House Minding

From Peoplebrokers

Our administration fee to match your requests:

Home owner looking for a minder $110 per mind

Minder looking for a minding assignment $110 for six month's membership.

We developed our unique house minding service in 1988. Everyone completes a thorough questionnaire and we personally match all requests. Let us help you choose the right house minder or home to mind - our clients tell us that matching matters.

1 Key Benefits
2 Press Articles
3 Meet Our Members
4 The Procedure
5 News Articles
6 Minder
- 6.1 Diary of a house minder
7 Fees
8 Home Owner FAQ
9 Minder FAQ

Key Benefits

Personal matching and referral
Minders can be replaced mid-assignment
Reliable and experienced minders available

For further assurance, home owners are encouraged to nominate a third party who can be called upon to handle any problems that may arise and we urge that person to visit the house from time to time to ensure that it is being cared for properly. This puts both parties at ease. The house sitters are so grateful to have a furnished place to live in while their renovations or property settlements occur that they are inclined to take extra care of your home. Some people return to find their homes looking better than when they left. Apart from that there is no more returning to a cold, dusty house as one home owner wrote in their letter of thanks. It is certainly less stressful for pets to stay at home than being put in kennels or catteries. Your garden will definitely benefit if someone lives in your house and keeps an eye on it daily.

What can happen if you don't find your minder through an agency that matches .... On 19th August 2002 a distressed mother in Newcastle called us to say that her daughter had gone overseas and left her home and her cat with a 65 year old woman she found in a house sitting directory. The mother had been ringing the house sitter for 3 days, no reply, she was worried something had happened to the house sitter. We were able to put her in touch the with people who publish the directory to get the contact details of the sitter. The house sitter changed her mind about house sitting and just came round to feed the cat each day. Now the cat has 2 more weeks alone, the publisher of the directory has no role to play. If the home owner had come to us we could have replaced the minder instantly.

Press Articles

We stress that the ultimate choice of person is yours, we will present fully screened applicants according to your requirements. Although we do not accept responsibility, our network of contacts provides most trustworthy people.

Once registered keep a copy of our procedure handy

Meet Our Members

The Procedure

House Owner Procedure	Minder Procedure
If you have registered to find a house minder you have agreed to the following .... We search our files to find the most appropriate minder for you. You understand that we don't 'mind' your home, we put you in touch with people who can. The responsibility for choosing the minder rests with you, if the first one you see is not appropriate tell us why and we will arrange for you to meet another minder. We cannot guarantee that the right minder will be available although 99% of home owners find the minder that suits them. The process is as follows: When we have chosen a minder for you to meet we will email or phone you to tell you about them. At this stage they know very little about you, just the suburb in which you live and the duration of your absence. We only tell them all about you when you agree that they sound suitable and that there is no conflict of interest. With your permission we then phone the minder to give them more detail about your minding assignment. They will phone you to arrange a convenient meeting time. The first meeting is usually to ascertain whether you like each other and feel comfortable to proceed.	Minder procedure Procedure once you have registered as a minder ...... When you register to be a house minder you agree to follow this procedure. Not following this procedure can jeopardise your results. To give you the greatest opportunity to mind a house we ask that you co-operate in the following way. References Your three references must be addressed to Chris Kaine and Associates Pty Ltd. Your referees vouch for your honesty, reliability and integrity. At least one reference would vouch for the proud and orderly manner you keep your own environment. Some home owners may ask you to organise a police clearance - telephone your local police station to arrange. Please ask your referees to email us directly if possible, otherwise fax or post. We will pass these references on to the homeowner if requested. Accepting an assignment When we see that you are the best minder for an assignment we ring you to confirm your availability and ask for your commitment to the assignment sight unseen. We ask that you are absolutely sure you want to do the mind before we contact the homeowner. We would rather you think overnight about an assignment offered than commit on the spot only to find some other commitment coincides. You may have to confer with a partner. We than ask that you respond to us quickly (please use email or our answering machine if convenient) otherwise the assignment will be offered to someone else. Some assignments are offered to several minders at once therefore the first to respond will usually be successful.
Feedback Immediate feedback is crucial. As soon as you have met the minder email us or telephone our office to indicate your response. We are contactable 24 hours a day; by email, fax and the answering machine is on when we are closed. Our hours are 10.00am till 5pm Monday to Friday. If any details change at your end please notify us immediately. When both parties agree to continue a second meeting is usually arranged to go over the finer details. Remember that we asked you to nominate a third party to oversee the mind. You may introduce the minder to them before you leave. We instruct the minder to refer to this third party if any problems arise. Third party The third party should arrange to visit the minder after the first week. If they feel things are not as you would expect them to be they telephone our office immediately. We notify the minder that the assignment is over. We then arrange for your third party to meet a replacement minder who can take over immediately. We look forward to working with you and we hope that you will tell all your friends about our service.	Feedback is crucial After you have met the homeowner it is essential to email or phone us with immediate feedback. Preliminary advice can be left on our answering machine. We will return your email or call to discuss the outcome and any new information that arose during your meeting. Advising changes You accept the responsibility of ensuring that your details are always accurate so that we can match your details to the homeowner’s requests. Please advise us of any changes as soon as they occur; especially changes that affect your availability. Our office can be contacted 24 hours a day. We ask that you use email or our answering machine overnight to advise changes and to give feedback wherever possible. Any changes to your situation after you have accepted an assignment must be discussed with us not the homeowner. For example, you may be invited away for the weekend during the minding assignment which means you will be absent overnight. Minding assignments have been cancelled immediately because the minder has communicated such changes directly to the homeowner. If we discuss it with the homeowner we can advise them of their options. During the minding assignment Should any problems arise during the assignment you will liaise with the third party nominated by the home owner. If you are unable to resolve an issue you should discuss it with our office. Any decision to repair anything or incur costs for the homeowner must go through the third party otherwise you may find that you have to bear the cost yourself.
Payment of fee binds you to this Registration Agreement: I understand the nature of the service provided and accept responsibility for choosing the appropriate people to mind my home. Contact with minders will only be made through Chris Kaine & Associates Pty Ltd for each new assignment. I also understand that the fee is not refundable but can be used at any future date.	Terms and conditions You know that we cannot guarantee any minding for you because the home owner has all the say about who minds their home. If you haven't heard from us for a few weeks we invite you to ring us to check progress (after lunch Tuesday to Friday is best). Not adhering to these directions and agreements can result in missed assignments, or at worst, membership cancellation. We look forward to working with you and hope you will enjoy your minding assignments. Payment of fee binds you to this Registration Agreement: I understand the responsibility of this house minding task and pledge that I will, with integrity, look after the assigned home as if it were mine. The information I have provided is true and correct. I will not arrange to mind the home of members or their friends without the knowledge of Chris Kaine & Associates Pty Ltd. I also understand that fees are not refundable but if unused they remain in credit and can be re-used and/or transferred to other services in the future.

News Articles

Minder

If you would like to mind a home PLEASE do not call us to ask the questions already answered in the minder FAQs below. Thank you for your co-operation. We have 21 years of experience and we do not like to mislead people into thinking that they MAY find six months rent-free accommodation with no pets. Minders are carefully selected and preference is given to people with very legitimate reasons for wanting to mind. House renovations; in between buying and selling property; study/research needing peace and quiet or a break from living with relatives and the like. House minding is a great responsibility and requires an attitude of concern and caring. As minders you are not guarding the property, but will maintain a presence in the home as if the owners were there. It is rare that minders can be absent overnight and you will often have the added responsibility of feeding pets and caring for gardens. Minders are not paid and sometimes have to pay the gas, electricity and telephone bills.

You cannot rely on minding for a permanent roof over your head for long periods. Before you apply for house minding you should arrange for somewhere to stay between assignments should that be necessary. Assignments range from a few days to a few months, minding for lengths of time over six months are rare despite the claims of paid advertising in the press. Longer assignments often involve rent. Please read the FAQs, we do not refund fees if you do not get the minding the want. You can reopen your file in the future and use it then.

Your temporary home circumstances should be hassle free because you will have access to people who can assist should any problem occur. We encourage the home owner to arrange periodic inspections by that third party to ensure that everything is going smoothly. We will thoroughly screen you for your assignment and the people who own the house will interview you as well. Our emphasis is on matching the standards and values of people because we know people will be much more relaxed knowing their home will be looked after by someone they like. We require three written references from people who can testify to the fact that you keep your own home in a proud and orderly manner. We will take details of your employment history, your driver's licence number and car registration or other identification. Among the many other things we ask on the registration form is the names of people who will visit you during the assignment. We look forward to your participation in this unique service - the homes are often easily cared for and you should find the assignments very enjoyable. Read the press articles about our house minding program.

Diary of a house minder

"I have been house sitting since December 1999 and I am really enjoying it. Apart from the money I am saving, I am continually discovering new areas of Melbourne and I love the variation. The key I have found, however, to cope with the constant change, is to be organised. By the time I had completed my second assignment, I had found that the easiest, most efficient way to shift each time was to have specific boxes for particular items. For instance, I keep all my toiletries in one box, I have a suit case of clothes plus a bundle of clothes on hangers (I do have a lot of clothes), my shoes in another box and my linen in a large bag.

I find it is easier not to unpack everything, whether I am at a new housesit or at my home base in between house sits. I only take out the essential items I use every day and leave everything else in their particular box. Consequently, I always know where everything is. I use boxes that have lids and holes in the sides for handles. It is like having portable cupboards! Keeping a list of things that you wish to take with you to each housesit is very helpful. You can then check off the items as you pack up, either when you are moving to, or leaving a house, so you don't leave anything behind.

When I visit a house that is a potential assignment, I take note of any items that I would normally use that the owner may not have, for example, a coffee plunger. I then know to pack my own plunger when I come back to housesit this house. By doing this, I find I don't always need to take everything to every housesit.

The more I housesit, the more organised I am, and the easier it is becoming to move and adjust to each new house."

Fees

Home owner looking for a minder $110 per mind.

Minder looking for a minding assignment $110 for 6 months.

Please note that these fees are application fees not success fees.

Once registered please keep a copy of our procedure handy

Home Owner FAQ

Why do people use an agency to find a house minder?

When family and friends are not available and your pet doesn't like to be boarded ... For the last twenty-one years thousands of people have been having the most relaxing holidays possible because they don't have to worry about their pets and gardens when they go away. We have minders who will step in and take over.

Families are becoming more independent and people seem to be much busier, so asking family and friends to feed the cat, walk the dog, bring in the mail, water the garden etc can stretch relationships.

One woman in her seventies has been housebound for many years because she will not put her two small dogs in a boarding kennel. Since joining our service she has had two holidays and more are planned. Another man has a cat and a dog who are inseparable so he won't go away unless someone can live in his house with his two trusty friends.

Will the minders steal the silver?

(They might have better silver than you!)

Firstly, minders have to pay a $110 registration fee to be listed in our database. They are also warned that the payment of the fee does not guarantee any minding. Minders are matched - the homeowners choose the minder. The minders, apart from being carefully screened, are matched to the homeowner's lifestyle and personality. We know that the homeowner will be happiest with someone they really like. We will refer as many minders as you wish until you are completely happy that you have chosen the right one. Over the past ten years we have rarely had to send more than one - our matching is usually very accurate. Because it is the homeowner chooses who the minder there is no liability on our part or any other referring party (like a veterinarian or a travel agent). You can ask the minder to get a police clearance certificate.

Why do people want to mind houses?

They may be renovating their own home, between buying and selling, needing peace and quiet to study or saving to buy a home. They could be saving for travel or living with their family and want a break from it. In some cases, the minders are from interstate or overseas visiting family in Melbourne and don't want to live in their pockets. The arrangement is therefore reciprocal; gardens and pets cared for in return for temporary accommodation.

What does the minder do?

The minder lives in the home and is not paid but rather needs short-term accommodation. They are not domestic help and can't be given lists of things to do. They are not guarding the premises, they just maintain a presence in the house to make things appear normal. They care for pets and are chosen because they like the type of animal a home owner has. Some of our minders are very experienced with animals, some of our minders are vets!. The pets are much happier to be in their own environment - it is stressful enough that their owners are away without the added stress of being in a boarding kennel or cattery. The minders are also happy to maintain gardens, some enjoy gardening a lot.

What does it cost?

You don't pay the minder, you pay us a fee to join. It costs over $60 a week for one animal in a kennel or cattery so if a home owner who has one pet is going away for 4 weeks or more our service is very economical, apart from the added bonus of a presence in the house. If they have two or more pets then this is the most economical system. We charge $110 to personally match a minder to your requests. Over the years our members have saved hundreds of dollars.

Won't a pet feeding service do?

Pet feeding services are okay for short periods of time, say under a week. If people are going away for longer it is a risk only having someone visit the home once or twice a day. If the pet is injured just after the feeder visits it won't be found until the next visit - which could make the difference between life and death.

Why don't I simply let my home through a real estate agent?

In our experience, when people rent properties at market rates they are not as careful as they are when they enter an agreement to mind your home. Many Real Estate agents will not take on a rental property that contains the owners personal effects. You need to outweigh the costs of packing and storage.

Tell me about your screening process?

The minders pay to join the register knowing they may not even get any minding. We find that those who register are usually very committed. We ask for three written references written to us with the full knowledge of the reason for the reference. The homeowner can telephone these referees. We take drivers licence numbers and car registration numbers. We take work history details, which indicate the degree of responsibility and stability in the work place and also identifies any conflict of interests (eg both home owner and minder work for different banks or opposition legal firms etc.).

How can I be totally confident about the minder?

You nominate a third party to be on hand should the minder need to know anything about the running of the house while you are away. It should be a person who is very familiar with the house and how you live. That person is encouraged to visit the house from time to time to make sure everything is to your satisfaction. If the third party felt the home isn't being cared for properly, or in an emergency like illness or a death in the minder's family, we work with the third party to replace the minder.

How successful is the service?

The service is very successful and most of our clients hear of the service through word of mouth. The unanimous comment is that pets are much happier remaining in their own environment - not to mention the safety factor of the presence of the pet and minder.

People who have had their houses minded always say that it is so nice to come home to a lived-in, alive house rather than a cold and dusty one. Pets are always happy and gardens are maintained to the standard that they were in before the owner left. Sometimes minders fall in love with the pets and are granted visiting rights. Some roses are pruned more expertly and the list goes on. We can refer you to someone in your neighbourhood who uses this unique service and they will tell you how well it worked for them.

Please note: There is a slight chance that you will not find the minder you want so we always recommend that you have a contingency plan just in case. If this happens you will be able to use your fee next time you need a minder.

Once registered keep a copy of our procedure handy

Read our press

Minder FAQ

Frequently asked questions from people wanting to mind houses

What is the likelihood of getting a mind?

We are unable to judge how successful an application will be. We must match many requests from both parties and the homeowner has all the say.

How long will I have to wait once I am registered?

Most people arrange their minders in advance, especially if there are pets involved. Some people give us as much as 6 months warning. In our experience it takes at least a month before you are offered an assignment. Sometimes we have to find minders at short notice if someone's minder lets them down at the last minute. Sometimes we don't have a minder for a certain area and if it is a suburb you are prepared to go to then you will get minding quite quickly.

Do realise that your application may not be successful. If the finer details do not match then we cannot offer you an the assignment.

If I take a shorter mind will I get another mind to move straight on to?

We do not encourage minders to rely on house minding for a roof over their head. We advise you to have a base where you can stay in between minds. You could even use our house sharing service for that.

Do you have long term minding?

Most of our assignments are 3 to 8 weeks. In our experience people who go away for longer periods of time often rent their homes. Occasionally we have 4 to 8 months assignments.

Do I have to pay rent and utilities?

Most assignments do not require rent but do require you to pay the utilities. Some assignments, usually long term, ask for a token rent.

How many minders who register with you get minding?

Over 90% of minders get minding, we are unable to predict on a case by case basis.

Do you refund fees?

No, your fee is an application fee which pays for our time to register your requests and details. It also covers our administrative costs to maintain and match your file. If you do not get any minding your fee remains in credit and can be used at a later date to do more minding or to have your home minded - or it can be transferred to any of our other services.

Can I bring my pet to the minding assignment?

Very often the reason a homeowner wants a minder is to have their pet cared for at home. Their pet may not get on with other animals and vice versa. To give yourself the greatest chance of minding it would be better to make arrangements for your own pet. Although occasionally homeowner will accept a minder with a pet.

Will it be difficult for us to find minding if we have children?

We usually find that home owner with children - whose houses are set up for children - are comfortable having a family mind their home. Older people who do not have children visiting their homes would not want children in their house. Each situation is different and needs to be assessed at the time.

What is the likelihood getting minding for relatives visiting Melbourne starting and ending on certain dates?

They would have a better chance of winning Tattslotto! Try serviced apartments or Rent a Home.

PS: We find that most questions can be answered by putting yourself in the other person's shoes. Suppose you are looking for a minder and answer the questions from that stance.

Once registered be sure to keep a copy of our procedure handy

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