Hello house-sitters,
Come spend the holidays in Canada's beautiful capital. Lots of lights, music and festive events to keep you entertained, as well as great outdoor activities (downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating.)
We require someone (or a couple) who is responsible, experienced, mature and absolutely non-smoking (not even outside) to look after our cozy two-story home in the west end of Ottawa over Christmas and New Year's.
Highlights of the house:
Sturdy, compact (perfect for one or two), home built in the mid- 1940s. If it were a human you'd describe it as personable rather than pretentious, relaxed rather than refined. Wifi, high-speed internet, cable TV. Lots of windows. Nice front and back yard with trees, squirrels and birds.
The open concept main floor (living and dining area) has hardwood floors and stairs as well as a fireplace and lots of book shelves. (Lots of books on a variety of topics, including environmental issues, contemporary and classic fiction, Buddhism, and science.)
The small(ish) kitchen has a microwave, blender, food processor (plus fridge and stove, of course.)
Upstairs is the bedroom (queen-sized bed) and an office (which may be closed off for storage purposes.)
Finished basement with large-screen TV, great DVD collection, and original, vintage movie theatre seats. Driveway (no garage though), back-deck with BBQ.
Highlights of the area:
Quiet, old, tree-lined neighbourhood near shopping centre (pharmacy, health food store, etc.), major bus routes, bike paths, the Experimental Farm and Arboretum, the UNESCO-listed Rideau Canal (largest outdoor skating rink in the world), the Ottawa River, and the vibrant neighbourhoods of Westboro and Wellington West (cafes, restaurants, theatre, etc.)
One bus away (15 minutes) from downtown Ottawa with the National Art Gallery, Museum of Nature, historic Byward Market and Museum of Civilization.
Forty minutes away (by car) from the fantastic Gatineau Park, a 361-square kilometre wilderness area with great cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. Under an hour away from downhill skiing (Vorlage, Camp Fortune.)
Friendly, helpful neighbours in case you run into trouble.
Special considerations:
We are asking the house-sitter(s) to pay $300 towards utilities (phone, heat, cable, internet.) As well, we request you provide a cheque for a damage deposit.
We would ask that you are available sometime between Monday, Dec. 9 and Friday, Dec. 13 for an in-person orientation of a few hours.
We would like the sitter(s) to have their own laptop so that they can us, both for the interview and to provide us with updates.
Make sure you bring your skis, snowshoes and skates (some of these might be able to be rented at a nearby outfitters.) Also bring sturdy boots with a good tread as you might be doing some shovelling of the driveway (don't worry -- it's not that big!) and walkways.
Please only apply if you have experience and references that can be easily verified.
Thank you and happy house-sitting adventures!