Is this housing opportunity too good to be true?

[johnt2five]

Originally Posted by steiconi

There ARE a lot of people who live here part time and need someone to look after their property when they aren't here.

If they call it a farm, it probably isn't in Hilo. But they may not want to give an actual address until they feel comfortable with you; they've already told you they're gone half the year, you could go rip them off.

Meet with them, and if you feel they're for real, go for it. Maybe have a plan B in case it's a scam and you get here with no place to live...

Thank you so much. Plan B is in the works to be on the safe side.

[hotzcatz]

I'm kinda wondering why they'd import a house sitter, we usually can find a friend already on the island to house/farm sit when we go on extended vacations. Having someone who is known as well as has local contacts in case they need help would seem to me to be a good thing in a house sitter.

However, if they spend half their time here an half on the mainland, they may not have a whole lot of friends who live here full time. Generally island folks don't really warm up to newcomers until they've been here a year or two since there's such a high turnover of newcomers. Not that folks will be mean to you or anything, but you won't just show up and become ohana.

If the house sitting gig doesn't work out, there's always the WWOOFing option, although that can have a wide variety of possible options. Anything from sleeping in a tent or in an old bus to an actual small house, depends on the farm and farmer. WWOOF is "Willing Worker on Organic Farms" and not all the farms are actually farms, some of them are more like gardens than farms. Not all of them are organic, either, but in exchange for some gardening work, hopefully you will be provided with a place to stay and sometimes a daily meal or some such. Usually not any money so that has to come from somewhere else. Not sure if it would be a good long term solution, but it may make an extended visit not cost a whole lot.

[Jacquelynn Thomas]

I agree with the most people commenting on here, you can do a search easily as you both have a background of Seattle, it would not be that hard to find good and authentic persons linking to them. Another idea that came to my mind is, you must visit their property first. Take a friend with you and just check out he area, check whether they have servants there or you would be living alone, how is the neighborhood etc.

[hotzcatz]

Almost guaranteed no servants living there or they'd not need to import a house sitter? There may be a yard service or cleaning service, though. I've done house sitting for folks who were on extended vacations and had those sorts of services done.

Any idea what part of the island their 'farm' is at? That may give a few hints. You'd also be able to Google Street view it perhaps.

If it works out, it may be an interesting way to get started on the island, but to actually 'live in Paradise' vacation here instead of live here. For a vacation it's pretty close to paradise, which may be why that's so popular. Living here is a whole 'nother matter.

[steiconi]

Just heard from a friend who put a Craigslist ad offering caretaking here on the BI; he got several responses, and will be caretaking in Kohala.

I guess there is an unfilled need here.

[johnt2five]

Update: I found a roommate in Hilo and will be moving soon. Thank you all for your fantastic shares and replies!

[hotzcatz]

Good job on finding a room mate! That's a good way to start since you'll have someone to give you tips on how to live in Hilo.

[WaikikiBoy]

Originally Posted by johnt2five

Update: I found a roommate in Hilo and will be moving soon. Thank you all for your fantastic shares and replies!

What happened with the people you were going to meet in Seattle who said they had a farm and wanted you to live there and take care of it ? Did they ever show up to meet you ?

[Wild Flower]

Originally Posted by Blind Cleric

OK, maybe you don't have a ton of money after all.

I see no harm in pursuing this. Sounds like an ideal opportunity for you to see what living in Hawaii is like for cheap.
As previously mentioned, they probably just want you to mow the yard and maintain a presence to discourage theft.
Too good to be true? No, it's a likely, and common, scenario.

I know I am stating the obvious. And I can see the OP knows this. But...

Realistically why wouldn't they have set this up with a local resident??

Edit: I see your update. Good for you! You've vetted him, right? (Unless you know him personally.)

[johnt2five]

Originally Posted by WaikikiBoy

What happened with the people you were going to meet in Seattle who said they had a farm and wanted you to live there and take care of it ? Did they ever show up to meet you ?

We met at Starbucks and talked for a couple of hours. They were really nice people and were legit. I politely declined but we agreed to keep in touch, and I am welcomed to come visit anytime when I move over there. I've decided to pursue my own path with getting a place with a roommate, which I found a couple of weeks ago. Thank God I saved a lot of money from the past 4 years from my previous jobs.