Join to Reply Stanthorpe, QLD

Lovely House on 2.5 Acres in quiet location...

We (Carolyn and Donna - a couple of 29 years) are looking for a mature, responsible, reliable, practical, clean and tidy, non-smoking couple or single to look after our home, large but low maintenance garden, 2 donkeys & 7 chooks from Saturday 12 November 2022 to approx. 11 November 2023 - 12 months.

Our home is a lovely and very comfortable 2 story red cedar loft style home (you will have the run of the downstairs area) on 2.5 acres - modern kitchen/bathroom (shower over hip bath), R/C Air Con and slow combustion wood heater - located 3km from Stanthorpe QLD in the Granite Belt Wine Region. Undercover car parking is available, as is room for a caravan/motorhome if required (7m x 6m caravan shed available - no power).

Our expectation is that our home, both inside and out, together with lawns and easy care garden be kept extremely clean, tidy & well maintained throughout the house sitting term.

We have two beautiful, older very quiet and well behaved donkeys that require very little 'maintenance' but do love a regular pat, brush and cuddle and will require a once daily feed during the cold Stanthorpe winter months when grass levels are down. Friendly (but not intrusive) neighbours are available to feed and check on 'the boys' should you wish to have a few days away here and there during the house sitting term. We also have seven lovely chickens that also need to be cared for - no roosters - eggs are yours.

The garden is large but quite low maintenance and would require minimal regular weeding and general tidying - we are seeking a person/couple that truly enjoys caring for a large garden/lawns. There is approximately one mostly level acre of lawn to be mown (ride-on and hand mower, brush cutter & other gardening tools supplied). Regular mowing, weeding (minimal required) and maintenance of the garden is very important to us - if carried out regularly, this should take no more than around 2-3 hours per week.

Previous experience with using this type of garden equipment is preferred but is not necessarily essential provided you are physically fit and have some mechanical aptitude.

We require a GREAT communicator/s that can discuss with us and deal with any household maintenance and other issues that may arise.

Prompt communication by text and/or email of all incoming mail is of particular importance - very little comes in but any mail that does arrive will need to be communicated to us asap. This is a specific requirement and is extremely important.

As this is a longer term house sit, we will require that a mutually agreeable, written Housesitter's Agreement be entered into. We would require you to pay for electricity (solar is installed & connected to mains - average monthly bill for us is around $90) and gas (maximum of one 45kg household bottle of gas). You will also be responsible for the ordering of and payment for firewood for the fan forced slow combustion wood heater (keeps the house toasty!) during the winter months. Good quality, dried, cut/split firewood is readily available locally and can be delivered from a choice of suppliers in the district.
Water to the house is provided by a huge 20,000 gal tank - beautiful, natural rain water!

As this is a 12 month term, Internet service will be disconnected (open to negotiation re payment if Internet is required). Mobile & mobile internet service with both the Telstra and Optus networks is excellent as is free to air TV.

Stanthorpe is a lovely town located 2.5 hours from Brisbane. We are located close to Girraween, Sundown and Bald Rock National Parks, approx. 3km from Storm King Dam (kayaking/swimming/fishing) and there are around 50 Wineries/Cellar Doors in the immediate region. Stanthorpe has all services available and is a VERY friendly and welcoming place!
For those that are looking for work, the town and district has an abundance of opportunities to find employment, particularly in hospitality and farm work.

If you have a pet that you would like to bring with you, we will consider this. Please note that while fully fenced, the property is not 'escape proof' for pets that like to wander!

There are two small dams on the property (drinking water for the donkeys) and as such, the property is not suitable for children.

As the property is located 3km from Stanthorpe and there is only limited public transport available in the area, your own transport would be required.

Previous House Sit References, copies of ID and current Police check/s are essential please. We look forward to hearing from you asap if this sounds like it suits!

We have had house sitters look after our home previously on seven occasions now - (5 weeks in 2012, 7-9 months each in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019. On each occasion, we have been fortunate to have wonderful people stay and maintain our home and garden to the highest standard - a great experience for all concerned on each occasion! Obviously Covid put a stop to our travels but it's time to begin that again.

Thanks for checking out our ad - we look forward to hearing from you! Please reply through this site in the first instance.