Evan

Hello,

I'm Evan, a seasoned house sitter with a passion for animals and a background in technical writing and environmental health. Over the years, I've built a reputation for responsible and loving care, reflected in numerous glowing references from homeowners across the country, which you can read by scrolling down this page to the endorsements section. Many families have invited me back for repeated sits, and I've returned multiple times for a few families.

Professional and Attentive Caregiver:

As an educated, mature, non-smoking professional specializing in technical writing, I work from home, affording me the unique advantage of being present throughout the day and night. This not only allows me to offer loving and attentive care to your animals and plants but also ensures vigilant guardianship of your property. My passion for animals, gardens, and beauty motivates me to create a nurturing and secure environment for all under my care.

Comprehensive Services Offered:

In addition to basic house sitting responsibilities, I provide a suite of extra services tailored to your needs. This includes managing mail by reporting, opening, scanning, or photographing important documents upon request, handling payments or dispatching items on your schedule, and offering troubleshooting and repair services. My commitment to clear and timely communication ensures you're always in the loop, giving you peace of mind while you're away.

I bring to your home not just my skills as a caretaker but also my values of cleanliness, respect, and dedication. Whether it's managing a household, tending to gardens, or providing companionship and care to pets, I adapt to the needs of each sit with a professional and attentive approach. Regular updates, photo shares, and transparent communication are part of my commitment to ensuring your absolute confidence and satisfaction.

I'm particularly drawn to sits that offer the opportunity for outdoor activities, as staying active is important to me, but I also cherish the quiet time spent with pets or tending to a garden. My technical and problem-solving skills mean I'm well-equipped to handle any issues that may arise, ensuring a smooth and worry-free experience for homeowners.


A Journey of Care Across America:

Throughout my house sitting journey, I've embraced the care of pets and homes from the sunny beaches of Florida to the heart of Virginia, extending to the diverse landscapes of the East, South, and Southeast. In Florida, I was responsible for four German Shepherds on an 8-acre beachfront property, offering diligent care and companionship. My experiences with Cinnamon, an indoor/outdoor cat requiring daily medicine in Albuquerque, Harry, a brindle-colored rescue dog, and Winston, a playful hound in Virginia, highlight my adaptability and unwavering dedication.

Special attention to pets with unique needs has been a hallmark of my service. Sammy, a cat in Oregon, and Toby, an elderly Terrier in Renton, WA, required specific routines and care, reinforcing my commitment to their well-being. Whether it's managing medications, providing gentle companionship to senior pets, or ensuring vibrant gardens and homes are well-kept, each sit has deepened my understanding and adaptability to various animal needs and community cultures.

This journey underscores my ability to seamlessly integrate into diverse environments, caring for a wide array of pets, including dogs, cats, parrots, and turtles, ensuring their happiness and well-being in every setting.
With nearly a decade of experience, I've had the privilege of caring for a wide variety of homes, pets, and gardens, ensuring peace of mind for traveling homeowners. My journey has taken me to all 50 states, with house sits from the snowy landscapes of Alaska (my home for 15 years) to the sunny shores of Florida, and now, as I explore the possibility of settling in Uruguay, I'm looking for one or two more sits in the US to aid in my residency application process as I gather some of the required notarized and "apostilled" documentation.

Selected Quotes From Satisfied Pet and Homeowners:
(You can read the full endorsements, with far more information, in the "Reviews" section (generated by the families responses to this website, not by me, at the end of my profile, below, or with this link:

Exceptional Communication & Attention to Detail

"Evan’s updates were always timely and detailed, putting our minds at ease."
"He noticed a leak we hadn't and addressed it promptly, saving us from potential damage."

Specialized Personal Attention for Pets with Special Needs

"Our diabetic dog received his injections on time, every time, thanks to Evan's diligent care."
"He went above and beyond for our senior cat, ensuring she was comfortable and her medication was administered accurately."

Returning Homes, Animals, and Cars in Pristine Condition

"We returned to a home cleaner than we left it, a happy dog, and a freshly washed car."
"Evan's respect for our property was evident. Everything was in perfect order, from the garden to the garage."

Going the Extra Mile

"Despite a late-night veterinary emergency, Evan handled everything with composure and kept us informed."
"He organized and documented all house-related matters, making our return seamless."

Creating Bonds with Pets

"Our pets adored Evan; it was clear they received love and attention in our absence."
"He has a special touch, even our shy cat warmed up to him quickly."

Peace of Mind for Owners

"Knowing Evan was at the helm allowed us to truly relax on our vacation."
"His professionalism and genuine care for our pets and home were beyond our expectations."

Travel and Transportation:

I typically fly to house sitting assignments and, thanks to my excellent driving record (which you're welcome to verify with your insurance), most homeowners entrust me with the use of their car. Insurance usually covers me at no extra charge as I'm a "guest" of the homeowners and not using the car for work. Sometimes people add a special rider to separate me from them. Both ways have worked with no problems.

In more than 50 sits, I've never damaged homeowners cars.

This flexibility allows me to manage local errands, ensure pets get to veterinary appointments when needed, and engage with the community, whether it's a simple café visit or a hike on a local trail. My extensive house sitting endorsements attest to my reliability and the trust homeowners have in me.

Further, there is an added convenience as, homeowners often pick me up from the airport one afternoon, show me their routine, and then have me drop them off at the airport for their departures. Saving taxi service both ways.

Since the Covid crisis began, some people prefer to pick me up, show me the house, and put me up in a hotel for the night before they leave, then we head to the airport together, and I move into their home after they have flown away. This reduces stress for some, especially as it balances my orientation tour of their home and pet, garden, pool and hot-tub care protocols, with their last minute privacy as they pack and leave, and it reduces chances of swapping colds at the last minute. I'm happy either way.

I already survived two bouts of Covid, with a great immune response, a now a new vitamin regimen that seems to keep me from catching anything. May this last!

Back to cars, in only one sit, my perfect record was broken when a homeowners car was backed into by a Starbucks customer in a parking lot. He was elderly and made a mistake. And fortunately I immediately took charge and documented the situation with photos of both cars, the driver's face, license and insurance papers (and I exchanged my own drivers and insurance information too, all with photos), and immediately communicated the situation to the owners and both their and his insurance companies.

Both insurance companies found the other driver completely at fault and thanks to my expediting all aspects of documentation, communication and dealing with this unfortunate situation, full repairs were made to homeowners car at no cost to them before they even returned home. You can read their endorsement too, in my endorsements section.

What's Next:

As I navigate this transition period in my life, semi-retiring from house sitting to settle down a bit more, I'm eager for a few more opportunities that allow me to provide exceptional care while exploring beautiful communities.

Your trust in me as your house sitter supports my broader journey, making every sit a mutually beneficial experience.

Thank you for considering me as your house and pet sitter. I look forward to the opportunity to bring my expertise and care to your home.

Warmly,

Evan
PS. Feel free to reach out for a phone or video chat to discuss your pets and personal needs in more detail.

I prioritize longer-term sits, as they allow for a deeper connection and more thorough care for your home and pets. And provide me more time to focus on my tech writing work without multiple travel interruptions.

Thank you for considering me,
Evan

P.S. While tips are not expected, they are gratefully accepted and appreciated, plus they offset some of my travel expense in traveling to and from your home. Your satisfaction and peace of mind are my top priorities, and even without a TIP, I'll still do my best, as a positive endorsement from you is highly valued.

Please note, for health reasons, I am unable to accept sits in households where tobacco smoking occurs, including outdoor areas close to the home, due to a particular allergy to that plant. I appreciate your understanding and cooperation in ensuring a healthy environment for both myself and your pets. I don't mind natural smells, but do have an aversion to artificial chemical perfumes as well as tobacco...but tobacco is the worst.