Date:
7 Jun 2018 - 25 Jul 2018
Length:
48 days
Applications close
14 May 2018
Property Type
Town House
Animal Types
Dog(s)
Response rating:
Owner:
Andrew McRae
Posted
more than 30 days ago
Commencing soon
We will be overseas again this year from 7 June to 25 July, and we're looking for experienced, non-smoking house sitter(s) with good references to mind the house and look after our little dogs, Louis and Bella. They're very used to having house sitters and are well behaved and friendly around people and other dogs. Because we're semi-retired the dogs are used to having someone in the home most days, and rarely spend a full day on their own in the house.
Our three-level town-house is located in North Melbourne, within easy walking distance of just about all you'd need. One can walk to Melbourne Uni in less than 10 minutes, Lygon Street in Carlton in about 20 mins, Queen Victoria market (8 mins), Flinders Street Station (30 mins). Interesting suburbs like Brunswick, Fitzroy, Footscray, Kensington, Yarraville and Williamstown are only a short drive. Errol Street with all its shops, cafes, and tram stops (route 57), is only 300 metres away. Flemington Rd tram stops for routes 59 and 58 are also about 300 m walk, and the 402 bus (Footscray to East Melbourne) stops around the corner. Our residence is modern, secure and comfortable, with a timber floor in the living area and kitchen. You would occupy a bright bedroom with en suite upstairs; there's also a guest bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor. Reverse cycle air conditioning, electric blankets, 42" smart TV, computer, gas stove.
Several of our sitters in the past have been able to come and stay two or three days before our departure date, which we like to do. Only one of us will be here in June, and returning in July, and he will happily sleep in the guest bedroom downstairs if the sitter(s) are able to do that. The same flexibility could apply at the end of the house sit, and sitter(s) are welcome to stay on a few more days if needed.
Pets & farm animals
Louis is a Pomerainian-Chihuahua cross, about 10 years old, and Bella a Papillon aged about 7; both are one step up from a Chihuahua in size, weight about 4kg. They're well house trained and generally quiet, friendly dogs who are happy in each other's company. Louis is obsessed with balls and toys. We feed and walk them twice a day. The nearby streets have wide green strips and there are several lovely small neighbourhood parks. It's usually 30 minutes, at a leisurely pace, in the morning and about 15 in the late afternoon or dusk. We're both semi-retired and so the dogs are used to having someone around for much of the time most week days. The only slightly unpleasant aspect of caring for them is picking up their doings and washing/sweeping down the balcony with water and disinfectant once per day, a job which takes about 3 minutes.
House Tasks
We'd like our house sitter(s) to please empty mail-box each day; vacuum/sweep once a fortnight; keep kitchen clean; water plants on front porch and balcony; put wheely bins out each Tuesday night.
We much prefer house-sitters who would not be absent at work 10 to 12 hours each day. We have had great house sitters in the past, either working from home or part time/casual, or where one member of a couple is not working, or where two people work very different hours. If you like caring for small dogs, can spend a lot of time at home with them, and have good references demonstrating your experience, we would like to hear from you, whether single or couple.
Property facilities
WiFi, Heating, Cooling, Washing machine, Dryer
Neighbourhood facilities
Nearby: Gym / Yoga, Restaurant / Cafes, Cinema, Art / Theater, Parks, Bus, Tram, Train, Local shops, Supermarket, Doctor, Vet