How to write an impressive cover letter as a homesitter
When homeowners go out of town on work or leisure trips, they often rely on professional homesitters to ensure their homes are taken care of and kept secure in their absence. To earn a position as a homesitter, it is crucial to write a cover letter that impresses homeowners with your professionalism and skill.
In this guide, we discuss the key elements needed to write an effective homesitter cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about:
- The importance of a well-formatted cover letter header and headline
- Why you should always tailor cover letters for specific employers
- Essential details to include in your homesitter cover letter introduction
- What types of skills and accomplishments to highlight as a homesitter
- How to conclude your homesitter cover letter in a compelling manner
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1. How to properly format your homesitter cover letter header and headline
There are many important elements to an effective cover letter but none quite as important as a well-formatted header and headline.
Your cover letter header and headline serve two essential purposes: to provide the reader with crucial identifying information and to hook the reader’s attention, compelling them to read further.
Though the body text of your cover letter is what informs the reader of your key qualifications, without a visually appealing header and headline, the reader may never reach the body text in the first place.
As such, it is essential to focus on creating a great header and headline to start off your cover letter right.
The header comes first and should be placed in the top left corner of the document. In this header, make sure to include:
- Your name and professional title (typically written in a slightly larger font than the rest of the text)
- Your professional contact details (phone number, email address, LinkedIn, etc.)
- The name of the employer, company, or homeowner you are applying to
Here is an example of a well-formatted homesitter header
Kate Katherines, Professional Homesitter
(123) 456-7890 | katekatherines@email.com | linkedin.com/in/kate-katherines
To: Masterful Homesitting Service
1234 Street Address
Orlando, FL 32789
After completing your header, you can then move on to your headline. This headline is similar to a title, introducing the main concept of your letter and helping to grab the reader’s attention.
In a headline, important components to include are:
- A highly relevant keyword
- An eye-catching number or trigger word
- An appealing adjective and/or verb
- A personalized statement that tells the reader the letter is just for them
Here is an example of a well-written headline on a homesitter cover letter
How I Approach Homesitting in 3 Effective Steps & How Your Company Can Benefit from My Process
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Effective Steps
Keyword: Homesitting
Adjective/Verb: Approach, Effective, Benefit
Promise: Your Company
2. How to tailor your homesitter cover letters for specific employers
Though your header and headline do a lot of the initial work in attracting an employer’s attention, to keep that attention you must write a cover letter that is highly specific and relevant to each employer.
This is accomplished by tailoring the content of your letter with specific details, such as the exact values or goals an employer has stated they possess on their website or marketing materials.
For example, if a homesitting company works with high-status clients and highly values confidentiality amongst its employees, this is a good detail and skill to include in your cover letter.
Additionally, you should strive to uncover the specific person who will read your cover letter, such as a homeowner, company manager, or even a house manager for higher-status clients. Once you know who this person is, you can create a personalized greeting that addresses them by name.
Here are 3 examples of personalized homesitter cover letter greetings
- Dear Hiring Manager John Doe,
- Dear House Manager Jane Smith,
- Dear Mr. Edgar Jones,
3. How to craft an effective homesitter cover letter introduction
The introductory paragraph to your homesitter cover letter is crucially important, as it is where you let the reader know about your best qualifications that make you the ideal candidate.
To write an effective introduction, you should include:
- A brief overview of your professional history (years of experience, specializations, etc.)
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying for this position
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Pro Tip: Mutual acquaintances are extremely helpful to name in a cover letter, as they provide the employer with a professional reference that they already know and trust. If you do not have a mutual acquaintance, it is worth your while to spend time networking with relevant professionals, both in person and online through professional social platforms like LinkedIn.
Here is an example of a great introduction from a homesitter cover letter
Dear House Manager Jane Smith,
I am an experienced homesitter who has worked for more than 8 years in large private estates. With a background in house management, I understand the complexities of upkeep for mansions and other large places of residence, as well as the crucial importance of working collaboratively with other house staff. Your client’s butler, Mr. John Angle, recently hired me to assist with an event held at the place of residence and encouraged me to apply for this opening.
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4. How to highlight the best skills and accomplishments as a homesitter
Working as a homesitter requires many different skills, both technical and interpersonal.
When writing a homesitter cover letter, it is important to not only recite your most relevant skills but to also explain how you apply them in a work setting and what achievements you have accomplished as a direct result of those skills.
As you describe your best skills and accomplishments, try to include as many quantifiable details as possible. This helps to show the employer the real-life value you have to offer as a homesitter.
Here are 6 homesitter skills to describe in a cover letter
- Home maintenance and cleaning procedures
- Excellent communication (it can be beneficial to describe your exact communication style)
- Pet care
- Lawn care
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Task delegation (especially when working as part of a larger house staff)
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a homesitter cover letter
As a homesitter for [Former Employer], I served in a leadership position, supervising a home sitting staff of more than 25 members. In this role, I achieved a high level of satisfaction amongst all the company’s clients, earning a 5-star rating within the company and earning Employee of the Month on five different occasions.
5. How to conclude your homesitter cover letter in a compelling manner
To conclude your homesitter cover letter, you want to write a statement that is just as compelling as your introduction. This is accomplished by including key information that encourages the employer to get in contact with you quickly, such as:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a compelling conclusion from a homesitter cover letter
I am thrilled to be considered for this opportunity and greatly look forward to speaking with you more in person regarding this position. Please contact me at your earliest convenience at (123) 456-7890. The best times to reach me are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If I have not heard from you by next Tuesday, I will call to follow up at that time.
Many Thanks,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
