A report released by PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that 7 percent of Americans consider themselves providers in the so-called sharing economy. Of those over age 55, 25 percent do. The report estimated that the sharing economy, which totaled about $15 billion in 2014, could grow to $335 billion by 2025.
One company putting a new spin on rental sites like Airbnb and HomeAway is TrustedHousesitters, which connects travelers looking for a place to stay with homeowners that need someone to care for their homes and pets while they are away. Different than Airbnb’s business model, the exchange is free.
As the sharing economy is a fairly young and disruptive industry – it isn’t fully regulated yet – which means you must protect yourself and know what you are signing up for, and do due diligence to ensure your own safety.
The Society of Certified Senior Advisors warns “before embarking on a gig in this new economy, you should find out what you are liable for and what the company and your insurance will cover. Otherwise you might find yourself having to pay for expenses that surpass the extra income you earned.”
With that in mind, here is more information on TrustedHousesitters from the company’s CEO Andy Peck.
Boomer: What is TrustedHousesitters and what does it offer?
Peck: TrustedHousesitters is a global community of pet lovers who help each other travel and save money. It enables pet owners to find trustworthy people, who are happy to travel to care for their home and pets, for free, while they are away in return for free accommodation. It provides a win-win for both parties. Baby boomers are the largest segment of users, who are often chosen due to their maturity, life experience and flexibility around time.
