by Trav | Sep 30, 2014 | Podcast
What’s better than having all the conveniences of home while you’re away?
Getting them for free.
We’re all about traveling more while spending less, and getting free accommodations is THE way to spend less. So what is it we did?
Housesitting
An ever-growing community of people who opens their homes to people in exchange for the knowledge that their property and sometimes pets will be well cared for in their absence.
Today Heather joins me as we run through some of the best tips and tricks on how to find your first housesit and once you get it, what to do next.
We had a great time housesitting in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado and we want you to be able to get your own awesome housesitting gigs all over the world. Let us know where you’ll be applying to housesit in the comments below!
Right-click to download this episode directly
Check out the entire library of EPoP Travel Podcasts on iTunes
In This Episode:
- The site we use the most when looking for housesitting gigs.
- Why a profile picture is imperative
- Tips on how to make your profile more awesome.
- Discussions to have with the homeowner before you arrive.
- A discount code for our EPoP listeners!
and much more!
How to Sign Up for Trusted Housesitters (and 3 months free!)
Here’s how to sign up and make sure you get the extra free months:
- Click this link to be taken to the Trusted Housesitters website.
- Hit “Join Now” in the top right-hand corner.
- Click on “Housesitter Membership and Pricing Plans” on the right-hand side.
- Scroll to the bottom and enter EPOP where it says “Have a Promotional Code?”.
- Hit Apply Code. Scroll back down to bottom and you should see a message that says “Promo code applied” as well as a check mark.
- Now, pick your plan.
- Enter your info and create your account.
- When you get to the confirmation page, you will see that the length of your membership has been extended. Yeah!
Links Discussed in This Episode:
I Need Your Help
Help spread the word about housesitting. The more people who know about it, the more places there will be to go! Click “Tweet This” below.
Did you know you can stay around the world for free with #housesitting? What better way to #travel more & spend less.→ http://bit.ly/1vrjXhj
Tweet This!
Help Us Catch Tim Ferriss on iTunes!
We just hit our original goal of 100 reviews on iTunes, which means we are the top-rated travel podcast (and which means I’m giving out $100)!
Now, we’re gunning to catch Tim Ferris’s new podcast and I have a surprise in store if we do. Help out and leave a review on iTunes:
- Click this link: Leave a review on iTunes
- Hit “View in iTunes” on the left-hand side under the picture.
- Leave an honest review.
- You’re awesome!
by Trav | Sep 26, 2014 | Housesitting
The captivating peaks of the Rocky Mountains surround a beautiful five bedroom house overlooking the charming town of Breckenridge.
Yeah, that Breckenridge.
The insanely popular ski destination.
The place with world class restaurants and amazing hiking and biking.
And oh, those views; some of the most majestic America has to offer.
Add it all up, and you’ve got one of the most expensive places in the US to stay.
So how did I, a frugal traveler known to walk a mile in the rain to save the $5 taxi fare, end up in a 5 bedroom mansion complete with a BMW and a hot tub?
The answer is simple (and is also your key to unlocking a world of amazing travel opportunities):
Housesitting!
Heather and I have been members of the popular and ever-growing site Trusted Housesitters for almost two years now (which was founded by our good friend Andy Peck, whose interview you can find here).
And for the last two years, I would open my email every single day and lust after the amazing options available for a free house in various countries.
From castles in Ireland to bucolic estates in the French countryside, I knew one thing for sure…
Someday we needed to housesit.
Enter Breckenridge.
When this opportunity came through my email, I jumped on it.
It just so happened that spending three weeks in the Colorado Rockies at the beginning of fall fit perfectly into our schedule.
Finally, we were going to housesit…
And wow, what a house it was!
We had an absolutely amazing experience housesitting and taking care of two labs, Gracie and Rufus. 
The house we stayed in was spacious and well decorated and the house owner provided every convenience we could need – including a car.
And not just any car – a BMW SUV!
There were plenty of rooms, and while every house sitting profile is different, this particular one did not mind if we had guests (within reason, of course). 
Heather’s sister and our friend came out to visit and we all enjoyed hiking and relaxing in the hot tub with the amazing view of Breckenridge.
We arrived in Breckenridge just as the temperature started to drop at night.
It was the perfect opportunity to enjoy a nice soak in the hot tub and for the leaves to begin changing.
So, How Do I Start Housesitting?
If you’re someone who is interested in housesitting, the first place you should start is with Trusted Housesitters.
Not only is it the world’s biggest housesitting website, but it’s also the easiest to use.
And because Andy is a friend of mine, I’ve even been able to work out a special discount code just for EPoP readers.
If you grab a 12-month subscription, you’ll get an additional 3 for free!
Here’s how to sign up and make sure you get the extra free months:
- Click this link to be taken to the Trusted Housesitters website.
- Hit “Join Now” in the top right-hand corner.
- Click on “Housesitter Membership and Pricing Plans” on the right-hand side.
- Scroll to the bottom and enter EPOP where it says “Have a Promotional Code?”.
- Hit Apply Code. Scroll back down to bottom and you should see a message that says “Promo code applied” as well as a checkmark.
- Now, pick your plan.
- Enter your info and create your account.
- When you get to the confirmation page, you will see that the length of your membership has been extended. Yeah!
Want even more information on how house sitting works? Check out our detailed guide.
Final Word(s)
I LOVE housesitting because it offers an incredible opportunity for all people involved.
For the homeowner, they know that they’ll have people taking care of and watching after their house while they are away (and in some cases, their pets as well).
For the traveler, it provides the unique ability to stay in some amazing places across the world while having all the conveniences of home – and sometimes even more – for free.
Housesitting is part of the new wave of accommodations opportunities that every traveler should look to take advantage of.
From short weekend stays in penthouses in Manhattan to long term opportunities on remote islands, Trusted Housesitters has a wide variety of options, and with new ones being posted every day, there’s always something for everyone!
So, what are you waiting for?
Sign up today (don’t forget the discount code) and let me know what amazing housesits you’ll be applying for in the comments below!
by Trav | Mar 25, 2014 | Podcast, Podcast Interview
Villas in Tuscany.
Chateaus in the Alps.
Penthouses in New York.
What if when you traveled, you could stay in these types of places?
And better yet, what if they were free?
With housesitting, they can be!
All over the world, people are opening up their homes for others to come and stay in while they are gone. And in return for looking after their home and sometimes their pet, you get to stay in their place, for free!
It really is a win-win for both parties involved, and explains why housesitting is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing ways to travel.
Today, Andy Peck, the Godfather of Housesitting and founder of the biggest housesitting site in the world, Trusted Housesitters, sits down with us to talk about the ins and outs of housesitting.
From how to give yourself the best chance to score your first housesit to some of the best places he’s ever seen, Andy breaks down housesitting from A-Z.
Oh, and he also gives Extra Pack of Peanuts listeners a special discount on a Trusted Housesitter membership (see instructions below)!
So if you’re someone who is interested in trying your hand at housesitting, this is the podcast for you. Andy’s tips will have you scoring your dream housesit in no time!
Right-click to download this episode directly
Check out the entire library of EPoP Travel Podcasts on iTunes
Help Us Hit 100 Reviews on iTunes
We’re currently at 82 and almost there. Would you be so kind as to take a minute and leave us a review? Here’s the link:
Leave an iTunes Review.
In This Episode:
- The step by step process of housesitting.
- The #1 thing you need to do to score your first housesit.
- How housesitting “throws the guidebook in the trash.”
- The amount of money Trusted Housesitters has saved people over the last 3 years (hint: it’s A LOT!)
- The 3 key things you can do to get your dream housesit.
- Who to ask for references if you haven’t housesat before.
- How to rank higher on the list of potential housesitters.
- Housesits vs. Hiltons
- Andy’s most memorable housesits.
- The country that is the fastest-growing housesitting market
And much more!
How To Get The EPoP Discount For Trusted Housesitters
Andy has made a generous offer of giving EPoP listeners the following discount:
- Sign up for a 3-month membership, get 1 month free.
- Sign up for a 6-month membership get 2 months free.
- Sign up for a 12-month membership get 3 months free.
To get the discount, follow these steps:
- Click this link to be taken to the Trusted Housesitters website.
- Hit “Join Now” in the top right-hand corner.
- Click on “Housesitter Membership and Pricing Plans” on the right-hand side.
- Scroll to the bottom and enter EPOP where it says “Have a Promotional Code?”.
- Hit Apply Code. Scroll back down to bottom and you should see a message that says “Promo code applied” as well as a check mark.
- Now, pick your plan.
- Enter your info and create your account.
- When you get to the confirmation page, you will see that the length of your membership has been extended. Yeah!
Links Discussed in This Episode:
I Need Your Help
Andy not only told us all the ins and outs of housesitting, but he also gave us a discount! Show him some love by clicking “Tweet This” below:
@housesitting Thanks for the expert advice on how to score #housesits around the world + discount on the EPoP Podcast w/@PackofPeanuts.
Tweet This!
I’m giving away $100 once we hit a 100 ratings on iTunes, so why not take 1 minute, leave a rating, and enter to win!
Leave a Rating for the Podcast, Win $100! (now fixed so it works).
by Trav | Jun 25, 2013 | Podcast, Podcast Interview
In this episode of the Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast, Dalene Heck of HeckticTravels.com joins the show to talk about how she and her husband Pete have lived in some amazing houses around the world, from the Caribbean island of Roatan to a penthouse in Manhattan…
FOR FREE!
Their secret?
Housesitting!
And during the podcast, Dalene reveals everything you need to know to start doing the same. From what sites to use to find housesits to how to build a killer housesitting profile that will get you noticed, it’s all there, and then some.
Dalene is the person who introduced me to the wonderful world of housesitting and with 13 housesits under her belt in 4 years, is the ultimate authority on the subject.
So if you’re looking to score a sweet apartment in downtown Barcelona or a relax on a vineyard in Tuscany, all for free, give this killer interview a listen!
Right-click to download this episode directly
Been listening to the EPoP Podcast and love it? Help us dominate iTunes by leaving a rating!
Rate the EPoP Podcast on iTunes!
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- How housesitting works.
- The best sites to find housesitting jobs.
- A few things you should think about, and do, before accepting a housesit.
- The most crucial part of getting a housesit you want.
- How a brand new housesitter can create a profile that stands out.
- What countries have the most housesitting positions available, and why.
- How saving money by housesitting can lead to a $600 helicopter ride in Greenland!
Links Discussed in This Episode:
I Need Your Help
Dalene is awesome, so show her some love by clicking “tweet this” below:
“@Hecktravels You rule! Thanks for teaching me how to live rent free around the world on the EPoP Podcast with @PackofPeanuts. #housesitting”
Tweet This!
If you haven’t already done so, I would love if you took one minute (seriously, only one) to leave a quick rating and review of the podcast on iTunes by clicking on the link below! It is vital to helping us move up the iTunes rankings!
Leave a Rating for Trav’s Podcast
Cheers!
Trav
