You could get free accommodation house sitting in the west of Ireland...among other places around the world

International Living has put together a how-to guide to securing house-sitting jobs, designed to help travelers get a free place to stay in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations.

Homeowners preparing for trips overseas are turning to the Internet to find people willing to mow the lawn, take the dog for a walk or feed the goldfish in their absence. In return, the house-sitter can save thousands in accommodation costs.

A string of websites have popped up, catering to the demand. They profile a wide variety of positions available, from a castle near Thuré in France to a mountain home outside Barcelona, Spain to a cottage in the west of Ireland.

The concept has been around for some time and today there can be stiff competition for jobs. International Living’s guide, however, reveals how to get ahead of the pack of would-be house-sitters.

“House-sitting is an excellent way of seeing parts of the world you might otherwise miss—and doing so on the cheap,” explained guide author Darius Fisher. He continued, “Competition can be quite fierce, but there is plenty you can do to stand out from other applicants.”

Fisher advises would-be house-sitters to create online ads as a means of advertising their services and encouraging homeowners to contact them. Other steps he suggests taking include offering a police background check and a security deposit.

Fisher spoke to 55-year-old house-sitting veteran Mike Hopkins, who told of how he saved $3,000 on accommodation on the Caribbean island of Antigua. He house-sat for a month in a property that was on the market for $1.5 million.

Read the full article here, titled “Live Well, No Charge: How to Land a House-Sitting Gig”.

Editor’s Note: You can read more travel articles here, including more articles on how to save money when you travel abroad.