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cottageHouse sitting job

Hopkins

South Carolina - Capital City & Lake Murray

A Peaceful Country Retreat on 70+ Private Acres with Pond

Picture of House requiring a House and Pet Sitter at House Sitters America, United States
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Dates & location

date_range 16 Oct 2026 - 9 Nov 2026 (3 weeks)

location_on Hopkins - View map

my_location South Carolina - Capital City & Lake Murray - Richland

Our home

A Peaceful Country Retreat on 70+ Private Acres — Just 35 Minutes from Downtown Columbia

Our spacious, comfortable home is surrounded by pine and hardwood forest and overlooks a large pond. It offers a gourmet kitchen, two large ensuite bedrooms, several comfortable living and work areas, high-speed fiber internet, satellite TV, a whole-house generator in case of a power failure, and a security system. For sitters traveling from outside the area, use of one of our vehicles may also be ... Read moreA Peaceful Country Retreat on 70+ Private Acres — Just 35 Minutes from Downtown Columbia

Our spacious, comfortable home is surrounded by pine and hardwood forest and overlooks a large pond. It offers a gourmet kitchen, two large ensuite bedrooms, several comfortable living and work areas, high-speed fiber internet, satellite TV, a whole-house generator in case of a power failure, and a security system. For sitters traveling from outside the area, use of one of our vehicles may also be available.
Groceries, restaurants, and other everyday services are about 15–20 minutes away, so although our property feels wonderfully private and peaceful, you’re never far from what you need.

Life at the House
There is plenty to enjoy without leaving the property. Just outside, you’ll find a large patio with a covered dining and grilling area, as well as a front porch with rocking chairs overlooking the pond — lovely places to enjoy morning coffee, read, work, or simply relax. The 8-acre pond has a small dock and is stocked with bass and bream. We enjoy feeding the fish from the dock, and sitters are welcome to do the same. We keep floating catfish food on hand for both the fish and the pond’s large population of yellow-bellied and red-eared slider turtles, which are always entertaining to watch.
The home is surrounded by generous stretches of grassy lawn and multiple flowerbeds, all automatically irrigated. Beyond the lawns, walking trails wind through the adjacent pine and hardwood forest. Deer, wild turkeys, songbirds, owls, and other native wildlife are frequent visitors.
Our unpaved driveway curves for about half a mile through the woods, from the mailbox at the top of the property to the house at the end. The drive itself is part of the experience—it’s not unusual to encounter deer along the way, and the changing seasons bring something different to notice throughout the year.

Our Three Cats
Our three cats are indoor/outdoor cats with a simple, predictable routine. During daylight hours, they use a cat door to come and go freely and generally stay close to the house. Around dusk, they reliably return for dinner. Once they’re inside, the cat door is closed for the night.
Their daily care consists primarily of feeding them morning and evening, maintaining their water fountain, and checking and refreshing the litter box as needed.
One of the cats, Heidi, is timid around strangers. The other two, Zeke and Pudge, are very affectionate and enjoy attention.

The Vegetable Garden
In summer and early fall, our vegetable garden produces tomatoes, peppers, Asian eggplants, squash, beets, and other vegetables. House sitters are very welcome to harvest whatever is ripe and enjoy the garden’s bounty. The garden is automatically irrigated, so no watering is required.

Exploring the Area
Columbia’s restaurants, museums, parks, and other attractions are an easy drive away. Charleston, with its historic district, beaches, and plantations, is less than two hours away, and Asheville, with Biltmore Estate and its vibrant arts scene, is less than three hours away, making both possible day trips.
Or simply stay home and enjoy the pond, walking trails, wildlife, porches, and peaceful surroundings. With excellent fiber internet and comfortable work spaces, the house is also very well suited to anyone who works remotely.

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful place to relax, a comfortable base for exploring South Carolina, or simply a beautiful setting in which to spend some time with three cats, we’d love to have you enjoy our home and property.

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sell Wanted
Free House Sitter

favoriteWhat we love about our area

We love the peace and beauty of our 75-acre wooded property, with gardens, abundant wildlife and a completely private deepwater pond. Deer are frequent visitors, even along our half-mile wooded driveway. Yet downtown Columbia is just 35 minutes away.

View house featureskeyboard_arrow_up

cabinHouse type:House

local_laundry_serviceFeatures

Wifi, Streaming services, Garage/Carport, BBQ, Air conditioner, Heater, Dishwasher, Smoke alarms

accessibleHome accessibility

Internal stairs, External stairs / steps, Step in bath/shower

landscapeLocale

Country

near_meNearby

Airport, Supermarket, Shopping Centre, Gym/Yoga, Restaurants/Cafes, Pubs/Bars, Cinema, Parks, Art/Theatre, Live Music

Our pets

CatsCats (3)
Our three cats are indoor/outdoor cats with a simple, predictable routine.
During daylight hours, they use a cat door to come and go freely and generally stay close to the house. Around dusk, they reliably return for dinner. Once they’re inside, the cat door is closed for the night.
Their daily care consists primarily of feeding them morning and evening, maintaining their water fountain, and refreshing the litter box as needed.
The youngest and smallest cat, Heidi, is timid around strangers. The other two, Zeke and Pudge, are very affectionate and enjoy attention. (Especially Zeke!)

Our garden

local_floristGarden or plant care

Minimal - In summer and early fall, our vegetable garden produces tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, beets, and other vegetables. House sitters are welcome to harvest whatever is ripe and enjoy the garden’s bounty. The garden is automatically irrigated, so no watering is required.
We also have a small greenhouse for outdoor plants that aren't winter hardy. Plants in the greenhouse should be watered once a week. Some indoor houseplants will also require weekly watering.

About us

person Ginnie

My husband and I travel frequently and enjoy meeting people who love animals, nature, and country living. We look forward to sharing our home with caring, responsible sitters.

Trust

account_circleMember since Jul 2015

Important info

Smoking is not allowed inside the house, but permitted outdoors. With prior notice and approval, sitters are welcome to have house guests.
The house has many large windows. None have curtains (except for semi-sheer curtains in the guest room) because the property is so private.

videocamSecurity/Pet Cameras:

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person_addGuests welcome:By arrangement

rv_hookupSpace for RV/Motorhome:Yes

directions_carCar available:Yes

petsPets welcome:No

smoking_roomsSmoking permitted:Outside only

Live Rent Free

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