog unknown to you. The day finishes with a Q&A session when you'll get the chance to ask a panel of experienced house sitters your burning questions.
Don't forget there's a great opportunity to network with our speakers and fellow delegates over dinner this evening. If you haven't yet secured a dinner ticket you'll find the link just below this section.
The 5 animal welfare needs
ED 2: Creating your profile
"Question Time"
Saturday evening 7.00pm - Networking Dinner Event Limited Spaces (additional cost)
DAY 2 (Sun 22nd Sept)
- SESSION 5 - 9.00am - 10.30am
Applying for house sits
Once the preparation is done, it's time to start applying for house sits. We begin the second day by diving straight in at the deep end. It's time to pluck up courage and take some action! What do you need to cover in an application? How do you improve your chances of success? Our third educational session will help you get started. We take some time to look at things from the home owners' perspective too.
Create courage, find freedom, live your dreams
ED 3: Applying for house sits
So, you want to sit in my house?
CPR for animals
- SESSION 6 - 11.00am - 12.30pm
Making the most of your house sit
Come back ready to learn after morning coffee! This session is when you'll really discover how to secure the sits you want. We have two educational sessions on handling your first house sits, from the initial interview, right through to completing the sit, and quite possibly securing a repeat. We also look at "marketing" yourself, and when (and how) to say "No" to a sit.
ED 4: Interview and confirm, the handover, the sit
When it’s OK to say “No”
ED 5: Finishing the sit, the home owners' return, asking for reviews, repeat sits
- SESSION 7 - 1.30pm - 3.00pm
The bigger picture
OK. We've given you the skills. Now let's take a look at the "bigger picture". House sitting isn't the end goal, it's lifestyle that you're looking for. Let's take an inspiring look at where house sitting has taken some people, and think about how you might want to shape your life for the future you want to live.
Travelling light: Fitting 2 wardrobes into one roll-aboard
Marketing for success
7 steps to embracing a non-traditional lifestyle
Getting paid to be a house and pet sitter
Living life as research project
- SESSION 8 - 3.30pm - 5.00pm
Financing your new lifestyle
Finally, we bring it all together and look at options for financing your house sitting and travel lifestyle.
The weekend will end with a final question time - if there's anything we haven't covered now's the time to ask. Bring your questions along, and we'll make sure you leave fully equipped to start creating your dream lifestyle.