Housekeeping in your absence? Like dusting an empty house once a week :)? I would understand "gardening", though here in Baja there usually isn't much of a garden.
What is needed, is a "house-seater" - somebody living there or at least spending the nights. To prevent theft, mostly, and to take care of (infrequent) damage from flood or heavy rain.
Don't count on them doing it well though. This is Mexico. To get done anything complicated or important, you have to be there, watch them, and explain many times - and even then it won't come out perfect.
