Why We Housesit in Winter in the Warmer Areas of the Western U.S.
Looking for top-notch house-sitters and pet-sitters for your home and pets? We’re John Soares and Stephanie Hoffman, and we live in the Mount Shasta area of upper Northern California. We love hiking the high mountains and swimming the clear lakes in summer, and we also love our area in late spring and early fall.
But we’ve had it with the cold winters in this area, so for the last two decades we’ve arranged house-sitting gigs in San Francisco and Santa Cruz during those coldest months. And we love it! We’re now expanding our range to extend to warmer areas in Southern California, southern Nevada, and Arizona.
You get the peace of mind of knowing your house and pets are in the competent and caring hands of responsible people. We get to stay in your beautiful home and enjoy the mild climate and beautiful area.
About John and Stephanie
John Soares is a former college instructor who has been a freelance writer for businesses and nonprofits since the early 1990s. John’s also the author of several hiking guidebooks, including: 100 Classic Hikes in Northern California, fourth edition, Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps Regions, Hike the Parks: Redwood National & State Parks, and also Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping & Boondocking on America’s Public Lands. John has a B.S. degree in biochemistry and a master’s degree in political science, both from UC Davis. He loves to play pickleball, study Spanish, spend lots of time in nature, and make friends with every dog and cat he comes across.
Stephanie Hoffman is an employee coach and nonprofit consultant. Stephanie has a B.A. degree in psychology from SUNY Albany and a M.S. degree in organizational psychology from CSU San Jose. While growing up in New York, she and her family always had a furry doggy friend who was always treated like family. Steph loves to meet and care for new pets and their homes. The problem is she gets attached to her “new friends” and then she misses the bond and love that developed during the housesit.
What About Pets and Pet-Sitting?
We absolutely love dogs and cats. John had two golden retrievers, Hana and Molly, who have since passed away. We were lucky to still have Molly with us during the first few years of our relationship.
We presently have no pets and don’t plan to have any in the foreseeable future.
What is the Cost for House-Sitting and Pet-Sitting?
We typically don’t charge for house-sitting or pet-sitting because we feel it’s a fair exchange: we get to stay in a nice home during the winter months and you will have a very responsible couple taking care of your home and pet(s).
If your home requires upkeep beyond the usual (we can discuss this), or your beloved pet needs an abundance of care, then a per-day fee will apply.
Our Ideal House-Sitting Situation
We like comfortable and clean homes in safe and quiet areas. We’ll treat your home like we do our own home (and we own our own home).
Here’s what we need:
- A comfortable bedroom for sleeping with at least a queen-sized bed
- Internet access
- Typical things in a house: kitchen access, and in general the same privileges you’d give to honored guests
Here’s What We Do For You During Housesits
- Take care of your pet: food, water, meds, walks… and lots of love and attention
- Gather mail/newspapers/UPS deliveries
- Water house plants
- Deal with any sudden emergency: pet to the vet, plumber, etc.
- Clean up after ourselves
- And we’re open to discussing other to-do’s
- We’re also non-smokers and non-druggies (except Steph’s occasional glass of wine and John’s coffee)
Got References?
Yup — really good ones. Names and phone numbers available on request.
In the meantime, read these house-sitting references/recommendations:
Santa Cruz
We cannot say enough good things about Steph and John! They are amazing people and super duper competent house & cat sitters. Our two boyz fell deeply in love with them both and are moping around the house now that we’ve returned, pining for Steph and John! They took perfect care of the boyz and our home. Their communication was terrific. We will definitely have them back (sooner the better as far as our cats are concerned!). Thank you John and Steph!
— Susan and Steve
Santa Cruz Mountains
We couldn’t have asked for better house sitters. Stephanie and John are among the most trustworthy and responsible people I know. They respected our home and property, and most importantly, they are true dog lovers who cared for our pets as if they were their own. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable and caring house sitters.
— Kathy Schmidt
San Francisco
Stephanie and John took care of our persnickety rescue dog for a week. With respect and care, they took care of the dog and the house, earning the dog’s trust and affection, which is no small feat! They were responsive and helpful while we were out of the country, and it was such a relief to know they were holding down the fort. We are so grateful!
— Lori Shannon and Erin Bayer
Scotts Valley near Santa Cruz
“Thanks Stephanie and John for caring for our home and kitties! You guys were awesome! The house looks great and feels extremely well cared for. We felt great knowing you were here, and appreciate how everything was taken care of. We will definitely call you in the future when in need again.
All the BEST to you and yours!”
— Paul Hawk and Megan Hawk
Ashland, Oregon
“I highly recommend John Soares as a house and dog sitter. We recently hired John to sit our house and dog while we were out of the country for 10 days. We were very impressed from our first meeting by the professionalism and thoroughness of John’s housesitting checklist. He kept in email contact with us while we were away as we requested, and when we returned we found a happy dog and a house in perfect condition. We were truly able to relax knowing our house and dog were in John’s hands, and can give him the highest recommendation with absolutely no reservations.”
— Kathryn Marsak
Ashland, Oregon
John and Stephanie are our absolute first choice for house and pet sitting. We entrust them completely with our home, plants, fish aquarium, two kitties, and even our new puppy! Their thoughtful, personable, and professional approach is evident from their thorough information sheet, which immediately instilled confidence in a shared understanding of expectations. Communication is consistently excellent—always prompt, with proactive updates and questions. We always appreciate returning to a pristine home and happy, healthy pets. We wholeheartedly recommend John and Stephanie, with only one reservation: we want first dibs on their availability! Rest assured, your pets and home will be in the best of hands.
— Jon Karlen and Missy Moore
You Guys Sound Great! How Do We Arrange a Housesit?
Fill out the contact form and give us some brief info about you, your house, your pets, and the dates you need us. John will get back to you promptly, and assuming we feel like a good fit, we’ll arrange to talk further.
See more of our house-sitting and pet-sitting photos.