In this article, I’ll be discussing how to create the perfect house sitting welcome guide for your sitters. I’ve been on the receiving end of dozens of guides during my years of being a house sitter and will give you the benefit of my experiences.
When leaving your home in the hands of a house sitter, communication is key to ensuring everything runs smoothly. A well-crafted welcome guide not only helps your sitter feel comfortable but also sets clear expectations about how your home and pets should be cared for.
Here’s how to create the perfect welcome guide for your house sitter that covers all the bases;
House Basics
Start by including a clear description of the house layout and any important areas they’ll need to access to. Every home has different quirks that homeowners can take for granted after enough time. So, have a good think about your home and be thorough.
Include
- Access Codes/Keys. Be clear on how to get into the house, including which keys do what and where spare keys are stored. Note down alarm codes, and any special instructions for locking doors, windows, and outdoor buildings such as sheds and garages.
- Important Contacts. Provide all your contact information and that of a trusted neighbor or friend. Note down a few emergency numbers like a vet or local services. Including a handyman’s details if you have one is also a good idea. This is especially useful for longer stays.
- Utility Information. Explain how to use the heating, cooling, and hot water systems and any instructions for appliances such as the washing machine, dishwasher, or stove. If you are aware of any recurring issues make sure these are mentioned too, along with the solution of course!
Pet Care Instructions
If pets are involved, this section is critical and can often be the most important part of your guide. Maintaining a pet’s routine and feeding habits as well as having important health information on hand is important.
Include
- Daily Routines. Detail your pets’ feeding schedules, preferred walking routes, favorite toys, and any habits that might be important. For example, mention if your cat likes to be brushed every evening or eats at a certain time.
- Sleeping Arrangements. Furthermore, include if your pets have regular sleeping arrangements or nighttime routines. It helps house sitters maintain comfort levels for everyone come evening time. Also, if pets sleep on your bed, mention this in the initial listing as it’s not always optimal for people.
- Feeding. All pets have different food requirements so be sure to write down precise instructions in regards to their meals.
- Medical Information. List your pets’ vet contact, medications (with clear dosages), and any health concerns the sitter should watch for. Always include this information in the listing as some sitters may not be comfortable dealing with certain health issues.
- Pet Preferences. Let the sitter know about your pet’s personality – whether they prefer solitude, love belly rubs, or get anxious during storms. Again, include how to resolve any behavioral issues here, such as ‘Give Molly a biscuit after her walk as a treat or she whines until you do!’.
Home Maintenance
A great bonus of finding a house sitter is the continuation of the day-to-day running and upkeep of your home. You’ll want your home to stay well-maintained while you’re away, so make sure to provide clear guidance.
Include
- Garden/Plant Care. If there are plants, specify how often they need watering. Include any instructions for outdoor gardens, and whether any plants require special attention.
- Lawn Care and Equipment. Additionally, if you have a lawn to be mowed, include information about how to use the mower and strimmer. Again, also mention any gardening in the listing, some sitters may not be able to partake in the more physical household chores.
Trash Days. Give clear instructions on what days trash and recycling should be taken out, and where bins are located. This is something that can be easily overlooked, but remember even different streets have different trash pick-up days, and out-of-towners won’t have a clue.
Recycling. Furthermore, different countries, states, counties, and cities have different rules regarding recycling and what can and can not be included. If you are aware of anything like this, put it in your house sitting guide. - Cleaning Expectations. Outline your expectations for general tidiness and any specific areas you’d like them to focus on such as sweeping the patio or keeping the bathroom fresh. This is especially prudent when there are pets involved so don’t be afraid to ask for some general upkeep.
Technology & Entertainment
I can vouch for the fact that every home and TV has a unique operating system. I pride myself on being able to solve 99.9% of technological issues but that’s just me and my weird brain. Others may not be so determined so always include a guide to operating any technology in the house.
Include
- Wi-Fi and TV. Give the WiFi password and instructions on how to use the TV and other home tech that’s available for use. State where the modem is kept in case it needs rebooting. We have previously had to search and have found one hidden behind a sofa and one in the attic!
- Internet Limitations. Be honest and upfront about your internet’s capabilities and any data caps. We’ve been booted off several times having used all the available data for the month. It’s fine to have an internet cap, but sitters will need to be aware of this, especially if they intend to work from home.
- Smart Home Devices. If your home has smart locks, lights, or thermostats, provide clear instructions on how to use them.
- Streaming Service. If you have access to any paid subscriptions such as Netflix or Amazon Prime and are happy for your sitters to use them, note this in your house sitting guide. It’s a nice bonus for your guests to have lots of new shows to watch.
- Alexas. Digital assistants are not everybody’s cup of tea, but if you have them in your home make your sitters aware. We had one sit in Nashville where the entire house was operated through an Alexa!
Emergency Procedures
Hopefully, your house sitting exchange will be smooth and without note, but it’s always good to prepare for the unforeseen. As any homeowner knows, things in a house can and will go wrong without warning. Here are a few things to consider adding to your house sitting guide.
Include
Power Outages/Water Leaks. Include instructions on where to find the circuit breaker or water shut-off valve in case of a power outage or plumbing emergency. Seconds matter in these situations, especially with water, so having that information on hand is vital.
Alarm System. If you have an alarm system, explain how it works and what to do if it goes off. Even if it’s not in regular use, systems can still reanimate after a power cut for example.
Fire Alarms. Make house sitters aware that your home’s fire alarms and other monitors such as carbon-monoxide detectors are tested and working. It’s also handy to know if they tend to go off when you burn the toast!
Local Information
One of our favorite things about house sitting is getting to know a new area. So provide local tips and recommendations to help your sitters enjoy their stay with you.
Include
- Local Shops and Services. Highlight the nearest grocery stores, pharmacies, and any other relevant services. Feel free to say If you have personal preferences for certain places regarding price, quality, quantity, etc.
- Restaurants/Cafes. Suggest a few local spots where they can grab a coffee or a meal and if you have a regular pub or restaurant that is worth visiting, mention it. Furthermore, good take-away recommendations are always welcome.
- Local Events. If you’re aware of any upcoming local events such as markets, festivals, or similar community activities, make your house sitters aware of them. Feeling part of a community plays a big role in the house sitting experience.
- Transport Links. Most urban routes are easily found online these days, but if you live in a rural part of your region, consider including local bus timetables, handy taxi numbers, and train connections. I’ve often found it’s only the people who live in these areas that have access to this information!
Return Details and Travel Itinerary
Departure and return details are usually well discussed during the application stage but it’s handy information to include in your house sitting guide. Furthermore, If you are traveling to vastly different time zones or moving around a lot, this information is handy for house sitters to have on hand.
Include
Return Time. Ideally, discuss this well in advance with your sitters but re-confirm when you’re expected back and when it’s okay for the sitter to depart.
Departure Checklist. Politely detail how you’d like the home to be left when the sitter departs, including basic cleaning tasks, securing the house, and where to leave keys. When pets are involved be sure to mention final feeds and walks before your expected return.
Travel Itinerary. If you are making various stops around the world or constantly on the move during your trip be sure to include this information in your house sitting guide. If your sitter has a query or is in an emergency, knowing your whereabouts and timezone can be useful information.
Vehicle Information
Many homeowners leave a car behind for their house sitters to use. If this is the case be sure to reference any pertinent information about the vehicle that house sitters may need to know.
Include
Insurance Details. Different countries have different laws regarding insurance. In the UK it’s not required by law to have all the vehicle information to hand if stopped by the police but in many other countries, this can be an offence. Either way, ensure all sitters know where to find this information.
Breakdown Assistance. It has occurred to me during several international house sits that I wouldn’t know what to do or who to call if I broke down! I’m in a habit now of getting this information before the host leaves but it’d be very useful to include this in your house sitting guide.
Fuel Requirements. Diesel or petrol is obviously vital information to know but more than this, if you have a car that requires only the highest grade of fuel, make a note of this in the guide.
Local Assistance. If you have contacts with any local mechanics, or if your car is under warranty with the manufacturer include this information. During long house sits it’s perfectly feasible for a tire to need replacing or finding something basic needing repair. Local knowledge is priceless in these situations.
Final Tips
Include any other details that are specific to your home. The more your sitter knows, the more relaxed and confident they’ll feel in your absence. We love finding a large binder filled with everything from the dishwasher’s warranty to the car’s insurance details.
A good welcome guide not only ensures your home and pets are taken care of as you wish but also helps build trust between you and your house sitter. The clearer and more detailed the guide, the smoother the experience will be for everyone involved.
The Perfect House Sitting Guide – Ask Me Anything!
With over 30 house sits in the bank and dozens of other international exchanges, this next section is just about Hannah and my personal preferences when it comes to receiving a house sitting guide.
Old School Binder or E-Guide?
Hannah is a fan of the binder but I have no preference if the house sitting guide is in paper form or digital. House sitting websites such as Trusted Housesitters provide an online facility for homeowners to make a guide with easy fill-in-the-blank template. The template is a good guide, but I don’t think it covers everything!
An online version is easy to edit from sit to sit, while a paper version can include lots of permanent information such as internet provider details, car information, and emergency contacts.
Too Much Information or Just the Basics?
We’re both in full agreement that it is fine to go for broke and include as much information as you want. We are frequently taking on long-term house sitting assignments where it feels very much as though it is our home. Knowing all the details is often useful and makes for a more comfortable stay.
For shorter stays, it may be wise not to overwhelm your sitters with a thick binder of information they are unlikely to ever need. However, having access to this information could be useful one day, and can be reused for other sitters down the road.
Can You Survive Without A House Sitting Guide?
We can survive without a house sitting guide and have done so on several occasions. It’s not ideal because a lot of time is lost figuring stuff out and it has been at times a frustrating experience. Hands down, our experiences have been better with a packed house sitting guide.
I Included a Lot of Info in My Listing, Should I Still Produce a Guide?
Yes, you should still produce a house sitting guide. Your listing is a very different part of the process to the sit itself and although a lot of information is often included in a listing, it’s not practical or wise to include the amount of data that a guide should entail.
There are also more personal points regarding house safety, routines, and internet information that you shouldn’t advertise in a public listing. Wait until you’ve found the perfect house sitter before divulging the bulk of your home’s information.
Do I Have to Make a New Guide Every Time?
No, you don’t need to make a new guide every time. A digital guide produced through Trusted Housesitters will remain on your profile permanently and can be used for each new sitter.
You should however consider keeping it updated with new information. For example, if you change your internet provider (and passwords) or have new smart tech installed, be sure to stay on top of your guide. Likewise, local events will vary from sitter to sitter, so update this information too.
How Do I Find the Perfect House Sitter
I’ve written this article about writing the perfect house sitting guide with the presumption that you have house sitters pending. However, I am aware that many listings fail to receive decent applications or none at all in some circumstances.
As part of the ‘homeowner, host, and pet parent section’ of our website we are now producing lots of content that will help attract more, better-qualified house sitters to your listing. Read my article – How to Find the Perfect House Sitter to learn how to make your home and pets shine in the busy house sitting market.
New to House Sitting? Further Information About Signing Up
If you’re new to the concept of house sitting and are still on the fence about having strangers take care of your home and pets, be sure to read my article 10 Top Reasons Why You Should Get a House Sitter. I’ve also weighed in with 5 Reasons Why a Pet Sitter is Better Than Kennels Or Boarding.
If you still need persuading, then sign up for a free account with Trusted Housesitters and see what all the fuss is about. You can start browsing available house sitters and see how the platform works by joining with just your email address, click here to get started.
To advertise your home you will need to be a paying member of the platform. Membership starts at $149/year and includes an unlimited number of exchanges! Use our unique referral code BEACHES25 to save 25% on any membership option. Click here to sign up today.
Conclusion
A well-thought-out welcome guide is essential for a smooth and stress-free house sitting experience. By providing clear instructions and covering all the important details about your home and pets, you set your sitter up for success and give yourself peace of mind while you’re away.
A little effort in creating this guide goes a long way in ensuring your home is cared for just the way you want.
Good luck putting your house sitting guide together!
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