How To Take A Rent-Free Vacation

How To Take A Rent-Free Vacation AG WORLD 30-5-23 If you know where to look, finding rent-free luxurious accommodations on vacation is easy and fun. Each issue of a unique newsletter called The Caretaker Gazette contains about 150 listings of"caretaking" and "housesitting" jobs throughout the world. The assignments can range from "as short as a weekend, to as long as the rest of your life," according to publisher Gary C. Dunn of Bergheim, Texas. Sometimes the homeowners are ordinary people who don't want to leave their property unattended while on vacation or on business trips. Other times, they're very wealthy, and simply have too many homes to live in themselves. Most are worried about theft or vandalism while they're gone. Some have more specialized needs, such as farmers and ranchers who have not had a holiday in many years. They need to get away, but they also need someone who can take over their chores, caring for horses or other livestock. There are also bed and breakfast owners who have never taken a vacation themselves, but finally need a break and want someone experienced to handle things while they're gone. The Caretaker Gazette also includes numerous "situations wanted" listings where people advertise their availability to housesit or caretake. Some see short-term caretaking as a way to take a vacation from their regular life, while others use it to live a nomadic lifestyle. Still others approach caretaking with a long-term commitment in mind. "The Gazette fills many needs and is the only publication in the world dedicated to the property caretaking field, says Dunn. "This is our 24th year of publishing and we cover all 50 U.S. States, plus about 20 foreign countries in each issue." Every situation is different. The advertisements for light, housesitting duties can translate into rent-free vacations, while some listings seek fulltime professional estate managers (fulltime, salaried jobs with on-site housing). There are also temporary house swapping arrangements for people who wish to trade their surroundings and see another part of the world. Sometimes the property owners aren't absent at all.They just require someone to handle caretaking duties, or to act as a companion (such as for the elderly). Some request single caretakers, some prefer couples, and others are open to families. "A lot of retirees use The Gazette when they're searching for that perfect place to retire to," Dunn says. "Often, they've lived in the same place their whole lives, and want to experience a different climate. But before taking the plunge and buying property somewhere, they take a short-term assignment to try it out first." The Caretaker Gazette is published bi-monthly (every other month). It's available to subscribers online or in paper form. All subscribers with an email address also receive daily updates of the most recent listings. Subscriptions cost $29.95 per year. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, The Caretaker Gazette, Box 4005, Bergheim, Texas 78004 (ph 830 336-3939; caretaker@caretaker.org; www.caretaker.org).

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