Protect Your Home and Reduce Your Insurance Costs

Government statistics show that crime against property is on the increase* and homeowners are always looking for new and innovative ways to protect their property. Paying someone to look after things while you're away is a proven and effective method of deterring burglary and vandalism against your home. So effective, in fact, that leading insurance companies like Norwich Union and Axa will offer you a reduction in your premium if you employ a house-sitter.

Of course, it's not easy to find willing and responsible people to house-sit for you and there are also insurance and tax issues to contend with if you decide to employ someone yourself. For this reason, a number of companies have sprung up in recent years that offer a tailor-made home and pet-sitting service. Companies like Absentia, Home and Pet Care and Animal Aunts employ a pool of responsible, fully vetted house and pet sitters and will give you the opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting with them before you hand over the keys.

The vast majority of house-sitters are retired people who enjoy the variety of new experiences that it offers. Absentia's Peter Drew is the archetypal candidate - an upright, unflappable former army major, who began working as a house-sitter after retirement ten years ago. Peter sees house sitting as a great opportunity to combine work with pleasure: "It's a bit of a hobby really, but I find it extremely enjoyable. Plus it lets me get away and allows me to visit other parts of the country, some of which I've never visited before."

Peter works for three or four months a year on short and long term sits, sometimes up to five weeks at a time. Many of his jobs will involve looking after people's animals as well as carrying out everyday tasks around the home. He's had the opportunity to mind some very unusual properties, including the hospitality ship HQS Wellington on the River Thames and the London home of a famous country singer.

Clients are keen to use older house-sitters because, as Absentia's founder and Managing Director Moira Hampton explains, "They are seen to be more responsible and careful. They are also more likely to have other sources of income, which is necessary because of the modest fees we charge."

Most companies charge from £27.50 a day for a sitter, with extra supplements for pet care and travel. We've included the names of some leading companies below - just call them up for more detailed information and prices:

Absentia
web: www.home-and-pets.co.uk
address: Little London, Berden, Bishop's Stortford, Herts, CM23 1BE
tel: 01279 777412
fax: 01279 777049
email: theteam@home-and-pets.co..uk

Animal Aunts
tel: 01730 821529

Home and Pet Care
tel: 01697 478515

*BCS (British Crime Survey), published in July 2002, show a 6% increase in police recorded property crime between 2000/01 and 2001/02. For full details, visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk