What to look for in a house sitter?
Have you ever needed to travel but didn’t know how to make sure everything was taken care of at your house? Getting a house sitter may be your best option. Not all house sitters are the same, and building a good relationship with one is the best way to ensure you have peace of mind while you’re away. Your home, animals, plants, and property, shouldn’t be left to just anyone. An hour of research and messaging will be very beneficial.
Before you even hit ‘Enter’ on your Google search, take 15-30 minutes to write out exactly what you’re looking for. Are you only needing your pets watched? Are you needing lawn care or a garden maintained? What about cleaning and upkeep? Will you expect them to stay in your home full time? Would you like someone with previous home care experience? Will you expect them to fix anything if it breaks, or help coordinate the repair while you’re away? Does your pet have specialized needs like medications or food preparation?
By laying out your expectations, you will not only be able to know when you’ve found the right house sitter, but you’ll also be able to communicate your needs with them.
3 major questions to ask your house sitter:
Are they insured? Being insured with a house sitting specific policy means that if they break or damage anything while in your home, you won’t be out any money. Additionally, you may ask if their policy covers pet transportation or medical bills for the pet. Not every policy is created equal and it’s ok to ask. You may also hear of a company that is bonded. Being bonded covers theft by an employee of a company. If you are hiring a solo business owner, see what their insurance policy will cover. Otherwise, it will be on your homeowners to replace the item.
What is their experience caring for a house? Make sure they are comfortable shutting off water valves and breakers. Will they treat your home like it’s their home, or a vacation rental? See if they’ll respect your privacy and belongings while you’re away. Do they know what a malfunctioning washing machine sounds like? Or a dying furnace? Additionally, if you have more specific tasks like cleaning an outdoor pool, using sump pumps, or using your AC system, walk them through the process and see if you feel comfortable.
What is their experience caring for pets and plants? Most of the time a house sitter is needed when a pet, or plants, needs specialized care and attention. Communicate the exact needs for each pet they’re caring for, and either have them take notes, or provide written instructions for them. Not everyone is capable of pilling a cat, or giving insulin shots. Little details matter to you, and your pet, so make sure your house sitter understands each one and will be able to do them.
Obviously, caring for your home is a big responsibility and will take more than 3 questions to answer. If you’d like to talk more about your needs and what you’re looking for, send us a message anytime!
