The house House is a vacation property located in a small village of 350 people in central Italy. Nearby, about 10 km away, is Teramo (pop 55k). I am now living in Germany and I rent the house out by the week or the month whenever I can. Although the price is in US$ sometimes I find myself without renters and the house sits empty. This is not good for the house, especially during the colder winder months. So when the house is empty I contact sitters to stay in the house. Many of these arrangements are made fairly close to the time of need, typically from mid-December to mid-March. I am sorry that I cannot accommodate everyone.
After having had several sitters in the house a concern that I have is the sitter's using great quantities of electricity and wood for heating. I am now mostly interested in sitters who are willing to make some arrangements such that I am not again stuck paying for their utilities.
Also, the Italian economy is quite bad at this time. For the first time the government has started taxing people's second and third homes, these taxes often running in the neighborhood of 900 euros/year or so. At any one time there are a half dozen or so furnished houses/mini apartments for rent at a cost of about 600 euros/month if anyone is interested.
Thanks in advance for your understanding and contacts. Happy Housesitting!!