Caretaking - An Innovative, Cost-Saving Concept in the Travel Industry
I am always searching for innovative, unconventional, and first and foremost, cost-saving approaches to travel. I recently came across the concept of "caretaking", i.e. looking after other people's (often beautiful) properties and estates, as an easy way of procuring rent-free living opportunities in interesting places. Read relating to this innovative concept in this interview with Gary Dunn, expert on "caretaking", and see if you may be able to utilize it yourself....
1. Please tell us more about the Caretaking concept.
For individuals who are not mixed up in profession, the word "caretaker" could have numerous meanings. But for the growing number of individuals who are discovering the caretaking profession, a caretaker is home caretaker: a person or persons who cares for home in trade for rent-free living accommodations, and with the possibility of additional compensation.
The caretaking profession includes positions such as for example housesitters, ranch sitters, Bed & Breakfast and Innsitters, property managers, Estate Managers, and hosts at resorts and campgrounds. A caretaker is generally distinguished from a "caregiver," someone with health care skills who is employed to take care of another individual, often as a live-in aide.
Caretaking is a earliest pens profession, rooted in the British tradition of land maintenance. In 1868, The Times of London defined a caretaker as "a person put in control of a farm from that your tenant has been evicted." Today that definition has been expanded to cover a variety of landowner/caretaker relationships. The amount and diversity of those relationships has increased during the past decade. The caretaking profession keeps growing in popularity as more landowners discover the advantages of having a caretaker(s) on their property.
2. How did you feel an expert in caretaking?
By practicing what we preach! We started caretaking in the 1970's via word-of-mouth, and soon learned how difficult it was to get new caretaking assignments, after completing a housesitting assignment somewhere. So we saw an actual requirement for a means that property owners and property caretakers may find each other - thus the genesis of THE CARETAKER GAZETTE.
3. You're the publisher about a newsletter on caretaking. Since when have you been achieving this and what does the newsletter contain?
THE CARETAKER GAZETTE has been published since 1983, and we now provide our subscribers with 1,000+ caretaking and housesitting assignments annually, worldwide. We keep growing year by year and provide our subscribers with increased rent-free living opportunities annually, along with helpful articles and information about the property caretaking field!
4. What sort of properties become available for caretaking?
Every type of property you can imagine - from simple homes - to mansions on large acreage and even private islands! A sample listing of the kinds of properties is available on my website, this will provide you with a notion of the diverse and often gorgeous kinds of properties available. Caretaking opportunities are available all around the world.
5. What qualifications does it take to become caretaker?
To get across to the property owner that you will be trustworthy and reliable using their property and that you are in good health and have plenty of good sense!
6. What kind of people are usually attracted to the concept of caretaking?
People who are fed up with making rent or mortgage payments and want to live rent-free, plus plenty of travelers who want to explore various locations and people thinking about the best location they wish to retire to and spend their retirement years.
6. What sort of activities does a caretaker perform? What are the duties of a caretaker?
Some caretaking situations involve simple housesitting assignments, in which all that's required of the caretaker would be to occupy the property. Some landowners seek experienced caretakers with specific skills (e.g., maintenance, farming, ranching or animal husbandry) while others are willing to defend myself against and train people who have general backgrounds.
As with most other professions, traits such as for example honesty, good sense, reliability, and flexibility are key prerequisites. For caretakers who live and work alone on the property of an absentee landowner, the capacity to function independently and fulfill one's responsibilities without daily guidance and instruction from the landowner are important qualifications. Although a love of nature and solitude is essential, having hobbies and interests (e.g., reading, writing, computers, photography) that can be pursued in what're often remote areas is very helpful.
7. You will find "innsitters", "island caretakers", "wilderness caretakers" and other unique caretakers. Please describe a few of these specialty caretaking roles.
The duties and responsibilities of a caretaker are as varied as the landowners and caretakers themselves fence repair. Some caretaking positions simply require persons to occupy a property and watch after it like it were their own. Other caretaking assignments provide opportunities to work in dozens of areas, including: groundskeeping, land stewardship, gardening, and resort management.
Although some landowners desire a presence on their property and do not require any physical work, others need fences mended, snow plowed, gardens tended, animals looked after, and houses, roads and pastures maintained. Plumbing and electrical work may be part of a caretaker's duties - or the caretaker may result in hiring competent repair persons.
Caretaking positions on nature preserves may involve land stewardship, caring for land to ensure it remains intact and productive for future generations. Caretakers act as land stewards when their responsibilities include preservation and maintenance activities.
8. So how exactly does one find out about caretaking opportunities?
By being in the right place at the right time to get an assignment via word-of-mouth, or subscribing to THE CARETAKER GAZETTE via
9. Just how do property owners and caretakers usually connect, so how exactly does the selection process work?
Either via phone, fax, email or snail mail. The prudent caretaker sets out to develop a strong working relationship with the landowner. If the landowner's goals and philosophies are stated in the caretaker-wanted advertisement, prospective caretakers must look into whether they are in harmony with their very own beliefs.
While skill and experience are important, most landowners are initially concerned with character references. When answering an ad, a neatly prepared resume should be accompanied by photographs of oneself (and family, if applicable) and personal and professional references.
Landowners often request a personal letter, where in fact the prospective caretaker discusses things like interests, goals and reasons for desiring a caretaking position. Both parties should be as open and honest as possible. Information regarding any special skills, interests, or experiences must also be included.
10. What practical advice could you give someone who wants to turn into a caretaker?
Inveterate travelers can see that caretaking enables them to live and work in a number of interesting locales - both in the U.S. and abroad. Positions might be for the long or short-term (including two-week housesitting stints for a vacationing homeowner), seasonal or year-round.
Many newcomers to the caretaking field have already been lifelong travelers. Most are motivated by the want to explore another culture in depth. Caretaking offers travelers the ability to become a part of a community and experience life as the locals live it. Travelers can caretake resort properties during off-seasons, enjoying the usage of the causes and facilities. For travelers who are considering a go on to another geographic area, caretaking allows them to have life in a new location just before spending time, money and energy relocating there.
Thank you, Gary, for enlightening us on this original and definitely cost-saving method to travel. You have given me something to believe about.
