25 Best House Sitting Tips for Beginners – From an Expert
Looking for house sitting tips to help you snag more house sits? You’re in the right place!
House sitting can be an enriching experience, especially when you’re equipped with the right knowledge.
We’ve been house sitting since 2008, and doing it almost full time since 2019, so we’ve learned some helpful house sitting tips for success in that time!
Whether you’re aspiring to become a go-to sitter or you’re already taking on house sitting jobs, here’s a list of our essential house sitting tips to ensure you provide the best service possible.
From security measures to plant maintenance, these tips cater not only to new house sitters but also to those looking to refine their skills. Let’s go!
House Sitting Tips Before Your Stay
Before you even arrive at your house sit, there are a few things you need to do in order to set yourself up for success.
1. Understand Homeowner Expectations
Before the homeowners leave for their trip, be sure to have a thorough conversation with them regarding their expectations.
It should include clarifying specific requirements they may have for the care of their home and any special instructions or preferences related to the care of their pets.
Especially in countries where water isn’t potable for humans, ask if the pets drink tap or bottled water. The answer may surprise you!
This proactive approach can help ensure that their needs are clearly understood and met while they’re away.
2. Document Everything
Upon your initial arrival at the house sit, take detailed notes on any specific instructions provided and meticulously document the current state of the home.
And ask about necessary documentation you’ll need to reference during your stay, like car insurance if your house sit includes use of a vehicle or pet vaccine passports if you need to take them for emergency vet care.
This practice is a valuable resource for future reference and enhances accountability, ensuring a thorough understanding of the situation.
3. Security Measures
Always make sure to meticulously check that all doors and windows are securely locked before leaving. And remember to activate any alarm systems you have in place for added security measures.
We’ve even house sat for homes without pets just to maintain the appearance of a lived-in home, serving as a deterrent to potential intruders.
This house sitting tip has proven to be an effective way to keep a property safe and secure while homeowners are away.
4. Understand Appliance Use
Get a walkthrough on operating major appliances like the thermostat, dishwasher, and washing machines. Take notes on your phone if necessary.
This is especially important when house-sitting in developing countries, where laundry is washed very differently from what you may be used to.
At one housesit in Costa Rica, the homeowner had a “Tico washer.” We had to manually fill and drain the washer with water for both wash and rinse cycles before moving the clothes to a separate compartment to spin it! Yes, seriously!
5. Plant Maintenance
Learn about the watering schedules and light requirements for any plants. A little extra attention can keep them thriving. And you certainly don’t want the homeowner to return to a dead garden!
There’s a silver lining to plant care, though. We’ve had house sits where the homeowner told us to help ourselves to anything in the garden.
I’ve made zucchini bread in Ecuador and Caprese salad in Mexico.
6. Handle Mail with Care
Gather mail daily and store it in a designated area. Ask the homeowners if they’re expecting any packages and how they want it handled.
Even if no packages are anticipated, mail can still arrive unexpectedly. Our standard practice includes sending photos of received mail to homeowners promptly. This ensures they are promptly informed of any important mail deliveries.
7. Be Prepared for Emergencies
Knowing where key items like the first aid kit, circuit breakers, and main water shut-off valves are in the home is crucial for readiness and handling emergencies effectively.
Have a comprehensive list of contacts readily available in case of emergencies. Include trusted neighbors who can keep an eye on your property, as well as close friends of the homeowner who can provide assistance if needed.
One time we didn’t have any of these, because the owners lived on an off-grid island in Central America so there were no neighbors. That was a bit stressful but we got through it!
8. Know Your Limits
Avoid committing to a house-sitting job that demands specialized knowledge or skills beyond your expertise, such as caring for exotic pets or managing solar-powered generators.
Conversely, if your unique abilities align perfectly with the house-sitting assignment, highlight these skills in your application to enhance your chances of securing the opportunity.
We were offered a two-month house sit in Australia because we had previous, documented experience with horses!
9. Develop a Quick-Fix Toolkit
When preparing for your stay, it’s wise to bring along a small toolkit containing essential items for minor repairs or adjustments that may arise. We’ve needed to make minor repairs several times through the years!
Consider including screwdrivers of various sizes, a small hammer and nails, duct tape for quick solutions, and spare batteries for any devices. Alternately, be sure to ask homeowners where they keep everything.
Of course, this is only possible if you’re not traveling carry-on only.
We’re big fans of this travel tool kit (plus a roll of duct tape) because it has all the basics for simple repairs on the go. Just be sure to pack in your checked luggage!
House Sitting Tips for During Your Stay
Once you arrive at your house sit, there are still things you need to do!
10. Get to Know the Neighborhood
To ensure a smooth transition into the neighborhood, take the time to familiarize yourself with the local area.
Explore nearby supermarkets to find your go-to grocery store, locate the nearest vet for your furry friends’ well-being, and get acquainted with any neighborhood watch programs for added security.
If you’re staying in a gated community, meet the security guards. Building a rapport with them ensures they recognize you when you come and go, enhancing the sense of safety and community during your stay.
11. Keep Regular Communication
Send periodic updates to the homeowners about how things are going. Photos and messages play a significant role in offering peace of mind to pet owners.
We generally send photos every other day as a standard procedure, ensuring that owners feel connected and reassured about their pets’ well-being. Some owners require daily updates, so be sure to follow through when that’s the case!
12. Pet Care Excellence
If you have the responsibility of caring for a pet, it’s crucial to dedicate sufficient time to familiarize yourself with your pet’s daily routine, including their specific dietary needs.
Make sure to provide them with an abundance of love, attention, and affection to nurture a strong bond and ensure their well-being.
This is our favorite part of house-sitting, so it’s easy to fit it into our schedules!
13. Respect Homeowner Privacy
To ensure a respectful and pleasant experience for both guests and homeowners, it’s important to adhere to the homeowner’s guidelines regarding private areas or items.
Before the homeowner leaves for their trip, we make it a point to have detailed conversations with them to clearly understand and respect their wishes.
This proactive approach helps to prevent any oversights and ensures a smooth and enjoyable stay for everyone involved.
14. Observe All Pet Rules
To ensure the well-being of your pets, strictly follow the guidelines established for pet walks, feeding times, and any medication schedules.
Be sure to take notes on specific details, particularly regarding medication administration.
We once had a house sit where the dog had to get liquid medicine every other day two hours after breakfast or she would get a horrible, itchy rash. So I set an alarm on my phone to ensure we didn’t miss a dosage!
15. Be Resource Efficient
To conserve water and energy, it’s beneficial to develop habits like turning off lights in unoccupied rooms.
Be mindful of your heating and air conditioning usage by adjusting the thermostat when leaving the house, turning off wall units when leaving the home, or using energy-efficient settings.
This is especially important in areas known for water shortages, like Oaxaca Mexico, and parts of the world with high electricity costs, like western Europe.
16. Manage Your Expectations
House sitting provides a chance to experience new places and neighborhoods. Be prepared for responsibilities like pet care and house maintenance for a rewarding experience.
Approach house sitting with the right mindset to explore new surroundings and help others.
17. Follow Garbage Disposal Protocols
To effectively manage waste disposal, it is crucial to be aware of the scheduled trash collection and recycling days. Ensure proper sorting of different waste categories, such as separating organic materials.
If the homeowner enjoys gardening, organic waste can be placed in designated areas like a compost bin or pile to enrich the soil and promote sustainability practices. Be sure to ask about this!
18. Be Flexible
Sometimes, unexpected events can alter the homeowner’s plans. Stay accommodating and understanding. We’ve had homeowners who have had to change arrival or departure days due to circumstances beyond their control.
It’s resulted in us needing to leave a day early or share the home with them, and we’ve always made it work.
Our flexible mindset has consistently gotten us positive reviews and even requests to return for future house sits.
19. Keep a Routine
To prevent stress on pets and maintain their well-being, it’s important to uphold a consistent household routine.
By ensuring all tasks are completed timely and pets are fed on a set schedule, you create a harmonious environment that fosters their health and happiness. We’ve noticed that pets have a strong sense of time and will remind you when it’s mealtime!
20. Beware of Party Hosting
Never host parties or invite guests over without explicit permission from the homeowner. This one should go without saying, but even people you know well shouldn’t visit you at a home where you’re house-sitting.
Even if we have friends or family visit us during a house sit, they stay in their own accommodations and we either meet up with them in a public place to go sightseeing or at their hotel.
21. Know Your Limits
Avoid accepting a house sitting assignment that requires specialized skills or knowledge you lack, such as tending to exotic pets. Some house sits just aren’t a good fit and that’s okay.
Alternately, if you have special experience make sure to note it on your application. We were accepted for a 2-month house sit in Australia with two horses because of a house sit we did in Ecuador for a single horse!
22. Keep a Journal
Document your house-sitting experiences and the insights gained along the journey; this will prove invaluable for upcoming opportunities.
Keeping a record of your experiences handy will aid in crafting compelling future house sitting applications. It’s also just fun to look back on all the places you’ve seen and pets you’ve snuggled over the years!
Tips for When Your House Sit Ends
As the house sit wraps up, there are just a few things you need to do to ensure the homeowner and pets have a seamless transition back into home life.
23. Have a Welcome Home Plan
Make sure the house is clean and welcoming upon the homeowner’s return. Restock any essential items that may have been used during your stay.
We like to ask homeowners what requests or instructions they have for their return, including whether they want the sheets and towels washed or put in the hamper. Believe or not, we’ve had several homeowners choose the latter!
24. Leave No Trace
Ensure the home remains clean during your stay and depart leaving it as pristine as or even better than you found it. If your house sit did not include visits from the homeowners regular cleaner, consider hiring someone to clean the day before you leave.
For all the money saved in accommodations, a few hours of professional cleaning for the kitchen and bathrooms can be well worth it while you pack!
25. Continuously Improve
Seek feedback after each job and use it to improve your services. Most house-sitting websites, like Trusted HouseSitters, request feedback from both homeowners and housesitters that is posted publicly on the platform after the sit ends.
But if you’re house sitting “off platform” it’s still important to ask for feedback.
We like to ask “off platform” sits still to complete a review for us on Trusted HouseSitters so that we have formal feedback posted for more than just our single platform house sits.
Final Thoughts on House Sitting Tips
After house sitting since 2008, we’ve come to understand deeply that this unique form of adventure is as much about fun as it is about responsibility.
It’s a balance that requires not just a love for new experiences and environments but also a dedicated commitment to the homes and pets entrusted to our care.
House sitting is a unique opportunity to explore the world, but it requires respect, preparation, and a genuine commitment to care for homes and pets under your watch.
Embrace this opportunity with both enthusiasm and diligence, and you’ll find that house sitting can open doors to unforgettable experiences and connections across the globe.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to enrich your house-sitting adventures further, keep these principles in mind. Here’s to many years of successful house sitting!
