House sitting service needed in Wiltshire

[Ken Sington]

We have a house in Wiltshire which we tried and failed to sell in 2008 due to the credit crunch, so we managed to let it out instead. The tenancy is about to come to an end, so we are having another go at selling - yes, I know, fat chance at the moment! - and I have been looking for a house sitting service to put someone into the house whilst it is empty and on the market to deter squatters and vandals.

I turned up such a company in Westbury which sounds like Property Services from a certain left wing national newspaper and sent them an email to ask if they covered the area in question. Last night I got an email from their MD asking how we had found their site, and having worked out that I am a London based commercial property agent from my email address, why wasn't the house on my website, what was I doing dealing with it and why didn't the owners rent it out etc.

I replied politely and explained it was my house, not a client's, and that we had local estate agents working for us on the sale.

In return I get an email accusing me of working for his competitors, saying that he couldn't help, and that I would be better off trying another site he gave me a link to. On trying that link, it went through to a World of Warcraft site.

Words like "bellend" and "cocktard" come to mind!

So, if anyone here is involved in such a business, is looking for a new client and has a better attitude towards client management, perhaps they would like to pm me.

Thanks for listening, you have been a great audience

[davepoth]

Put it up for rent for less?

[Ken Sington]

davepoth said:

Put it up for rent for less?

We will if push comes to shove, but need to sell preferably to release funds for other projects. Either way, house needs a caretaker until it either sells or rents again.

[JQ]

My mother-in-law uses a retired chap who likes visiting new places and going for walks - he also looks after the 2 dogs, 3 cats, 3 geese, numerous hens, etc, etc. I don't think it costs her anything. She lives in the UK, but works abroad, so can often spend considerable periods out of the country, so he proves very useful.

It's possibly not as formal as an arrangement as you may like. Want me to get the details?

[condor]

You could ask the Estate Agent that's handling the sale if they know of a suitable local house sitter. Googling 'house sitters in Wiltshire' brings up quite a few.

[Ken Sington]

JQ said:

My mother-in-law uses a retired chap who likes visiting new places and going for walks - he also looks after the 2 dogs, 3 cats, 3 geese, numerous hens, etc, etc. I don't think it costs her anything. She lives in the UK, but works abroad, so can often spend considerable periods out of the country, so he proves very useful.

It's possibly not as formal as an arrangement as you may like. Want me to get the details?

Please

[cptsideways]

Roughly where? you sound local, I might know someone suitable

[Ken Sington]

cptsideways said:

Roughly where? you sound local, I might know someone suitable

Devizes

[Flintstone]

Ken Sington said:

In return I get an email accusing me of working for his competitors, saying that he couldn't help, and that I would be better off trying another site he gave me a link to. On trying that link, it went through to a World of Warcraft site.

I can see how having the house looked after by a spotty geek shouting "Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt!" would deter squatters