House Sitting FAQ’s

In Part 1 of How to Screen Applicants, I discussed how to get organized and attract, with the least effort, the best potential house sitting applicants while weeding out the others. Now that you’ve found one or more candidates you like, let’s delve into how to finish up the screening process.

THE INTERVIEW

After finding what appears to be a suitable house sitting candidate, the initial step in the screening process is, of course, the interview. The importance of this process can not be emphasized enough, as this is the way you get a real “feel” for the applicant. If you’re an intuitive person, or very “street-wise,” the interview may likely give you everything you need to make a decision. So this is the time to get to know your applicant as a person. This “acquaintance process” can be done via email correspondence, online chats, telephone dialogue or in person, depending on the location and budgetary restraints of those involved. Because of its importance to the selection process, I have written a full article on interviewing prospective house sitters which may be found by clicking the link in this sentence.

DEEP SCREENING

So you’ve found a person you like, who seems to have the skills and qualities that meet your needs. But is she as good as she seems? Your next task is to verify she is who and what she says she is. Here’s some ways to do that.

1. Look at the letters of recommendation

a. What do the documents look like? How are they written? The language and style of the writing lends clues to what kind of person may have written the reference. Are the letters written formally or in vernacular? Does the person sound young or mature? Are any written on professional letterhead

b. While these things in themselves are not sufficient cause upon which to build decisions, they may lend clues or red flags if combined with other clues.

2. Contact the references provided

a. If possible, speak to the references in person. If not, email will do.

b. Ask: How long has the person known this applicant? Has s/he witnessed how the applicant lives? Has s/he ever employed the applicant as a house sitter or entrusted him/her with anything of value? (This could include child care, dog walking, etc.)

c. Would this person hire the applicant for house sitting if needed?

3. Does the person have any rental recommendations?

a. Not everyone will have rental references. Some may have been in school or house-sharing situations, others own (or have owned) their own homes, while yet others may have been traveling or RV’ing for some time. If they do have some rental references, however, all the better, for this shows they can care for property and return it in good condition. Same goes for people with experience in property management.

BACKGROUND CHECK

Verify Identification

Make sure you get a copy of the person’s driver’s license and, if they have to cross borders to fill your position, their passport. Though it may not happen often, there is always the slight potential someone could be trying to enter, or remain, in the country illegally — of which you want no part.

CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK

The easiest way to obtain a criminal background check is to have the person provide their own criminal records verification document. These can be attained, cheap or free of charge from local law enforcement offices. In the U.S. (for which I am principally writing), one can be obtained from both the Sheriff’s Office and the local Police Dept. The former will provide a check of the county records while the latter only checks arrests within the city limits. In evaluating these checks, it is important to know where the person has been living for the past 2-3 years. Obviously, if they just moved to a new state, the local check will have no meaning. So be sure the check is from the last place they lived for a good amount of time. You can verify residence by work history, rental recommendations, or even utility payment receipts. If they are at a new residence, they can call or write the previous county to get the records check, though it will be a little more trouble.

You can, of course, pay for a report from one of the numerous online sites that provides these services but, be forewarned, not all of them are as thorough as promised. And even allegedly good ones are not always correct. If a person has changed their name or marital status, among other things, in the last couple years, the check may come up empty or even provide erroneous information. (Because mental health workers are in contact with what is classified a vulnerable population, it is common in my field to have background checks as part of the employment screening process. One of my employers once told me it cost the agency over $1000 to properly check my background, due to my own legal name change and, even then, it noted me as having been in a state I’d never even driven through.) These paid reports are good, however, at showing if someone is on parole, a fact you would certainly like to know. Moral of this story: If you want a good records check, be prepared to spend good money. But if the person denies some minor aspect of a report then, all other things being equal, you might want to give him the benefit of the doubt.

CREDIT CHECK

In the past, the idea was that if a person didn’t pay her bills, she couldn’t be considered reliable. And that may be true IF you could ascertain the reason why the individual failed in his obligations. If he has irresponsibly run up debt and refused to pay (fraud) or failed to pay because of gambling, drug problems, or other addictions, then one would certainly have cause not to trust this person. But there are many reasons why an individual may get into financial trouble. Health problems, medical expenses, onset of a disability, extended unemployment through no fault of the person, and divorce are just some of the challenges which can crop up in life and ruin a person’s good credit. Personally, I think a credit check is the least valid way of assessing someone’s character or reliability and I wouldn’t waste my money.

IN CONCLUSION

If all the references check out and you feel good about this person, then congratulations – you’ve found yourself a house sitter. Now it is time to call him up and iron out the fine details and this will be the subject of my next article: The House Sitting Contract.