Posted on: October 01, 2026 | Author: Tom
How every MindMyHome sitter is checked — and why it matters more than ever this winter.
It's the first question every homeowner asks us, and it's the right one:
"How do I know I can trust the person minding my home?"
Your house. Your dog. The spare key, the alarm code, the back door that sticks. Handing all of that to someone you've never met takes real trust. So we don't ask you for blind faith. We do the checking first, so you can go away with a clear head.
Here's exactly how it works.
The dark evenings are back
Every October, Gardaí switch Operation Thor into its winter phase, running right through to the end of March. There's a reason. Gardaí warn that burglaries can rise by up to 20% in the winter months, when the days are shortest. Most winter break-ins happen in the evening, roughly 5pm to 11pm, when a house sitting in darkness tells everyone that nobody's home.
And Gardaí have been clear that rural and isolated homes are among the most vulnerable in the country.
Their advice is simple: Lock Up, Light Up. A timer switch helps. But a timer switch can't feed the cat, take in the post, spot a leak under the sink, or open the curtains in the morning.
A person can.
Real people, properly checked
MindMyHome is built on one idea: nothing protects a home like someone actually living in it. That only works if you can trust who that someone is. So every sitter on MindMyHome is checked before they can mind a single home. Not some sitters. All of them.
1. Identity verified. Every sitter confirms who they are. The name on the profile is the name on the passport or licence.
2. References phoned. By a person. A real conversation with the sitter: are they reliable, are they good with animals, would you trust them in your own home? An uploaded document can't tell you that. A phone call can.
3. Met face to face. We encourage our homeowners to meet our sitters in person. You can learn a lot about someone across a kitchen table that you'll never learn from a profile photo.
It's slower than ticking a box online. That's the point.
Then you decide
Our checks are the starting line, not the finish. Before anyone sets foot in your home, you get to know them. Chat through the platform. Ask your questions. Meet up or video call. Agree how you want things done, and use our sample house-sitting agreement to put it in writing.
You're never handed a stranger. You choose someone you've already got to know.
Your before-you-go checklist
Going away this winter? Five minutes now saves a lot of worry later.
• Meet your sitter in person or on video before the dates are booked.
• Write it down: pet routines, feeding, the vet's number, the bin day, the dodgy back door.
• Check your home insurance covers having a house sitter while you're away. A quick call to your insurer is all it takes.
• Tell a trusted neighbour who'll be staying, so a friendly face isn't mistaken for a stranger.
• Leave a light on a timer anyway. Belt and braces.
Don't leave your home in the dark this winter
The evenings are only getting longer. Whether it's a week in the sun, Christmas with family, or a holiday home sitting empty until spring, there's no reason to come back worrying about what you'll find.
Homeowners: list your home on MindMyHome.ie today and meet sitters who've already been checked by a real person.
Sitters: love animals and fancy a change of scene? Join MindMyHome, get verified, and become someone homeowners can count on.
Act now. Don't have regrets.
👉 Get started at MindMyHome.ie
