Meet Buddy Baum - The Person Behind HowToHouseSit.com
I'm a house sitting expert with 50+ sits across 20+ countries. I've cared for hundreds of animals and spent years learning what it actually takes to do this well. Here's everything I've learned so you can do the same.
My Story
For nearly a decade I worked in IT and analytics, the kind of role where your work phone never leaves your side. I spent years supporting enterprise software for large corporations, always on call, always connected. It paid well. And I was completely burned out.
In 2017 I made a decision that most people thought was reckless: I left the corporate world, bought a motorhome, and spent a year traveling the US and Canada full-time.
That year changed everything.
In April 2018, looking for a smarter way to keep traveling, I did my first house sit with a cat named Hooch in Salt Lake City who had one very firm rule: breakfast at 5am, no exceptions.
That one sit turned into 50+.
If you've ever wondered whether wanting that kind of change makes you selfish, I've written about that honestly here: Is It Selfish to Move Away? How Full Time House Sitting Made It Possible
Where House Sitting Has Taken Me
What started as a practical travel hack became something much more meaningful. Over the years my sits have taken me to places and situations I never could have planned:
- Six weeks in Iceland over Christmas – managing a home and animals through the darkest, coldest days of the year in one of the world's most extreme climates
- A remote off-grid property on the Big Island of Hawaii – six months after the volcano stopped erupting, with a makeshift lava-rock driveway and steam rising from the ground when it rained
- A mountain house in Colorado – where a morning walk with the dog turned into a face-to-face encounter with a bear
- Three weeks on Molokai, Hawaii – one of the most isolated and least-visited islands in the US, an experience most tourists never even consider
- Six weeks in Scotland – with two of the most entertaining dogs I've ever had the pleasure of looking after
- A French farmhouse – home to a collection of cats that each had completely distinct and deeply stubborn personalities
Each sit taught me something new. Every home, every animal, every homeowner was different. And through all of it I kept thinking: I wish there had been a proper guide for this when I started.
Credentials Worth Knowing
Completed House Sits
50+
Short-term and long-term assignments
Animals Cared For
100+
Dogs, cats, and specialty pets
Countries Sat In
20+
Across Europe, Oceania & North America
5-Star Reviews
100%
Consistent 5-star reviews
Beyond the Numbers
- I hold a lifetime TrustedHousesitters membership and have been featured in their official marketing content, including a video filmed on location during an active sit in Montenegro
- I was a featured speaker at the House and Pet Sitting Conference in the UK
- I ran a professional pet sitting business in Hawaii for two years managing 30-50 clients, holding keys to multi-million dollar properties, and handling daily animal care in a professional setting
- My background in IT, data and analytics means I research thoroughly, explain clearly, and don't publish anything I haven't verified from real experience
Why I Built This Site
When I started house sitting in 2018 there was no single honest resource that explained how it all worked. The platforms. The profiles. What homeowners actually look for in an applicant. How to handle the hard moments, the emergency vet visits, the leaking pipes, the wildlife encounters nobody warned you about.
I pieced it together through trial and error, scattered forum posts, and dozens of sits across multiple continents.
As a house sitting expert with years of real-world experience, I wanted to build the resource I wish had existed when I started.
Every guide, review and recommendation on this site comes from real experience, not theory. When I recommend a platform it's because I've used it. When I explain what works in a sitter profile it's because I've tested it across more than fifty applications and sits.
My analytics background means I'm obsessive about accuracy. If I'm not certain about something I say so. If a platform has a flaw I'll tell you, even if they're an affiliate partner.
This is a side project built with genuine intent to help people travel smarter. Nothing more, nothing less.
Featured by TrustedHousesitters
During an active sit in Montenegro, TrustedHousesitters invited me to star in an official marketing video that was filmed on location in Montenegro, showcasing what real house sitting looks like from the sitter's perspective.
Filmed during an active sit in Europe. I'm the one without hair.
What I've Learned About Animals
One thing I've noticed consistently across 50+ sits: shy animals tend to settle around me faster than their owners expect.
I don't rush them. I follow their routines exactly. I have a naturally calm energy that animals respond to. Whether it's a high-strung rescue dog, an independent cat, or a pair of rescue donkeys on a New Zealand farm.
My experience covers dogs, cats, farm animals, exotic pets and everything in between including, memorably, a pet cockroach.
The animals homeowners describe as “difficult with strangers” are often the ones I connect with most.
What Makes a Great House Sitter
Six principles I've applied across 50+ sits that consistently lead to five-star reviews.
Treat Every Home as Your Own
Organized, secure, and cared for. Exactly as you'd want someone to treat your own space.
Put the Animal's Routine First
Their schedule, their diet, their comfort. Not yours. The sit revolves around them.
Communicate Clearly and Proactively
Don't wait for homeowners to chase you for updates. Send photos. Check in. Make them feel at ease.
Handle Pressure Calmly
Things go wrong on sits. The quality of a sitter shows in how they respond when something unexpected happens.
Treat It Like a Profession, Not a Vacation
The lifestyle only works long-term if you approach it with genuine responsibility and professionalism.
Build Genuine Relationships
The best sits lead to repeat invitations and lasting friendships. Homeowners remember sitters who treated their home and pets like their own, not just a transaction.
Beyond House Sitting
When I'm not researching or writing, you'll usually find me outdoors hiking coastal trails, doing nature photography, or finding the nearest body of water to sit next to. House sitting isn't just how I've traveled, it's how I've built a life around experiences over possessions.
Ready to Start House Sitting?
Whether you're completely new to house sitting or looking to get better results from your applications, the guides on this site are built around what actually works.
Have a Question?
Whether you're trying to figure out which platform is right for you, want to share your own house sitting story, or have feedback on the site, I'd love to hear from you.