It would be much cheaper to have a house-sitter Cowboy! We have had several house-sitters, a couple we knew and a couple of complete strangers from a web-site... all very satisfactory. We had to pay the electricity bills etc on the house while we were away but it solves a lot of problems like mail, and insurance on the house if empty for over 6 weeks. Its nice to come home to a clean house, mowed lawn, AND they feed and look after your pets!