House sitting is now a very common service and would be considered just as safe as staying in your own home. House sitting websites provide a platform for homeowners to safely meet and vet potential house sitters, and vice versa. A homeowner can place an ad, interview potential sitters, check references and choose the most suitable candidate. Similarly, house sitters can speak to the homeowner over the phone or video call to get a better feel for the house sit. It's highly recommended that both the owner and sitter meet face-to-face whenever possible before either commits to the house sitting job. It's a great way to get a feel for each other and chat about things in detail. It's also good to see if the pets and sitter are compatible.