How Can I Help My Neighbours With House or Pet Sitting?
Written by The Greatjob Team | 5 min read
October 2026
Every holiday season, someone in our local Facebook group asks the same question: "We're going away. Is there anyone nearby who could look after our cat?" And every time, a few kind neighbours reply. If you've ever thought "I could do that", this guide is for you.
House and pet sitting is one of the simplest ways to help your neighbours and earn some extra money close to home. You don't need a business background or special equipment. You need to be reliable, kind to animals, and happy to follow someone else's routine for a while.
Who makes a great sitter?
- Animal lovers who miss having a pet of their own, or whose own pet would love a playmate
- Retirees and empty nesters with flexible days and plenty of patience
- Uni students home for the summer and looking for work close by
- Parents and people working from home who can fit in a quick visit around the school run or a lunch break
What does sitting actually involve?
You choose which of these you offer, and you can start small.
| Service | What it looks like | How much can you make? |
|---|---|---|
| Pet visits | Pop in once or twice a day to feed, refresh water, clean the litter, give a cuddle and send the owner a photo. Often 20 to 45 minutes. A great place to start | $18 to $40 a visit |
| Pet sitting at the owner's home | Stay overnight so the pets keep their own routine, in their own home | $55 to $110 a night |
| Pets at your place | Look after a dog or cat in your home. Owners will want to see where they'll sleep, eat and play | $35 to $80 a night |
| House visits | No pets: bring in the mail, water the plants, open the blinds, check everything's as it should be | $35 to $55 a visit |
| House sitting | Stay overnight so the home is lived in while the owners are away | $55 to $110 a night |
Typical rates for sitters in Sydney as of October 2026. On Greatjob you set your own rates.
What neighbours are looking for
Owners are trusting you with their home and the animals they love, so trust matters more than anything. The sitters who get booked again and again:
- Live close by, so a quick visit is easy and they're nearby if something comes up
- Send updates, a photo and a line or two each visit. It's the single thing owners mention most
- Follow the routine, feeding times, medication, which door the cat isn't allowed out of
- Meet the pet first, a short hello before the dates helps a shy cat or an anxious dog, and the owner
How it works on Greatjob
- Set up your sitter profile. Choose the services you offer, the pets you're happy with, and your prices. Add a friendly photo and a few words about you and your experience with animals
- Neighbours ask you for a quote. They tell you their dates, their pets and what they need. You can message them first if you have questions, and only take the requests that suit you, close to home and on dates that work
- You send a fixed price. The owner sees your quote and the cancellation policy, and pays in full when they accept
- Look after their home and pets. Keep in touch through Greatjob messages, and press Finish Job when the stay is over
- Get paid. Greatjob holds the payment safely during the stay and pays you 48 hours after you finish. No invoices to write, no money to chase, and no fees for sitters
Why not just arrange it privately? You can, and plenty of neighbours do. Going through Greatjob means the money is paid upfront and held until the stay is done, there's a clear cancellation policy for both of you, and your reviews build up in one place so the next neighbour can see you're trusted.
A few things to think about first
- Your availability. School holidays, Easter and Christmas are the busiest times, and owners book weeks ahead. Only accept dates you're sure you can do
- Keys and access. Agree how you'll get and return keys, and keep them safe and unlabelled
- Emergencies. Ask for the vet's details and an emergency contact before every stay
- Your own pets. If pets will stay at your place, think about how they'll get along with visitors
- ABN and insurance. Whether you need an ABN depends on how often you do it, and some sitters choose to take out insurance. Our guide Starting Your Own Business: What Actually Applies to You covers the basics
Quick answers
Do I need experience? Not formally. Most owners want someone who clearly loves animals and is reliable. If you've had pets yourself or looked after friends' pets, say so on your profile.
How much should I charge? You set your own prices. Look at what local sitters charge, start a little lower while you build reviews, and remember that overnight stays are worth more than a quick visit.
Can I just do the odd weekend? Yes. You choose which requests to accept, and you can pause your profile when you're busy or away.
What if I need to cancel? Life happens, but please avoid it. If you cancel, the owner is refunded in full, so only accept dates you're confident about.
Ready to help a neighbour? Set up your sitter profile →
This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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