Would like to know about anyone's good or bad housesitting experience. Would also appreciate any tips. How does one get screened and lined up to do this.

Don't hire any of my friends

Are you looking to become a housesitter, or do you want tips on how to hire one?

I am guessing that you want to housesit. You could advertise, but most people I know hire by word-of-mouth or a family member or friend.

As far as screening, most states do not allow individuals to do criminal record checks on other individuals (although companies can) - but allow an individual to get a copy of their own criminal record - or lack of a record - from their own police department.

The lining up to do this part - again, word of mouth. If you belong to any clubs, religious organizations, schools, etc make it known there.

However, I personally would never hire anyone I learned about in this way - if would have to at least be someone a friend or family member knew, if I did not know them myself.

To clarify this: Husband & I have talked about getting a housesitting position for 4 or 5 weeks in 2007. Nannies get work through agencies, I assumed there might also be an agency for housesitters but before I went searching, I thought I would put the question out on Foders. I realize the house owner would need to know something about us, and that works both ways. I welcome any thoughts on this.

From what I can tell, this is really a word-of-mouth occupation. Where do you live? Perhaps you can look in the local classifieds or craigslist.com to get an idea of qualifications.

Yes, check out: http://www.caretaker.org/
and get on their mailing list

My neighbor asked her child's teacher to house sit while the family went away. This was the summer following the school year, so neighbor felt comfortable with teacher. Teacher and husband moved in for a week...husband stole neighbor's ID after hacking into their computer.

The story gets only worse. Teacher moved away after divorcing. Family is still suffering repercussions of ID theft.

You never know....

Have used housesitters only twice - both were friends of friends - and iw worked out just fine.

Would never use a stranger.

If I had to hire someone from an agency would want to make sure the agency provided insurance, they did a complete crimnal backgroudn check and that the person was bonded. (After all you're giving them access to hundreds of thousands in access.)

(Read a horror story a couple of years ago of people who went away for 6 weks and came back to strangers living in their house. The house sitters had rented it out - collecting security and advance rent from several families, one of which had actualy moved in.)